PhoneSentral Tech in Simplicity
The missing headphone jack solutions came up after I saw this comment on Facebook saying that he would never buy a handphone that didn’t have an headphone jack (also called audio jack).
This comment sound familiar as I used to say the same, until I decided to buy the Huawei P20 Pro just this week.
Why I decided to splurge for the Huawei P20 Pro is good for another blog post, but the audio jack, do you relly need it?
WHY DON’T YOU NEED THE HEADPHONE JACK?
Lets see. It is my belief that as wireless audio technology improves, prices of wireless headphones will become cheaper, with the increase of sound quality offered.
Flagship smartphones these days, particularly from Apple, Xiaomi and Huawei have also decided to do away with the headphone jack. This means that if you intend to buy one of the flagship smartphones from the three, you have to start searching for the missing headphone jack solutions, and hence probably why you ended at this post.
Nonetheless, I also foresee that most smartphone manufacturers would end up doing away with a headphone jack because of its benefits. One of the major benefits would be enabling thinner phones, and allowing less ‘holes’ in the body, which means better water proofing. That said, you might end up with no option in the future. That is why I figured I should share about missing headphone jack solutions.
MISSING HEADPHONE JACK SOLUTIONS
There are quick fixes for phones without the headphone jack and here they are.
SOLUTIONS USING THE USB-C PORT
One of the easiest solution is by using a USB-C headphones. These headphones are plugged in the USB-C port of your smartphone, and used like a typical wired headphone. I don’t know of many USB-C headphones, and you can get this from RM4 on Lazada. GET USB-C PORT
If you are already into using the USB-C port, I would however recommend buying a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack converter. Unlike the USB-C headphone I mentioned before, the converter is actually a short extension for your wired headphone, with a 3.5mm headphone jack made available at one end, and a Type-C adapter available at the other. They also come cheap with one I found going from only RM4 on Lazada.
However, I personally would avoid using the USB-C port for audio connectivity as it can be cause the USB-C port loose. Repairs of the USB-C port would cost more.
SOLUTIONS USING BLUETOOTH AND WIRELESS ALTERNATIVE
If you want to migrate towards wireless technology, meaning you want to do away with plugging in your headphone to the phone, then there’s better missing headphone jack solutions.
The cheapest and most practical missing headphone jack solution now is to buy a Bluetooth Receiver. Bluetooth receivers are independent, and have their own battery, usually lasting around 5 to 10 hours. It is a good option if you are looking at longer battery life when using your headphone.
I bought the Xiaomi Bluetooth Receiver at RM45 on Lazada, and connected my wired earpiece to the device. Bluetooth receivers like the Xiaomi Bluetooth Receiver receives signals from the smartphone, enabling you to use your wired headphone as usual.
The great thing about using Bluetooth receivers is that you don’t need buy new headphones, especially if you have invested heavily in a good quality one. All you need to do is sync your Bluetooth receiver with your phone. Then plug in your wired headphone, and you are good to go. GearBest also sells Bluetooth receivers with some starting at USD5 (around RM20), but you do need to wait as they mostly come from China.
Another option is to invest in Bluetooth headphones. There’s plenty of cheap ones on GearBest with the cheapest one I found only priced at USD7 (around RM28). However, a few months ago, I bought the Xiaomi Sports Bluetooth headphone at around RM130 because I have trust issues.
Bluetooth headphones are pretty straight forward. They are synced with your phone, and once that is done, you can immediately use it to listen to music. The disadvantage is that most Bluetooth headphones don’t have large capacity batteries. This means you will need to charge the headphones after a couple of hours use.
CONCLUSION
Indeed, the change of technology has allowed so much to be done. Wireless technology is here to stay, and most phone manufacturers will sooner or later do away with the 3.5mm headphone jack.
