Headphone Jack Removal

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The headphone jack removal refers to the systematic elimination of the 3.5mm audio port from smartphones and other portable devices, beginning with the iPhone 7 in 2016.

Overview

The 3.5mm audio jack (also known as TRS connector) was a universal standard for over 100 years, present in virtually all audio devices. Despite taking minimal space (approximately 8mm × 3.5mm), manufacturers began removing it claiming "courage" and "innovation."

Timeline

• 1878: Quarter-inch jack invented for telephone switchboards
• 1950s: 3.5mm miniaturized version becomes standard
• 2016 September: Apple removes jack from iPhone 7, CEO Tim Cook calls it "courage"
• 2017: Google mocks Apple, keeps jack in Pixel 2
• 2018 October: Google removes jack from Pixel 3
• 2018-2019: Samsung mocks both, maintains jack
• 2020: Samsung removes jack from Galaxy S20
• 2021: Only budget and specialty phones retain jack

Manufacturer Claims vs Reality

Claim: "No space"

• Reality: Teardowns show empty space where jack was located
• Jerry Rig Everything demonstrated jack could fit in iPhone 7
• Some phones added fake speaker grilles in jack location

Claim: "Better water resistance"

• Reality: Galaxy S5 (2014) had IP67 rating WITH removable battery AND headphone jack
• Sony Xperia phones maintained IP68 with jack until 2018
• Jack can be waterproofed with simple gasket ($0.10 part)

Claim: "Improved audio quality"

• Reality: Bluetooth audio uses lossy compression (SBC, AAC)
• Wired connection provides lossless, zero-latency audio
• USB-C DACs add bulk, easy to lose, drain battery

Financial Impact

Direct Costs

• Wireless earbuds: $150-300 (vs $20-50 wired)
• USB-C to 3.5mm adapter: $10-30
• Replacement cycle: 2-3 years (battery degradation) vs 5-10 years for wired

Hidden Costs

• Cannot charge and listen simultaneously without $40+ splitter
• Bluetooth earbuds require charging case
• Environmental: Lithium batteries in millions of earbuds
• E-waste: Non-repairable earbuds become landfill

Consumer Impact

• Airline travelers: Cannot use airline-provided headphones
• Students: Cannot use school computer lab headphones
• Musicians: Added latency makes recording/monitoring impossible
• Incompatible with other audio equipment. AUX ports on car or stereo.
• Emergency situations: Dead earbud battery = no audio
• Security: Wireless connections make it easier to track/identify the user, also makes listening to conversations easier.
• Device interference: Wireless signals more likely to interfere with implanted/wearable medical devices.

Market Manipulation

Apple owns Beats (acquired 2014 for $3 billion), launched AirPods in 2016 alongside jack removal. AirPods revenue alone exceeds entire companies:

• 2019: $12 billion (more than Spotify, Twitter, Snap combined)
• 2020: $23 billion
• 2021: $38 billion

Environmental Impact

• Estimated 5 billion wireless earbuds sold 2016-2023
• Each contains non-replaceable lithium battery
• Average lifespan: 2-3 years
• Result: 15 billion batteries in landfills by 2026

Resistance

• Right to Repair advocates highlight this as planned obsolescence
• Some manufacturers (Asus, Sony) returned jack after backlash
• EU considering mandate for universal audio standard

See Also

• Planned Obsolescence
• Apple AirPods Battery Degradation
• Bluetooth Audio Codecs
• USB-C Audio Problems

References

[1] iFixit iPhone 7 Teardown [2] Apple September 2016 Keynote [3] Environmental Impact Study - IEEE 2021 [4] Market Analysis - Counterpoint Research

External Links

• The fairphone reduces ewaste - by removing the headphone jack....
• Consumer complaints megathread