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
Musicians: Added latency makes recording/monitoring impossible
Drivers: Older car AUX ports incompatible
Students: Cannot use school computer lab headphones
Emergency situations: Dead earbud battery = no audio

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

References

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

External Links