Samsung Kills Headphone Jack in Latest Smartphone After Years of Mocking Apple

[SteveW928]

Apple pushing people toward BT could have backfired in two ways. People leave Apple because they are annoyed there is no headphone jack and 2) people buy non-apple B/T products. That is what I did until I recently got airpods. Either way if you are a high-end audio type of person, jackless phones may not be for you.

There wasn't much risk because they have that adapter, and the cost of switching platforms is quite high. So, I didn't expect it to greatly impact sales.

But, I think they have lost sales they just don't know about. For example, I haven't purchased an iPhone in a few years, and don't plan on buying one for another couple years (or longer, if possible), because since I bought my SE, Apple hasn't produced anything I'm interested in.

Plus, if they had produced a smaller form-factor phone with a headphone jack, I'd probably have spent $800-1000 instead of the cost of the SE. I suppose the percentage of people like me are thought to be too small, but we/they really have no idea how many of us there are.

For me, it isn't about audio quality so much. My main issues are that a Lightning connector isn't as reliable (physically) as a 3.5mm since I spend a lot of time listening to podcasts with the phone in my pocket. I'm also not interested in BT for extended periods of time as a health precaution. But, even that weren't the case, they are still expensive and you have to charge them (and they don't sound as good). Aside from not having cords, it's a lose-lose-lose kids of thing.

 

[Xiroteus]

I wonder which is less distracting, a notch against the top edge, or a round hole in the corner?
Probably you quickly get used to either, but I would suspect the odd bit of light all the way around the lens might be a bit more distracting, but only a bit.

Both are poor design. Having some bezel still looks better................to me at least.

 

[I7guy]

There wasn't much risk because they have that adapter, and the cost of switching platforms is quite high. So, I didn't expect it to greatly impact sales.

But, I think they have lost sales they just don't know about. For example, I haven't purchased an iPhone in a few years, and don't plan on buying one for another couple years (or longer, if possible), because since I bought my SE, Apple hasn't produced anything I'm interested in.

Plus, if they had produced a smaller form-factor phone with a headphone jack, I'd probably have spent $800-1000 instead of the cost of the SE. I suppose the percentage of people like me are thought to be too small, but we/they really have no idea how many of us there are.

For me, it isn't about audio quality so much. My main issues are that a Lightning connector isn't as reliable (physically) as a 3.5mm since I spend a lot of time listening to podcasts with the phone in my pocket. I'm also not interested in BT for extended periods of time as a health precaution. But, even that weren't the case, they are still expensive and you have to charge them (and they don't sound as good). Aside from not having cords, it's a lose-lose-lose kids of thing.

On an impulse I gave up my 6s with the headphone jack for the max. I thought I would miss the jack, but I got airpods and feel free of wires. (Edit I get for some the lack of a jack is more an issue than too others)

 

[ilikewhey]

The IR blaster is not an option on the s10. I can't make the post any clearer.
[doublepost=1552176034][/doublepost]
Your right, they removed it on the A8, as in the headliner first post. They may put it back it should have read....who knows.

the A8 is a complete separate line from the s series, samsung never removed it from the galaxy s series, please don't make conclusion on what you think happened vs what actually happened.

 

[I7guy]

the A8 is a complete separate line from the s series, samsung never removed it from the galaxy s series, please don't make conclusion on what you think happened vs what actually happened.

Yes the "s". It was a typo. The A8s.

 

[ilikewhey]

(As an aside is used to live on 70th and 2nd) Any new nfc terminal that accepts chip and pin I have found accepts apple pay, even in Manhattan. So you and must be going to different Mom and pop stores, if there are any of those even left. Even the big holdout target/cvs is now accepting apple pay. I guess individual experiences vary and that the expression of YMMV is always the case.

And about that headphone jack. What about it? Apple removed it and it stayed removed. Other vendors removed it. Samsung removed it and put it back.

i live on 72nd and 1st, right behind the sotheby auction house, they have a very busy pastry/coffee lounge on their balcony floor which i frequent and they do not have apple pay. a block away from them is a "mom and pop" shop called green gourmet, and a block away is another store called matter of health. they are not so mom and pop but not a franchise either, none of them supports apple pay and these stores are the main stable of upper east side.

the point is, apple pay requires extra equipment for the shop owners to utilize, while samsung pay works with existing technology because it also uses magnetic strip, so long as you can swipe your credit card, you can use samsung pay.

 

[Blaze4G]

On an impulse I gave up my 6s with the headphone jack for the max. I thought I would miss the jack, but I got airpods and feel free of wires.

That seems weird. Why did you think you would miss the headphone jack if you never used it?

 

[I7guy]

i live on 72nd and 1st, right behind the sotheby auction house, they have a very busy pastry/coffee lounge on their balcony floor which i frequent and they do not have apple pay. a block away from them is a "mom and pop" shop called green gourmet, and a block away is another store called matter of health. they are not so mom and pop but not a franchise either, none of them supports apple pay and these stores are the main stable of upper east side.

the point is, apple pay requires extra equipment for the shop owners to utilize, while samsung pay works with existing technology, so long as you can swipe your credit card, you can use samsung pay.

Bottom line, ymmv. I don’t particularly have any issues using Apple Pay east coast or west coast when I want and that’s all I care about. If I need to I take out a cc.
[doublepost=1552196061][/doublepost]

That seems weird. Why did you think you would miss the headphone jack if you never used it?

When I had my 5s I used it frequently. 6s I started moving to b/t but still used the jack infrequently. With the max now that there is no jack I’m using the AirPods.

 

[Blaze4G]

Bottom line, ymmv. I don’t particularly have any issues using Apple Pay east coast or west coast when I want and that’s all I care about. If I need to I take out a cc.
[doublepost=1552196061][/doublepost]
When I had my 5s I used it frequently. 6s I started moving to b/t but still used the jack infrequently. With the max now that there is no jack I’m using the AirPods.

That's strange. In the past you said you had the 5s for a year and never used the headphone jack...that you didn't know if it even works. You even mentioned before Apple released the iPhone 7 that the loss of the 3.5mm jack wouldnt bother you. Seems contradictory to what you're saying now.

 

[I7guy]

That's strange. In the past you said you had the 5s for a year and never used the headphone jack...that you didn't know if it even works. You even mentioned before Apple released the iPhone 7 that the loss of the 3.5mm jack wouldnt bother you. Seems contradictory to what you're saying now.

Nah. In 2013 b/t was okay not great. In the office when I needed to make a private call I used my EarPods. My car had b/t. In 2015 I got the 6s and rarely used the EarPods as I had accumulated a great collection of b/t headphones. The last year or so I didn’t even bother with the EarPods. Now it’s AirPods all the way.

 

[ilikewhey]

Bottom line, ymmv. I don’t particularly have any issues using Apple Pay east coast or west coast when I want and that’s all I care about. If I need to I take out a cc.
[doublepost=1552196061][/doublepost]
When I had my 5s I used it frequently. 6s I started moving to b/t but still used the jack infrequently. With the max now that there is no jack I’m using the AirPods.

your miles may vary is right but samsung pay just goes the extra mile. the fact is this, not everyone uses NFC, many stores still uses mag strips for terminal. and samsung pay is the only one that works with mag strips.

also to bring back to topic, this article is wrong and the sentiment that samsung is being two faced is also wrong, since now we can safely establishes the fact that, samsung never removed the headphone jack from its S line, which is the point i made when i revived this thread.

also samsung pay was my favorite party trick at the cashier, whenever i pull my s6 out to pay, i always get the " oh sorry mobile payment don't work here", i get back at them with "watch this", follow by a dumbfounded look of cashiers everywhere

 

[Blaze4G]

Nah. In 2013 b/t was okay not great. In the office when I needed to make a private call I used my EarPods. My car had b/t. In 2015 I got the 6s and rarely used the EarPods as I had accumulated a great collection of b/t headphones. The last year or so I didn’t even bother with the EarPods. Now it’s AirPods all the way.

As I said just weird. You say one thing now and in the past you said you had the 5s and never used the headphone jack. Now you're saying you did. Must be lying about one or the other.

 

[mrex]

You're asking the wrong question. You should be asking Samsung why they deleted a useful feature.

probably because when it was introduced many years ago people had and used devices controlled by ir alot but nowadays people use stream-services and android boxes/sticks/tv app rather than dvd/bluray players or whatever.. samsung gave what people needed, then took it away when there isnt need for it anymore.

Whats wrong with lightning connected earpods? That's a common pedantic question about keeping a phone charged while using earpods? I dunno, wireless charging? I actually have airpods, much more flexible.

i have airpods too, but airpods was a separately purchace. how do you charge wirelessly while connected to the phone - and especially when using the phone? taking the charging pad and the phone on your hand?

As far as NFC, do we need to make a list?

nfc tags? (programming them to do what ever you want) reading nfc cards, like travel card details? triggers, automations? sharing cards (like business cards / id’s rather than printed nametag on the chest) etc..

i used triggers alot when my main phone was android.. at work when i placed my phone on the desk, it went on work mode. in the car my phone went car mode and at home when i placed the phone on the desk, my home system booted up, my computer switched on, phone started to play music while i went to kitchen to prepare something to eat. some easy and simple tasks. on sunday evening sometimes i didnt remember do i have time left on my travel card or do i need to load more time to it on monday morning before entering the metro and avoid the penalty by travelling without a valid travel card. not a problem, i read the travel card details by my phone.

what do i do with nfc inside my iphone? hmm... lets think... im really trying... hmm...

 

[I7guy]

As I said just weird. You say one thing now and in the past you said you had the 5s and never used the headphone jack. Now you're saying you did. Must be lying about one or the other.

Or maybe you’re remembering it wrong, which could explain why you are calling me a liar. Never is a strong word and sometimes used to denote some minimalist use in a figurative sense. It does implies not once. And since my first iPhone the use of the headphone jack has nose dived. Not sure what internet points you want to win, but as much as I like my AirPods, I still my want to plug in for whatever reason a set of wired headphones. And I can still do that.
[doublepost=1552217530][/doublepost]

probably because when it was introduced many years ago people had and used devices controlled by ir alot but nowadays people use stream-services and android boxes/sticks/tv app rather than dvd/bluray players or whatever.. samsung gave what people needed, then took it away when there isnt need for it anymore.



i have airpods too, but airpods was a separately purchace. how do you charge wirelessly while connected to the phone - and especially when using the phone? taking the charging pad and the phone on your hand?



nfc tags? (programming them to do what ever you want) reading nfc cards, like travel card details? triggers, automations? sharing cards (like business cards / id’s rather than printed nametag on the chest) etc..

i used triggers alot when my main phone was android.. at work when i placed my phone on the desk, it went on work mode. in the car my phone went car mode and at home when i placed the phone on the desk, my home system booted up, my computer switched on, phone started to play music while i went to kitchen to prepare something to eat. some easy and simple tasks. on sunday evening sometimes i didnt remember do i have time left on my travel card or do i need to load more time to it on monday morning before entering the metro and avoid the penalty by travelling without a valid travel card. not a problem, i read the travel card details by my phone.

what do i do with nfc inside my iphone? hmm... lets think... im really trying... hmm...

Well Apple has their nfc closed off for security purposes. But my travel passes don’t require nfc. I use it to transfer settings and passwords between phones. It will be used on the New York subway system in the future. I guess what you do with nfc is done here with apps.
[doublepost=1552218455][/doublepost]

your miles may vary is right but samsung pay just goes the extra mile. the fact is this, not everyone uses NFC, many stores still uses mag strips for terminal. and samsung pay is the only one that works with mag strips.

also to bring back to topic, this article is wrong and the sentiment that samsung is being two faced is also wrong, since now we can safely establishes the fact that, samsung never removed the headphone jack from its S line, which is the point i made when i revived this thread.

also samsung pay was my favorite party trick at the cashier, whenever i pull my s6 out to pay, i always get the " oh sorry mobile payment don't work here", i get back at them with "watch this", follow by a dumbfounded look of cashiers everywhere

Most cc readers have to be changed out to support chip and pin this is my observation. For the most part these new readers support nfc and by extension the phone pay systems. It could be the three business you mentioned above got different types of readers. I’m also surprised that cards like Amex work with Samsung pay because they (Amex) require chip and pin. This is similar to how many angels fit on the head of a pin discussion.

 

[mrex]

Well Apple has their nfc closed off for security purposes. But my travel passes don’t require nfc. I use it to transfer settings and passwords between phones. It will be used on the New York subway system in the future. I guess what you do with nfc is done here with apps.

you can use an app or a travel card or both. we have a long history with cards having a chip and nfc (it is quite difficult to find a person here who has a real money in a pocket - i cant remember when i used a real cash). if you have bought time on a travel card, you have remember when the time is over - i bought couple of months to use public transportation, but i cant remember if the last valid day was 10.3.19 or 15.3.19? with an android phone im able to read those details from my travel card or how much money i have it if i ever need to buy a single ticket. of cpurse i can use my phone to buy a single ticket too, but that is not the point.

there is no real reason that nfc cant be used to read nfc infos. having nfc open doesnt mean that it wouldnt be secure. apple keeps it closed only for the reason that you can only use apple pay. if nfc was open, banks could use their own apps via nfc and wouldnt need to partner with apple and pay commisions.

 

[Blaze4G]

Or maybe you’re remembering it wrong, which could explain why you are calling me a liar. Never is a strong word and sometimes used to denote some minimalist use in a figurative sense. It does implies not once. And since my first iPhone the use of the headphone jack has nose dived. Not sure what internet points you want to win, but as much as I like my AirPods, I still my want to plug in for whatever reason a set of wired headphones. And I can still do that.
[doublepost=1552217530][/doublepost]
Well Apple has their nfc closed off for security purposes. But my travel passes don’t require nfc. I use it to transfer settings and passwords between phones. It will be used on the New York subway system in the future. I guess what you do with nfc is done here with apps.
[doublepost=1552218455][/doublepost]
Most cc readers have to be changed out to support chip and pin this is my observation. For the most part these new readers support nfc and by extension the phone pay systems. It could be the three business you mentioned above got different types of readers. I’m also surprised that cards like Amex work with Samsung pay because they (Amex) require chip and pin. This is similar to how many angels fit on the head of a pin discussion.

Well these post you made seems to contradict everything you said, but okay.

 

[I7guy]

you can use an app or a travel card or both. we have a long history with cards having a chip and nfc (it is quite difficult to find a person here who has a real money in a pocket - i cant remember when i used a real cash). if you have bought time on a travel card, you have remember when the time is over - i bought couple of months to use public transportation, but i cant remember if the last valid day was 10.3.19 or 15.3.19? with an android phone im able to read those details from my travel card or how much money i have it if i ever need to buy a single ticket. of cpurse i can use my phone to buy a single ticket too, but that is not the point.

there is no real reason that nfc cant be used to read nfc infos. having nfc open doesnt mean that it wouldnt be secure. apple keeps it closed only for the reason that you can only use apple pay. if nfc was open, banks could use their own apps via nfc and wouldnt need to partner with apple and pay commisions.

Apple ain't opening it up (and I've read for security reasons), which is why there are apps. However, they are supposedly opening it up for the subways' and probably more agencies are coming. But I doubt the NFC will ever be fully open.
[doublepost=1552227865][/doublepost]

Well these post you made seems to contradict everything you said, but okay.

I love reading stuff from the past, thanks for bringing it up. However, what was written, my position hasn't change. I'm not married to the headphone jack. What I am married to is using my headphones. I would like a jack to be there, but the lack of it, doesn't prevent me from using headphones, headsets wired or not. Nor do I have the emotional attachment that I've seen in some of the posts. So since you cherry picked those posts and ignored the other posts when I said what I care about is using is my headphones and didn't care about the jack. Internet points not awarded today. But I like this, good job.

 

[decafjava]

oh please!

Earpods connected to the phone (lightning port) - how do you manage to charge the phone at the same time? what kind of ****** integration was this?

nfc in iphone vs. nfc in android. what can you do with nfc in iphones and what cant you do with nfc in android?

how about 3D touch? it came and apparently going - if anyone even noticed it was there...

and ir blaster was great in the past - an universal remote with an app rather than buying a separate universal remote control. even nowadays there are phones sold with ir blaster.

I and many other people use it all the time.

 

[SteveW928]

On an impulse I gave up my 6s with the headphone jack for the max. I thought I would miss the jack, but I got airpods and feel free of wires. (Edit I get for some the lack of a jack is more an issue than too others)

I don't have AirPods, but have Aftershokz headphones I wear while cycling. I've had BT ear-pieces in the past. I certainly like the wires-free aspect. I probably catch the wires of my ear-buds on something once a day or something when working around the home, which is certainly frustrating.

Aside from cost, though, for me it is more a health precaution about going to too-full-time of use. We just don't know yet what impacts that is going to have, so I try to time-limit it, especially the close-proximity stuff (especially to my brain).

My issue with the adapter (if I went with a bigger phone sans jack), is that I think the above mentioned cord-abuse on a Lightning would be problematic... and instead of having to buy new ear-buds, it would be a costly port or even phone replacement.

So, I'm not really sure what I'm going to do when my SE dies or Apple moves on with the OS. I just keep hoping they will have some valid replacement for me, but the trends seem to all be heading in the wrong direction for that (ie: bigger and less ports).

As I said just weird. You say one thing now and in the past you said you had the 5s and never used the headphone jack. Now you're saying you did. Must be lying about one or the other.

I don't think so, necessarily. Bluetooth used to really suck. It now has gotten to an acceptable point, at least in terms of quality and mostly reliability. It's now a useable solution, but I still don't think an optimal one.

Anyway, the point being that a transition towards BT for most people, and change of attitude and amount of use would be kind of normal.

 

[Blaze4G]

I don't have AirPods, but have Aftershokz headphones I wear while cycling. I've had BT ear-pieces in the past. I certainly like the wires-free aspect. I probably catch the wires of my ear-buds on something once a day or something when working around the home, which is certainly frustrating.

Aside from cost, though, for me it is more a health precaution about going to too-full-time of use. We just don't know yet what impacts that is going to have, so I try to time-limit it, especially the close-proximity stuff (especially to my brain).

My issue with the adapter (if I went with a bigger phone sans jack), is that I think the above mentioned cord-abuse on a Lightning would be problematic... and instead of having to buy new ear-buds, it would be a costly port or even phone replacement.

So, I'm not really sure what I'm going to do when my SE dies or Apple moves on with the OS. I just keep hoping they will have some valid replacement for me, but the trends seem to all be heading in the wrong direction for that (ie: bigger and less ports).



I don't think so, necessarily. Bluetooth used to really suck. It now has gotten to an acceptable point, at least in terms of quality and mostly reliability. It's now a useable solution, but I still don't think an optimal one.

Anyway, the point being that a transition towards BT for most people, and change of attitude and amount of use would be kind of normal.

I get that. My point was he mentioned he used the headphone jack all the time when he had his 5s in one post but then in another post he said he never used the headphone jack on the 5s and didn't even know if it worked (implying he really never used it). I don't know how you can never use it and use it all the time during the same time period. I guess in a parallel universe or something.

 

[I7guy]

I get that. My point was he mentioned he used the headphone jack all the time when he had his 5s in one post but then in another post he said he never used the headphone jack on the 5s and didn't even know if it worked (implying he really never used it). I don't know how you can never use it and use it all the time during the same time period. I guess in a parallel universe or something.

My point is it’s not the jack itself and never was, it’s the ability to use the device I want to. Was never hung up on the jack itself. And the lack of a jack doesn’t prevent me from using any device wired or not.

 

[russell_314]

I don't see how you guys get so worked up over the Samsung vs Apple thing. It reminds me of my friends Ford vs Chevy arguments. Both make decent products and of course Samsung mocked Apple about the headphone jack. Why wouldn't they because it's marketing. They held out for a few extra years and used it as a marketing tool. That was smart IMO. It'll be gone in a few years and no one will remember or care. They did the exact same thing with the removable battery. They held out for a few extra years, mocked Apple about it, then finally moved on to the new tech. It's just marketing.

 

[curtvaughan]

Apple pushing people toward BT could have backfired in two ways. People leave Apple because they are annoyed there is no headphone jack and 2) people buy non-apple B/T products. That is what I did until I recently got airpods. Either way if you are a high-end audio type of person, jackless phones may not be for you.

That is the case for me - no new iPhones or iPads since Apple dropped the jack; no new Apple laptops with removal of most ports and installation of faulty keyboards. Apparently people like me are no longer considered worthwhile targets for their products. So be it. I'll continue using my iPhone 6S+, my iPad Pro (2017 model), and my iMac (2017 model) until they croak, then cease to be an Apple customer. I now buy high end PC laptops running Linux with no regrets. If Apple continues to make no major improvements to the iMac line, I guess my next desktop will also be a high end Linux PC. Times have changed dramatically over the last five years.
[doublepost=1552397245][/doublepost]

My point is it’s not the jack itself and never was, it’s the ability to use the device I want to. Was never hung up on the jack itself. And the lack of a jack doesn’t prevent me from using any device wired or not.

Exactly! Bluetooth users were never inconvenienced by the headphone jack; wired headphone users were EXTREMELY inconvenienced by its removal.

 

[I7guy]

That is the case for me - no new iPhones or iPads since Apple dropped the jack; no new Apple laptops with removal of most ports and installation of faulty keyboards. Apparently people like me are no longer considered worthwhile targets for their products. So be it. I'll continue using my iPhone 6S+, my iPad Pro (2017 model), and my iMac (2017 model) until they croak, then cease to be an Apple customer. I now buy high end PC laptops running Linux with no regrets. If Apple continues to make no major improvements to the iMac line, I guess my next desktop will also be a high end Linux PC. Times have changed dramatically over the last five years.
[doublepost=1552397245][/doublepost]
Exactly! Bluetooth users were never inconvenienced by the headphone jack; wired headphone users were EXTREMELY inconvenienced by its removal.

I dont know about the use of the word EXTREMELY. For me it didn’t matter. Others had to use a dongle and I dont know other then some macrumors posted how they felt.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

That is the case for me - no new iPhones or iPads since Apple dropped the jack; no new Apple laptops with removal of most ports and installation of faulty keyboards. Apparently people like me are no longer considered worthwhile targets for their products. So be it. I'll continue using my iPhone 6S+, my iPad Pro (2017 model), and my iMac (2017 model) until they croak, then cease to be an Apple customer. I now buy high end PC laptops running Linux with no regrets. If Apple continues to make no major improvements to the iMac line, I guess my next desktop will also be a high end Linux PC. Times have changed dramatically over the last five years.
[doublepost=1552397245][/doublepost]
Exactly! Bluetooth users were never inconvenienced by the headphone jack; wired headphone users were EXTREMELY inconvenienced by its removal.

I concur with what you say. My current phone is a Huawei P20 Pro which has no headphone jack. It has a short USB-C adapter cable to allow use of wired headphones phones which I thought would be fine but I do find it extremely inconvenient.
When exercising on gym equipment I watch downloaded TV programmes on my Galaxy tablet part of the time and to then swap to my free membership of Apple Music on my phone meant getting the adapter from my locker. If I had it ready in my pocket to use I know that it would likely get lost, or I could leave it in the gym equipment holder etc and have to go back and collect. Just a hassle not worth bothering about. Also, the sound quality using the adapter is the poorest I have experienced on a phone for years. So I use my FiiO X3 music player for music in gym now. Of course the sound quality is far better so I need to thank Huawei for giving me the extreme inconvenience that got me back into the routine of carrying my FiiO X3