- Aug 8, 2016
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http://www.sammobile.com/2016/12/06...-not-going-to-feature-a-3-5mm-headphone-jack/
LOL, and the drama continues...
LOL, and the drama continues...
Sadly, I'll probably still consider buying one. I don't use headphones often enough to warrant a jack, but I can't seem to live without Samsung Pay anymore.
Bluetooth sounds like crap because it has limited bandwidth and headphones have to add expensive DA converters. While flagship phones come with a good DA converters.
This benefits only companies, not users
Not using the headphones often is actually the reason to have a jack because I can use the crappy ones that shipped with the phone or any other cheapo headphones and do not have to spend $100 on usable Bluetooth enabled headphones.
If Samsung does this for the S8, then they need to offer a compensating feature. Apple's "reasons" to remove it (courage, waterproofing, packaging) all fell flat as they didn't pass the common sense test and were excuses to push their vision of sound and accelerate another revenue stream.
Now if the S8 ends up being a cross between the S7 Edge and the Mi Mix with a 6" screen in the body of the current 5.5" phone, then I'll be back at the table as there's compensating value being provided. But if it's an evolutionary design with the normal steps up in every way (camera, screen, etc), then it's likely I'll be switching to another OEM next year.
I wouldn't buy a flagship Samsung as-is. Removeable battery and removeable *storage are primary features. If I were buying today, I'd be looking at lg. Getting rid of the headphone jack? I have a good place to put that phone...
edit:
*I accidentally a word
Well that's dumb. It's looking more an more like my Nexus 6p will the phone I keep around the longest, but it's not because it's a great phone... it's just that all the other alternatives are going backwards.
I agree. I have the LG V20 and I use both BT earbuds when running, and the B&O earbuds from the free promotion they offered. The phone using the built-in DACs and the B&0 earbuds is simply the best mobile sound I personally have ever used. The BT earbuds are merely adequate and put out sound. I use the headphone jack especially when traveling and when I want to be quiet, I'd never blast my music using stereo speakers out loud that's really annoying.
Add in the removable battery and sd card and I'll keep it until it dies. I get by the lack of water-proofing with a Ziploc bag if I really need to run in the rain etc. I can't see myself considering a phone without a jack unless the quality over BT really improves immensely.
What I want to see is whether the rest of the industry follows suit... assuming the S8 rumor is true, of course. If it's 2018 and most major phone brands don't include headphone jacks, what does that do for holdouts who need a new phone? Do you just bite the bullet and get a new phone, or find some so-so minor brand phone and use that?
I'm reminded of Richard Stallman. He's so ideologically 'pure' that he ends up using an ancient, modified Lenovo ThinkPad simply so that he can say everything is open. Theoretically ideal, practically very limited -- the $300 Best Buy special you picked up on Black Friday is exponentially more capable in real life.
What I want to see is whether the rest of the industry follows suit... assuming the S8 rumor is true, of course. If it's 2018 and most major phone brands don't include headphone jacks, what does that do for holdouts who need a new phone? Do you just bite the bullet and get a new phone, or find some so-so minor brand phone and use that?
I'm reminded of Richard Stallman. He's so ideologically 'pure' that he ends up using an ancient, modified Lenovo ThinkPad simply so that he can say everything is open. Theoretically ideal, practically very limited -- the $300 Best Buy special you picked up on Black Friday is exponentially more capable in real life.
I was actually considering picking one of these up, but I guess I'll be using my S5 until it falls apart.