OnePlus 6T confirmed to have no headphone jack

midian182

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A hot potato: Is the 3.5mm headphone jack in phones going the way of the dinosaurs? After including the long-used port on the excellent OnePlus 6 handset, we’ve now got confirmation that the highly anticipated successor, the OnePlus 6T, will ditch it.

The news comes from a TechRadar interview with OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei. "When we started OnePlus, we set out to make the best possible smartphone, but making a great phone doesn't mean putting every component available into the device," he said. "You've got to make decisions that optimize the user experience, and understand that at times things that provide user value can also add friction."

Pei added that 59 percent of the OnePlus community already owned wireless headphones earlier this year—a figure that’s likely to have increased following the launch of OnePlus’ Bullets Wireless earphones. He admits that ditching the jack two years ago, which is when Apple first removed the port from its handsets starting with the iPhone 7, would have brought much more negative feedback.

Just as Apple did in 2016, Pei emphasized that the removal of the jack will bring benefits by allowing more space inside the phone for extra tech—possibly a reference to the larger battery that the OnePlus 6T is expected to feature. While he wouldn’t reveal any specifics, Pei did say that the difference would be "substantial enough for users to realize."

The news will still disappoint many who are eagerly waiting for the OnePlus 6T. A leak last week showed the phone’s teardrop-style notch and triple camera setup, and the company later confirmed that it would feature an in-display fingerprint sensor. It’s also suspected to follow the OnePlus tradition of being hundreds of dollars cheaper than most flagships—something many will appreciate in light of the new, expensive iPhone XS and XS Max. OnePlus is also including a 3.5mm to USB Type-C adapter in the box; a feature Apple has decided to drop.

While OnePlus has joined Google, Apple, Sony, and others in dropping the headphone jack from its flagships, Samsung remains a dedicated fan of the 3.5mm port—but for how much longer?

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59% of their users already own bluetooth headphones, but this doesn't mean they don't also own wired headphones. Besides, what about the other 41%? Well, let the customers vote with their wallet. The iPhone 7 certainly got away with it. Perhaps the 6T can, too.
 
59% of their users already own bluetooth headphones, but this doesn't mean they don't also own wired headphones.

This. I have a OnePlus 3 and I use both. I use a pair of wired head phones at work and while at home. I only use wireless headphones when I'm working out.
 
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I’d like to see free wireless headphones bundled with phones to be honest. I’m someone who has been using wireless headphones for some years and I don’t have any problem with the manufacturers removing the headphone jack. But I do miss having a backup cheap pair that came with the phone. Considering how cheap you can get Bluetooth headphones for I don’t think it would be asking a lot from the phone manufacturers. Especially from the likes of Google and Apple as they are charging quite a considerable amount for these products these days.
 
Every set of headphones I have are wired. No batteries to worry about and they are compatible with everything including my computer and car both of which don't use bluetooth. This is yet another example of "but don't worry, we'll offer another adapter you can buy". I thought OnePlus actually listened to their customers (up to this point anyways)...
 
LOL, more room for tech. What a joke. No, more room for the ability to talk people in
to overpriced wireless headphones.
I think it is more marketing than anything else, along with easier to make them more
water resistant. Not buying the more room for tech, regardless this comes from Oppo's
OnePlus.
 
'allowing more space inside the phone for extra tech—possibly a reference to the larger battery'.

How about the industry actually start to innovate in this field instead of the solution being 'lets just putting a ****ing bigger one in'. Personally I'd be ok with 5% less battery life if I got an aux port. Weve seen soo many advancements in the tech industry yet battery technology has been stagnant for decades..
 
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