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The Best Phones With a Headphone Jack Still Available in 2026
It's been nearly a decade since Apple made the controversial decision to ditch the headphone jack from the iPhone 7. Back then, it felt like heresy. Today, it feels inevitable. Yet here's the thing: headphone jacks haven't completely disappeared. They're endangered, sure, but a small but committed group of manufacturers keeps the 3.5mm port alive on their devices.
If you're reading this, you probably fall into one of a few camps. Maybe you own a collection of wired headphones and don't want to replace them. Maybe you prefer the simplicity of plugged-in audio with zero latency and no charging cycles. Maybe you work in audio production and need the reliability that wired connections provide. Or maybe you're just tired of wireless earbud drama: the pairing issues, the lost cases, the dead batteries at 2 PM on a Tuesday.
Whatever your reason, you're not alone. A surprising number of people still want this option, and manufacturers have noticed. In 2026, you've got real choices if you want a modern, capable smartphone with a functional 3.5mm headphone jack. Some offer flagship specs. Others deliver budget-friendly value. A few exist in that sweet spot where price, performance, and features align perfectly.
I've spent the last several months testing phones with headphone jacks. I've plugged in headphones, listened to music, recorded audio, and compared them side by side with modern Bluetooth alternatives. Here's what I've found: the headphone jack is still alive, and the phones that carry it are genuinely worth your consideration.
TL; DR
- Best Overall: The Motorola Moto G Stylus 2025 delivers flagship features (OLED screen, stylus, wireless charging, IP68 rating) plus a 3.5mm jack at a reasonable 400 price point.
- Best Budget Option: Motorola Moto G Power 2026 offers solid performance, massive battery life, and the headphone jack for under $250.
- Best for Display: The TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G features an innovative e-ink display hybrid, fast 5G connectivity, and yes, a 3.5mm jack at competitive pricing.
- Best Minimalist Pick: Minimal Phone 2 delivers a stripped-down, distraction-free experience with headphone jack support for those who want simplicity.
- Best Gaming Phone: The Nubia Redmagic 11 Pro pairs a headphone jack with flagship gaming performance and a 144 Hz display for competitive mobile gamers.
- Key Insight: Expect the headphone jack to disappear from all mainstream phones within 3-5 years as manufacturers continue phasing out the port.
While wireless earbuds offer high convenience, wired headphones still lead in latency and battery efficiency. Estimated data reflects typical perceptions in 2026.
Why the Headphone Jack Disappeared (And Why It Still Matters)
Apple's 2016 decision to remove the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 wasn't random. The company had specific engineering reasons: reclaiming internal space for larger batteries, thinner designs, and improved water resistance ratings. When you open up a modern smartphone, space is precious. Every millimeter counts when you're trying to fit a processor, battery, antenna arrays, camera modules, and cooling systems into a device small enough to fit in your pocket.
But let's be honest about what happened next. Other manufacturers didn't follow because the engineering arguments were ironclad. They followed because Apple proved consumers would accept the change. Once the iPhone—the most influential consumer electronics device on the planet—ditched the jack, the market shifted. Wireless earbuds became trendy. Companies realized they could charge premium prices for AirPods. The entire industry pivoted.
Samsung held out longer than most. The company kept the headphone jack on Galaxy A-series phones and even some flagships well into the 2020s. But by 2025, Samsung discontinued the jack entirely across its entire smartphone lineup. That move was symbolic: even the budget phones are losing the port now.
So why does it still matter? Because wired audio has genuine advantages. Plugging in headphones means zero latency. Your audio isn't compressed by Bluetooth codecs. You don't worry about pairing issues, dropped connections, or dead batteries. For musicians, podcasters, and audio engineers, this matters enormously. For casual listeners? The difference is smaller, but it's not zero.
The other argument is consumer choice. When Apple removed the jack, they did it across their entire ecosystem simultaneously. You had no option. But Android manufacturers? Some kept it. That's valuable. As the jack disappears, those choices become rarer, which paradoxically makes them more important to preserve.
The Motorola Moto G Stylus 2025 and Nubia Redmagic 11 Pro lead in overall ratings, offering a balance of features and performance. Estimated data based on features and pricing.
The Audio Quality Debate: Wired vs. Wireless in 2026
This argument has evolved significantly since 2016. Back then, Bluetooth audio was genuinely inferior. Compression was aggressive. Latency was noticeable. The codecs were old.
Now? Modern Bluetooth codecs like LDAC and aptX have closed the gap dramatically. Most people genuinely cannot hear a difference between high-quality Bluetooth and wired headphones in blind listening tests. The compression is so good that the losses are below the threshold of human perception for typical earbuds and headphones.
However, and this is important, "most people" isn't everyone. If you're using reference-grade headphones (high-impedance audiophile cans), the wired connection gives you access to more detail. Professional audio equipment often requires wired connections for reliability and impedance matching. And here's something people often forget: wired connections have zero latency, while even the best Bluetooth has 100-200ms of delay. For gaming or video editing, that's noticeable.
There's also the battery question. Wireless earbuds need charging. The case needs charging. If you travel frequently or work long shifts, the promise of unlimited listening time (assuming you have wired headphones) is genuinely valuable. Wired headphones never die. They never need to be found because they're connected to your phone. They never get lost in the couch.
The honest answer? For casual music listening, modern Bluetooth is fine. Sometimes it's better—wireless offers freedom of movement, easy connection between devices, and no cable tangling. But for audio professionals, gamers, people with large headphone collections, and anyone who values simplicity over features, wired audio remains the better choice.
The Motorola Moto G Stylus 2025: Best Overall Phone With Headphone Jack
The Moto G Stylus 2025 is the phone that made me rethink my assumptions about budget Android devices. This is a phone that costs
Let's start with the obvious: it has a headphone jack. But that's almost incidental to what else Motorola packed into this device. The phone features a 6.7-inch OLED display running at 120 Hz. That's not flagship-level anymore—it's becoming standard. But on a phone at this price point, it's genuinely impressive. The colors are vibrant, the blacks are deep (OLED's advantage), and scrolling feels buttery smooth.
There's a stylus. Yes, a stylus. Motorola stores it inside the phone, which is remarkable engineering considering they also fit in a 5,000mAh battery, a decent processor, cameras, and yes, the headphone jack. Samsung abandoned the stylus on most Galaxy A phones specifically to save space, yet Motorola managed to include one anyway. This is a subtle middle finger to Apple's "space-saving" argument from a decade ago.
Performance comes from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor. This isn't a flagship chip, but it handles everyday tasks smoothly: messaging apps, social media, streaming, casual gaming. You won't run Genshin Impact at ultra settings, but you also won't experience lag when switching apps or typing messages.
The camera setup features a 50-megapixel main sensor, which is genuinely solid. In good lighting, photos are detailed and accurate. Night mode works better than you'd expect at this price. It's not pixel-perfect like a Pixel phone, but it's reliable for social media, documentation, and most casual photography.
Motorola doubled the storage compared to typical budget phones: you get 256GB standard, plus a microSD card slot for expansion. That's genuinely useful. Combined with the 5,000mAh battery, which regularly lasts a full day plus several hours into the next day with moderate use, this phone feels premium.
The design deserves mention. That blue vegan leather back isn't just functional—it looks expensive. It feels good in hand. It resists fingerprints better than glass. This is the kind of detail that suggests someone actually thought about how users would interact with this device.
Motorola's software commitment is also noteworthy. They're offering two Android OS upgrades on Moto G devices, which means this phone will stay current longer than competitors. You'll also get security patches for three years. That's respectable.
The only real trade-off is raw processing power. If you need maximum speed or play demanding games, you'll feel the limits. But for most users doing normal things with a phone, the Moto G Stylus 2025 feels like an absolute steal.
The Moto G Stylus 2025 offers impressive features such as a 120Hz display and 256GB storage, comparable to flagship phones, at a budget price. Estimated data.
The Motorola Moto G Power 2026: Best Budget Phone With Headphone Jack
If the Moto G Stylus is the all-rounder, the Moto G Power 2026 is the marathon runner. This phone exists for one core purpose: lasting as long as possible on a single charge while remaining functional for everyday tasks.
The battery is enormous. We're talking 5,000mAh of capacity in a phone that weighs under 200 grams. Motorola's optimization means this phone regularly lasts two days with moderate use. One power user I tested with got three days by disabling background app refresh and using medium brightness. That's genuinely rare in the smartphone market.
The display is a 6.5-inch IPS LCD running at 90 Hz. It's not OLED—you won't get the deepest blacks or most vibrant colors. But it's bright, crisp, and perfectly adequate for scrolling, messaging, and video watching. The 90 Hz refresh rate makes everything feel responsive without the power cost of 120 Hz.
Performance comes from the Snapdragon 680, which is entry-level by any measure. Apps load fine. Scrolling through Instagram happens without stuttering. Videos play smoothly. But if you push it hard—multiple games, lots of browser tabs, heavy photography—you'll feel the limitations. For a
The 50-megapixel main camera and 8-megapixel ultra-wide deliver surprisingly capable photos in sunlight. Night mode is mediocre but functional. The macro lens is basically a gimmick. You won't be printing 16x20 posters of your vacation photos, but you'll have quality documentation of your life.
Software includes a near-stock Android experience with Motorola's light customizations. Updates are promised, though Motorola's timeline here is shorter than flagships—one major OS upgrade and two years of security patches. Still respectable for the price.
The headphone jack is there, unapologetic and fully functional. You can plug in any 3.5mm audio device. The phone even includes decent audio output quality through the jack.
Where the G Power wins isn't in specs—it's in real-world endurance. If you travel frequently, work long hours, or simply hate charging phones, this device changes the calculation. You're not paying for processing power you don't need or OLED screens that consume battery. You're paying for time away from chargers.
The TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G: Best Display Innovation With Headphone Jack
TCL's Nxtpaper display technology is genuinely unique. This isn't a standard LCD or OLED screen. It's a hybrid approach that mimics e-ink by using a special layer to diffuse light rather than emit it directly. The result feels like looking at paper, not glass.
Why does this matter? Because it's easier on your eyes during extended use. There's no blue light blasting your retinas. Scrolling doesn't feel quite as snappy as a standard phone, but that's intentional—the display tech sacrifices some responsiveness for comfort. If you spend hours reading news, books, or documents on your phone, this is revelatory.
The Nxtpaper screen still shows vibrant colors, and it can handle video, gaming, and photos. It's not limited to monochrome like true e-ink. But the subdued light output means less eye strain, better battery life, and a fundamentally different user experience compared to traditional phone displays.
Under the hood, TCL packed a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, which is middle-of-the-road but entirely sufficient for most tasks. The 6GB of RAM handles multitasking, and the 128GB storage is expandable via microSD. Battery capacity is 5,010mAh—large enough to complement the power-efficient display for serious longevity.
The 5G connectivity is fast where available, though this is more of a future-proofing feature than something you'll necessarily use immediately. Network availability varies by region and carrier.
Cameras are functional but not impressive. The 50-megapixel main sensor captures reasonable photos in good lighting. Night mode is limited. The 20-megapixel selfie camera is perfectly fine for video calls.
Software is near-stock Android with TCL customizations. Update support is okay but not leading-edge.
The headphone jack is present and works well. Given TCL's focus on display comfort and reading, having the audio jack makes sense for users who prioritize consumption (reading, listening) over media creation.
If you read constantly on your phone, spend hours browsing news and articles, or simply want to reduce eye strain during evening screen time, the TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G is worth serious consideration.
The Moto G Power 2026 excels in battery life with up to 3 days on a single charge, a 90Hz display, and a 50MP camera, all within a budget-friendly price range of
The Minimal Phone 2: Best Headphone Jack Phone for Digital Minimalists
This phone is deliberately designed to be boring. That's the whole point.
The Minimal Phone 2 strips away everything non-essential: no social media apps installed, no app store access in the traditional sense, limited customization, minimal notifications. You get a phone for calling, texting, maps, and basic utility. The 3.5mm headphone jack is your primary audio input.
The screen is a 5.84-inch e-ink display showing full grayscale. Yes, you read that right—an e-ink phone. It's not color. It's not bright. But it's incredibly simple and battery life is measured in days, not hours.
Performance doesn't matter because you're not running demanding apps. The processor is basic, RAM is minimal, storage is 64GB. The phone deliberately limits what you can do to force intentionality. Want to take a photo? You can, but it's black and white. Want to send a message? Yes, but you'll use the web client on a computer for most communication.
This is a phone built on philosophy more than specifications. The target user isn't the average person—it's the person actively trying to reduce their phone's grip on their attention. It's for digital sabbaticals, for people tired of infinite scroll, for parents who want to teach their kids about technology with boundaries.
The headphone jack makes sense here. It's part of the simplicity aesthetic. Plug in wired headphones, listen to music or podcasts, no wireless complications.
If this sounds appealing, you're probably the right audience. If you're wondering how you'd survive without push notifications or Gmail on your phone, this probably isn't for you.
The Motorola Moto G Play 2026: Best Entry-Level Headphone Jack Phone
Motorola's budget lineup has three tiers, and the Moto G Play sits at the entry point. This is the phone for people who need basic smartphone functionality without spending more than
You get a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display running at 60 Hz. It's basic. No fancy refresh rates, no OLED tech. Just a straightforward screen that shows content clearly in most lighting.
The processor is the MediaTek Helio G37, which is genuinely entry-level. Apps open, social media scrolls, YouTube plays. But you'll notice slowdowns if you try to do complex tasks simultaneously. Gaming is limited to lightweight titles. This processor is honest about what it can do.
Battery is a 5,000mAh cell, which combined with the modest display and processor means the phone lasts multiple days easily. That's the primary selling point here.
Cameras are dual on the back (50MP + 8MP ultra-wide) and 8MP in front. Photos are functional—good in sunlight, mediocre in low light. No night mode, no advanced computation, just straightforward capture.
Storage is 64GB with microSD expansion. RAM is 4GB. Software is stock Android with Motorola customizations.
The headphone jack is there. The entire phone is there. You're not getting cutting-edge technology, but you're getting a device that works reliably for essential tasks.
This is the right phone if you need basic functionality, want a headphone jack, and have a tight budget. It's honest about its limitations without pretending to be something it isn't.
Stylus phones offer balanced features, while gaming phones excel in performance. Budget phones provide the best value, and mid-range phones hit the sweet spot for most users. Estimated data based on typical features.
The Nubia Redmagic 11 Pro: Best Gaming Phone With Headphone Jack
When gaming phones get serious, they get weird. The Nubia Redmagic 11 Pro is aggressively specialized for mobile gaming, and somehow it kept the headphone jack.
The standout feature is a 144 Hz AMOLED display. For gaming, this is significant. Fast-paced games like Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and competitive mobile shooters feel dramatically smoother than on standard 120 Hz or 90 Hz phones. The response time is incredibly fast, and the color accuracy is excellent. Watching this screen in action is genuinely impressive.
Performance comes from the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version processor, which is the fastest mobile chip available. Paired with up to 16GB of RAM, this phone crushes any mobile app or game. Thermal management is handled by advanced cooling systems—Redmagic even includes mechanical shoulder triggers and a built-in fan for serious gamers.
The design is aggressive and gamer-oriented. RGB lighting, sharp edges, metal accents. It looks like a gaming device, unapologetically. Some people love this aesthetic. Others think it's overwrought. That's subjective.
Cameras are good (50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto) but not the strongest aspect. Nubia focused engineering on gaming performance rather than mobile photography.
Battery is a 6,100mAh cell with fast charging. The combination of powerful hardware and high refresh rate display means battery life is lower than more moderate phones, but 10-12 hours of gaming or a full day of normal use is achievable.
Software is Android with Redmagic's gaming-focused customizations. The notification management is thoughtful—you can silence everything when gaming without affecting important alerts.
The headphone jack is present and functional. For gamers who prefer wired headsets (lower latency matters in competitive mobile gaming), this is valuable.
If you're serious about mobile gaming and want top-tier performance, the Redmagic 11 Pro is honestly the best phone you can buy. The headphone jack is almost a bonus.
Understanding Headphone Jack Specifications and Audio Quality
Not all headphone jacks are created equal. The standard 3.5mm jack can actually carry different types of signals and support different impedance levels.
Most phones implement stereo jack capability, which means left and right channels plus a ground. This is sufficient for headphones and earbuds. Some phones support CTIA or OMTP standards, which determine how the microphone pin is wired. Fortunately, most modern phones support both standards, so virtually any 3.5mm headphone or earbud works universally.
From an audio quality perspective, the limiting factor isn't usually the jack itself—it's the phone's audio amplifier and DAC (digital-to-analog converter). Better phones have better amplification, which means they can drive high-impedance headphones without losing volume or quality. Budget phones sometimes struggle with impedance matching, particularly if you're using audiophile-grade wired headphones.
All the phones on this list handle standard impedance headphones (16-32 ohms) perfectly. If you own higher-impedance cans (100+ ohms), the more powerful phones like the Redmagic 11 Pro will drive them better than the entry-level options.
Latency is effectively zero on all wired connections—the audio signal travels directly to the jack with no wireless processing. This matters for gaming, video recording, and music production. If you're recording voiceovers or music on your phone, wired connections are significantly more reliable than Bluetooth.
Estimated data shows that several phones in 2026 still offer headphone jacks with competitive ratings, balancing performance and value.
What About USB-C Audio Adapters? The Alternative to Headphone Jacks
If you've chosen a phone without a headphone jack, there are workarounds. USB-C to 3.5mm adapters exist and work reasonably well.
Apple's official adapter costs around
The limitation? You can't charge while using wired headphones unless you buy a splitter or rely on the adapter itself passing through power (not all do). This is a genuine inconvenience if you work long hours or travel frequently.
USB-C headphones are another option. These are standard wired headphones with a USB-C connector instead of 3.5mm. Google sells a budget option for around $35. They work directly without adapters, but you're limited to devices with USB-C ports, and compatibility can be finicky depending on the phone's USB audio implementation.
Compared to phones with built-in headphone jacks, adapters and USB-C headphones add friction. You have another thing to lose or forget. You're occupying the charging port, which creates conflicts. It's not ideal.
If wired audio is important to you, having a native headphone jack is superior to any adapter solution. It's why phones that keep the jack deserve appreciation.
The Future of the Headphone Jack: Is It Really Disappearing?
Yes. The timeline is hard to predict, but the direction is clear.
Manufacturers are removing the jack from budget and mid-range phones now. Within 2-3 years, it will be gone from those segments entirely. Within 5 years, the only phones with headphone jacks will be niche devices for specific audiences—audiophiles, minimalists, professionals in audio fields, and enthusiasts who specifically demand the feature.
Why? Several reasons. First, Bluetooth technology keeps improving, and the user experience gap between wired and wireless narrows yearly. Second, manufacturers can save manufacturing costs by eliminating the jack. Third, removing the jack provides a psychological differentiator—it lets companies claim their phones are "premium" or "innovative" even when that's only a marketing reframe. Fourth, the wireless headphone market (AirPods, Galaxy Buds, etc.) is now a multi-billion dollar industry with active incentives to push the jack toward extinction.
Samsung's recent decision to remove the jack entirely, including from budget A-series phones, was the symbolic breaking point. If the company that held out longest concedes, everyone else feels permission to follow. And Asus exiting the phone market entirely means one of the most committed jack-supporting manufacturers is gone.
That said, niche markets will persist. Gaming phones might keep the jack because low-latency audio matters for competitive gameplay. Minimalist phones will keep it as part of their simplicity philosophy. Some audiophile-focused manufacturers might emerge. But the mainstream? Expect the jack to be extinct within half a decade.
For anyone deciding whether to buy a phone with a headphone jack now, understand you're investing in a feature that's actively being phased out. But that also means the phones offering it now are likely to be the last generation where this choice exists. In that sense, 2026 is a genuinely important year for anyone who values wired audio.
Comparing Phone Categories: Stylus Phones vs. Minimalist Phones vs. Gaming Phones
The phones in this roundup serve different purposes, so the comparison isn't always straightforward.
Stylus phones like the Moto G Stylus appeal to people who want to actually use a pen. They're generally mid-range, offer decent displays for note-taking and drawing, and provide balanced performance. The stylus is genuinely useful for organization, creative work, and annotation. If you've never used one, it's worth trying.
Minimalist phones like the Minimal Phone 2 are philosophically driven. They appeal to people actively trying to reduce smartphone dependence, not people searching for the best hardware specs. This is a category where lower specifications are actually the point. You're paying for constraints.
Gaming phones like the Redmagic 11 Pro are performance-focused. They maximize specs in categories that matter for gaming: refresh rate, processor power, thermal management. Everything else is secondary. If you don't game, the overengineering feels wasteful.
Budget phones like the Moto G Play and G Power prioritize value. They're not trying to be the best at anything—they're trying to be good enough at everything without breaking your budget. The headphone jack is a nice bonus that's increasingly rare at this price point.
Mid-range phones like the TCL 60 XE or the base Moto G lineup are the true sweet spot for most users. They offer genuine feature richness, solid performance, decent cameras, and good battery life. The Moto G Stylus 2025 is probably the best phone in this category right now.
Choosing between them depends entirely on what you care about. What features actually matter to you versus what manufacturers have convinced you should matter?
Beyond Hardware: The Software and Ecosystem Considerations
A phone is more than specifications. Software quality, update support, and ecosystem integration matter significantly.
All the phones here run Android, so the base experience is similar. Motorola's strength is minimal customization—you get near-stock Android with helpful Motorola apps and settings. Some people prefer this. Others like Samsung's deeper customization or the uniqueness of other manufacturers.
Update support varies. Motorola's Moto G line gets 2-3 years of major updates and 3 years of security patches—respectable for budget phones. Redmagic's support is shorter (1-2 major updates). TCL's support is also limited. None of these match Google Pixel's 7 years of support, but few phones do.
Software ecosystems matter if you rely on specific Google services, third-party app stores, or specialized apps. All these phones can access the Google Play Store, so mainstream app compatibility isn't a concern. The question is whether you need device-specific features or integrations.
For most users, software differences are secondary to hardware. You want a phone that receives updates, has access to common apps, and performs well. All these phones meet that bar.
Practical Recommendations Based on Your Priorities
Choosing the right phone depends on honest assessment of your actual needs, not theoretical preferences.
If you want the single best all-around phone with a headphone jack, the Moto G Stylus 2025 is the answer. It has the fewest compromises and the most features for the price. If you value having options but don't need everything, this is the default recommendation.
If battery life is your primary concern, the Moto G Power 2026 will keep you off chargers longer than any other phone here. Two-day battery life is genuinely rare, and the power efficiency to achieve it is impressive.
If you read constantly on your phone or struggle with eye strain from typical smartphone displays, the TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G offers a genuinely different user experience that most people haven't tried. The e-ink-like display is worth experiencing firsthand.
If you're actively trying to reduce screen dependence and minimize notifications, the Minimal Phone 2 forces intentionality in how you use technology. This is a phone that pushes back against your habits rather than enabling them.
If you game seriously on mobile, the Nubia Redmagic 11 Pro is the best option. The 144 Hz display and flagship processor make a real difference, and competitive players will notice the performance gap versus other phones.
If you're on an extremely tight budget, the Moto G Play 2026 provides basic functionality with the headphone jack at an affordable price. Expectations should match the budget, but it's an honest device.
The Bigger Picture: Why Headphone Jacks Matter Beyond Audio
This isn't purely about audio quality or technical specifications. It's about consumer choice, repairability, and corporate decisions that affect product design.
When Apple removed the jack, they framed it as technological progress and slim design. But was the slimmer iPhone significantly better? Not really. Did removing the jack enable features users desperately wanted? Not particularly. It was a design choice that benefited Apple's wireless audio business more than it benefited users.
Manufacturers have continued removing the jack despite genuine user demand for it to remain. Surveys consistently show that a significant percentage of smartphone buyers want the headphone jack. Yet companies remove it anyway, framing it as inevitable progress.
The phones in this guide prove it's still possible to build great modern smartphones with a headphone jack. Motorola didn't struggle to create the Stylus or Power 2026 while including the jack—they just made the choice to keep it. Nubia managed to fit the jack into a gaming flagship. TCL included it in their innovative Nxtpaper device.
This matters because it means manufacturers that keep the jack are respecting user preferences rather than following industry momentum. It's worth supporting that choice with your purchase. Every phone sold with a headphone jack sends a signal that the feature matters to customers, even if silently.
The jack is also a proxy for repairability and right-to-repair ideals. Phones designed to include the jack tend to be designed with repairability in mind. Manufacturers building modular, maintainable devices often keep the jack. Companies obsessed with thinness and sealed designs remove it.
Choosing a phone with a headphone jack is a small act of consumer resistance against the idea that progress always means removing features users find valuable.
Accessories and Optimizations for Headphone Jack Phones
If you've chosen a phone with a headphone jack, certain accessories make the experience better.
Get a quality 3.5mm cable. Not all cables are identical—better shielding reduces interference, and higher-quality connectors last longer. For a phone you plan to keep for years, spending
Consider a headphone extension cable if you regularly hook up your phone to audio systems. Sometimes the jack location on phones is inconvenient for car stereo systems or other audio connections. A simple extension cable solves this.
If you use the phone for audio recording (podcasts, music production, voice memos), a quality recording microphone with 3.5mm connectivity can plug directly into your jack. This is genuinely useful for content creators.
For protective cases, look for designs that don't obstruct the headphone jack. Most cases are designed around the assumption that ports should be clear, but cheap cases sometimes cover the jack. Check before buying.
If you want to optimize audio output through the jack, some phones support app-level audio enhancements. Equalizer apps can adjust the frequency response. These work with wired headphones better than Bluetooth (where the phone's EQ applies differently).
Making the Final Decision: Headphone Jack or Wireless?
Ultimately, this choice depends on your actual use patterns and preferences.
Choose wired if you: own a collection of wired headphones, don't like charging accessories, care about absolute latency, record audio frequently, or simply prefer the simplicity.
Choose wireless if you: value freedom of movement, don't mind charging earbuds, like the option to leave your phone at home with earbuds, prioritize modern design, or simply prefer the convenience.
Neither answer is objectively correct. They're based on different values and use cases. The phones in this guide respect the wired-audio preference, which is increasingly rare.
If you do choose a headphone jack phone, you're not choosing obsolete technology. You're choosing a phone from manufacturers who are listening to users rather than following design trends. That's worth something.
FAQ
What is a headphone jack and why should I care about it?
A 3.5mm headphone jack is the standard audio connector that's been used for decades to plug in headphones, earbuds, and audio cables. You should care because it provides universal compatibility with any wired headphone, eliminates charging requirements for audio accessories, and offers zero-latency audio transmission, all without requiring wireless pairing or Bluetooth connectivity.
How does the audio quality of wired headphones compare to wireless earbuds in 2026?
Modern Bluetooth codecs have improved so much that casual listeners hear virtually no difference between wired and wireless audio. However, wired connections still have advantages: zero latency (matters for gaming and recording), no compression artifacts on high-impedance headphones, and zero battery drain from audio playback. For most people, wireless sounds "good enough," but for audiophiles or professionals, wired remains superior.
Can I use my wired headphones on a phone without a headphone jack?
Yes, you can use a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter (around $9 from Apple or third-party makers) to connect wired headphones to phones without a jack. However, this requires carrying the adapter, can't be used while charging, and adds potential points of failure. Having a native headphone jack is simpler and more reliable than using an adapter.
Which phone in this guide has the best overall value?
The Motorola Moto G Stylus 2025 offers the best balance of features, performance, and price at
How much longer will headphone jacks exist on smartphones?
Based on current manufacturer trends, headphone jacks will likely disappear from mainstream smartphones within 3-5 years. Budget and mid-range phones are losing the jack now. Within a few years, only niche devices (gaming phones, minimalist phones, specialized audio devices) will include it. If you want a modern phone with a headphone jack, 2026 is probably your last window of abundant choices.
What should I look for in a phone if I want excellent audio quality with a headphone jack?
Prioritize phones with better amplifiers (flagships like the Redmagic 11 Pro generally have superior audio output), higher-impedance support, and low-distortion audio processing. However, for most headphones and earbuds, any phone with a headphone jack produces excellent audio. The jack itself isn't the limiting factor—the phone's DAC and amplifier are.
Is it worth buying a phone specifically for the headphone jack feature?
Yes, if wired audio matters to you or you own quality wired headphones you want to use. All the phones in this guide are genuinely good devices with solid specs and features—the headphone jack is a bonus, not the only selling point. You're not compromising on phone quality to get the jack.
Will removing the headphone jack become standard across all phones?
Yes, the headphone jack will eventually disappear from virtually all mainstream smartphones. Manufacturers have demonstrated consistent commitment to removing it, and as wireless audio technology improves and wireless earbuds become cheaper, the incentives to keep the jack diminish. Some niche devices will always include it, but mainstream flagships and budget phones will phase it out entirely within the next several years.
What's the difference between CTIA and OMTP headphone jack standards?
These are different wiring standards for the microphone pin in 3.5mm jacks. Fortunately, most modern phones support both standards automatically, so you can use any 3.5mm headphone or earbud with any phone regardless of which standard it uses. This isn't a practical concern for most users.
Should I buy a gaming phone if I don't game seriously?
No. Gaming phones like the Redmagic 11 Pro are over-engineered if you don't utilize their strengths. The high refresh rate display, aggressive cooling, and flagship processor increase cost and decrease battery life compared to more moderate phones. Unless you actually game on your phone, a mid-range option like the Moto G Stylus offers better value and all-around performance.
Are Motorola phones getting security updates consistently?
Yes. Motorola's Moto G lineup receives 3 years of security patches and 2-3 major Android updates. This is respectable for budget and mid-range phones, though not as long as Google Pixels (7 years) or Samsung's top devices (4-5 years). For most users, 3 years of security support is sufficient before upgrading.
What's the TCL Nxtpaper display and is it better than regular OLED?
The Nxtpaper is a hybrid e-ink-like display that diffuses light like paper rather than emitting it directly. It's not "better" in traditional specs—colors aren't as vibrant, refresh rates are lower, and brightness is reduced. However, it's significantly easier on the eyes during extended reading, produces less blue light, and uses less battery. It's a different technology for different purposes, not a superior alternative.
Conclusion: The Headphone Jack Still Matters in 2026
This is probably the last generation where you have meaningful choices if you want a modern smartphone with a headphone jack. Within a few years, this list will be shorter. Within five years, the only phones with jacks will be niche devices.
That makes 2026 a somewhat important year if wired audio is a priority for you. The phones in this guide aren't compromises or "good enough for budget phones." They're genuinely capable modern devices that happen to respect user preferences and keep the headphone jack.
The Motorola Moto G Stylus 2025 remains the best overall choice: it balances price, features, performance, and value better than any competitor. But depending on your actual priorities, any of these phones is a legitimate recommendation. Some people will prefer the exceptional battery life of the G Power. Others will love the unique display of the TCL 60 XE. Gamers will appreciate the Redmagic's performance. Minimalists will understand the Minimal Phone 2's philosophy.
What they all share is respect for a choice: the ability to use wired audio whenever you want, without adapters or Bluetooth complications. That simplicity, that directness, that universal compatibility—it still matters. And as long as some manufacturers are willing to provide it, that choice deserves to be celebrated and supported.
The headphone jack isn't coming back after it fully disappears. Use this window while it exists. Find the phone that matches your actual needs and preferences. And appreciate that some companies still think your choice matters more than following design trends.
Key Takeaways
- The Motorola Moto G Stylus 2025 is the best overall phone with headphone jack, offering OLED display, stylus, and solid performance at 400.
- 2026 is likely the last generation where you have abundant smartphone choices with native 3.5mm headphone jacks before they disappear entirely.
- Headphone jacks provide genuine advantages: zero latency, no compression, universal compatibility, and no battery drain for audio accessories.
- Motorola, TCL, and Nubia are among the few manufacturers still including headphone jacks in modern, capable devices.
- Budget phones like Moto G Play and G Power prove that including a headphone jack doesn't compromise overall phone design or performance.
- Modern Bluetooth codecs have improved dramatically, but wired audio still offers measurable benefits for gaming, recording, and audiophile use.
