Instead of bringing back the headphone jack, Google rolls out a new USB-C to 3.5 mm dongle
There aren’t a lot of questions left unanswered ahead of Apple’s big 2018 iPhone family launch event tomorrow, but one thing that remains unclear is the port situation on the Xs, Xs Plus, Xc (or Xr), as well as those two new iPad Pros.
Even if the company’s proprietary Lightning connector is to be replaced with universally compatible USB-C technology, which continues to seem unlikely, one feature that’s definitely not making a comeback is the traditional headphone jack.
The same goes for Google’s stock Android-powered Pixel smartphone family, although if it makes you feel any better, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL will (obviously) come with a USB Type-C port each, supporting a new type of headphone adapter.
Google’s upgraded in-house dongle has been discreetly made available in the US at a $12 price. The USB-C Digital to 3.5 mm headphone adapter apparently “works best on Pixel and other devices running Android P or higher”, but ironically, Apple’s own Lightning to 3.5 mm dongle is 3 bucks cheaper. Who’s greedy now?
Of course, the search giant is trying to justify the premium by claiming the new adapter provides “38% more playback time and has a 53% improvement on plug-in latency than previously available Pixel 2 headphone adapter.”
That might be so, but it would have been even better if Google just admitted its 2017 error in judgment. The audio jack is not dead, and the dongle life is not worth living.
Even if the company’s proprietary Lightning connector is to be replaced with universally compatible USB-C technology, which continues to seem unlikely, one feature that’s definitely not making a comeback is the traditional headphone jack.
The same goes for Google’s stock Android-powered Pixel smartphone family, although if it makes you feel any better, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL will (obviously) come with a USB Type-C port each, supporting a new type of headphone adapter.
Google’s upgraded in-house dongle has been discreetly made available in the US at a $12 price. The USB-C Digital to 3.5 mm headphone adapter apparently “works best on Pixel and other devices running Android P or higher”, but ironically, Apple’s own Lightning to 3.5 mm dongle is 3 bucks cheaper. Who’s greedy now?
Of course, the search giant is trying to justify the premium by claiming the new adapter provides “38% more playback time and has a 53% improvement on plug-in latency than previously available Pixel 2 headphone adapter.”
That might be so, but it would have been even better if Google just admitted its 2017 error in judgment. The audio jack is not dead, and the dongle life is not worth living.
source: Google Store via Android Police
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