Need (or simply want) to plug in wired headphones? These top-tested phones buck the wireless trend and keep the old-school 3.5mm audio jack.<\/b>
\nIf you demand that your phone has a 3.5mm jack for wired headphones, this story is for you. The death of the headphone jack still feels like one of the most consumer-hostile changes to impact smartphones over the last decade, but space is truly the final frontier inside a smartphone chassis. Removing the 3.5mm jack lets manufacturers stuff that reclaimed space with more battery capacity and 5G antennas, and seal it up to make it waterproof. It also lets them sell us profit-padding wireless earbuds. Though we love wireless earphones, they’re easy to lose and can take up more space in your pocket. With that in mind, we’ve gathered our top-recommended phones with a 3.5mm headphone jack that you can buy right now. Read on for our top picks, followed by what to consider during your search.Why We Picked It
The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro Edition is one of the most powerful phones you can buy with a 3.5mm headphone jack. This is a gaming-focused phone that costs a pretty penny, but in return you get a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor with advanced cooling tech, a fantastic screen, high-speed wireless connectivity, and solid cameras. Who It’s For
If you’re a gamer who wants the most powerful phone with a 3.5mm headphone jack, this is the pick for you.Why We Picked It
The TCL Flip 4 supports modern 5G bands and current Wi-Fi standards, so it works on today\u2019s networks and should remain compatible as carriers upgrade. It charges via USB-C, so you can use common cables instead of proprietary adapters. And, it has a 3.5mm headphone jack. Who Its For
If you want a retro device that harkens back to the early days of cell phones, the TCL Flip 4 is a great pick. Why We Picked It
Like a 3.5mm headphone jack, a built-in stylus is a niche feature that a small, but passionate, group of people can’t live without. Right now, only a few US phones have styli that slot into the body of the phone, and the Moto G Stylus is one of them. Who It’s For
Some people just think and work better with a pen in hand. If you’re an artist, doodler, or mind mapper, this phone makes it easy to jot things down. Why We Picked It
Retailing for under $200, the Moto G offers a big screen, long battery life, signature Motorola style, and that old-fashioned 3.5mm headphone jack. Its performance is good enough to make it a daily driver. Who It’s For
If you need an affordable Android phone that does it all and has a 3.5mm headphone jack, the Moto G is a worthy choice.Why We Picked It
The TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G offers throwback features like a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot for expandable storage, but this phone has a different claim to fame. TCL’s Nxtpaper tech makes the screen seem like paper thanks to its matte finish and software, reducing eye strain. Who It’s For
If you’re tired of screen glare or want something resembling an E Ink display, the TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper is an excellent choice\u2014especially if you like to plug in wired headphones.Why Don’t Most Phones Have a Headphone Jack?
It has become difficult to find a flagship phone in the US with a headphone jack. The old 3.5mm plugs seem to be d\u00e9class\u00e9 to high-end vendors, which want you to go wireless.
You have more choices in the sub-$400 phone segment, though. Manufacturers here seem to understand that buyers of affordable phones might not be willing or able to spend their money on wireless headphones. Google and Samsung have abandoned the plug in their midrange models, but Motorola, TCL, and others still sell handsets with a 3.5mm headphone jack.
You might notice that there aren’t any iPhones in this roundup. iPhones haven’t had 3.5mm jacks since 2016, and we don’t recommend any phone that old (mostly due to limited or ending software support). We think Apple’s calculus for getting rid of the jack was a little different from that of Android phone makers. Instead of saving space for the battery, we suspect it was more about making money from its AirPods. But the effect was the same.Can You Use USB-C Headphones on a Phone Without a Headphone Jack?
USB-C headphones exist, but they’re often low-cost and hard to find. Apple has swapped its Lightning-equipped EarPods for USB-C-equipped ones, and some device makers still offer them via Amazon.
Of course, you can also get a 3.5mm-to-USB-C adapter for your phone or a mobile-friendly digital-to-analog converter (DAC). Remember that if you plug something into the USB-C port, you can only listen to music and charge simultaneously with a wireless charger. But compatibility is iffy.
If you’ve made peace with the wireless audio future, you can expand your search to include our favorite phones overall. You don’t have to spend too much on wireless audio either; these are the best sub-$100 earbuds.<\/p>\n