In 2016, Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone with the iPhone 7. Immediately, Android phone companies began advertising how their phone had a headphone jack, and the iPhone did not. Google made fun of the iPhone’s lack of a headphone jack when they announced the first generation Pixel phone at a San Fransisco Press event. However, both Google and Samsung would soon remove the headphone jack as well. Then, others would follow suit. Android phones should have kept the headphone jack because it would have been the strongest reason to buy an Android phone over an iPhone.
Why Buy an Android Phone Over an iPhone?
To the average consumer, the only big reason to buy an Android over an iPhone is the price, and even that is a little fuzzy. For example, you can buy an open box iPhone SE 3rd generation on Ebay for 230 US dollars, and you can buy a 2nd generation iPhone SE for as low as 150 US dollars. Many decent mid-range Android phones are in that price range, so might as well buy an iPhone SE, right? Other than the price, Android does not have any big advantages. Android phones are slower, more buggy, are not supported as long, and have less high quality apps than iPhones. There are many apps, like Twitter for Android, that have missing features, and others, like iTabla Pro, that are not available on Android at all. Apple also added a lot more customization to iOS, making Android’s customization advantages almost worthless for many people.
Having a Headphone Jack is a Huge Advantage.
If the main reason to buy an Android is to avoid expensive prices, what could companies do to convince more people to switch to Android? Well, they could add a headphone jack. Some people are quite satisfied with their bluetooth headphones/headsets, but many would rather use a wired headset/headphone because bluetooth headsets/headphones often have problems. Many bluetooth headsets/headphones fail to connect to your phone when you turn them on, or connect improperly. Also, connecting a bluetooth headset/headphone to a new device can be very time consuming because many of them do not connect successfully the first time. This can be annoying if you lose your bluetooth headset/headphone, and need to borrow your wife’s or someone else’s. You also have to remember to charge them, which most people do not want to do. However, with a wired headset/headphone, you just plug them in, and it just works. For these reasons, many people may find using a wired headphone/headset less of a headache, and would buy one phone over another just to have a headphone jack.
The ASUS Zenfone 10 Showcases the Power of the Headphone Jack.
While most phones have removed the beloved circular plug, some have not. The ASUS Zenfone 10 has a headphone jack, along with world class battery life and extremely good performance. It is also decently priced, at 699 US dollars. MKBHD claimed in his “This Phone is Nearly Perfect” video that he “never kills it in under 24 hours.” However, there are many other Android phones at a similar price, such as the Galaxy s23 and Pixel 7, which also have great performance and battery life. How can the Zenfone compete with the s23 and the Pixel 7 if it is priced so similarly to them? It competes with the addition of a headphone jack. While the Zenfone 10 has a headphone jack, both the s23 and Pixel 7 do not, and if you are going to pay 800 US dollars for an s23, might as well buy the high-performing $700 Zenfone and get a headphone jack.