Ever since Apple removed the 3.5-mm headphone jack from the iPhone in 2016, we’ve continued to see smartphone manufacturers ax the venerable port. But 2020 threw curveballs. Two—not one, but two—companies brought back the headphone jack to their respective flagship phones.
The joy of the 3.5-mm headphone connector is that it’s one of the few truly universal standards left. You can grab pretty much any pair of corded headphones. Plug in. Listen. No need to worry about whether they’re Lightning or USB-C, or whether the connectivity will blip in and out. No batteries to charge, no dongles to attach. There are obviously times when Bluetooth is preferable, but it’s also nice to at least have the option.
If a headphone jack is what you need, or even just what you think you might want at some point, give one of these holdouts a try. Many of these picks are in our Best Android Phones and Best Cheap Phones guides, and make sure to check out our Best Cheap Headphones guide, which includes several picks that make use of the 3.5-mm headphone jack.
Updated January 2021: We’ve added the Pixel 4A, Moto Edge, Galaxy A71, Nokia 5.3, OnePlus Nord N10 5G, and Moto G Stylus 2021.
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