I see a lot of people complaining that the Fairphone 6 doesn’t have an Aux jack.
Just use an adapter cable.
A 3.5mm Aux jack takes up a significant amount of space just to connect a few wires that could be connected through USB-C anyway, that space could be used for a bigger battery.
Even if there was a good enough reason to keep Aux it should be 2.5mm Aux and not the usual 3.5 as it does exactly the same thing but uses less space
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I can’t wait for fucking 3.5 mm connector to finally leave our collective consciousness. It has it’s uses in analogue world, and it should stay there, or maybe go away even there and be replaced with 5mm entirely like god intended.
I hate this never working dirt accumulator and all the cable hustle associated with it.Make bluetooth that’s not dogshit and I’d agree.
S-tier
Bluetooth 5 is 50Mbit/s it’s perfectly fine even more so past 5.4 for latency and 6.x. even better. So personally for me it’s good enough now. The battery life on my WF Sony earbuds has been enough to not annoy me at all. So, it’s better than a tangling cord.
Yah, I couldn’t give a fuck about aux, and up until last year I always had one. I moved on to Bluetooth once it started working properly.
I’ve taken apart a phone for the purposes of replacing a battery. While everything is very compact as you can imagine, there is also a surprising amount of unused space. I’ll admit I’m not an engineer, so I don’t know if this space is error margin for manufacturing tolerances or something, but there is certainly enough room for a jack to be installed were this space tightened up just a little.
What does AUX stand for? Or do you just like shouting “aux?”
Aux means the auxiliary port.
I know what “aux” is short for, but what does the acronym AUX stand for? Auxiliary Utility Xylophone?
S as far as I know it just short for auxiliary
In the case of this post, it is just incorrect usage.
All ‘Aux’ stands for is auxiliary, which could technically mean a lot of different things depending on context; but we’re talking about phones, so it’s pretty commonly known to mean the auxiliary audio/headphone port. Ie; the 3.5mm TRS/TRRS socket used for audio output/input.
I know what “aux” is short for, but what does the acronym AUX stand for? Auxiliary Useless Xenophobes?
Aux jack is much more reliable than usb-c and can be plugged into any orientation. It is a superior connector. The size difference is negotiable and phones should be made a few mmm larger anyway to fit peoples hand better.
I want my preamp back too, goddammit. Take my rage vote for doing this right.
What needs to happen is the underlying direct feed path needs to still exist, but a modernized connector to bridge it. Because you are right, people don’t understand just how much area the connector port requires.
I have no idea what it takes to bring such a thing to market, but I know that from a hardware perspective you’re looking at two wires.
I hate how small the USB-C connector is though! They’re fragile and wear out pretty quickly. Everybody discounts the round barrel jack size as if it’s a bad thing, i think it’s the exact opposite. It’s large and the internal contacts are similarly large which keeps them working forever lol
Usb C is far more resilient than the micro B connectors it replaced. What are you doing to your type C ports that makes them wear out? Could just be dust stuck in there, easy to scrape out with a toothpick
I’m comparing it to ports larger ports like 3.5 and USB-A. The ports in the phone are fine, but the plugs on the headphone end wear out like crazy. Carrying a phone in my pocket with a USB-C header sticking out for a while day of work causes it to wiggle around no matter what I do. Eventually I realized it was a losing battle 😐
Admittedly I was very stuck in the ‘I hate phones not having Aux’ camp because I preferred wired headphones for the longest time.
I was given some fairly poor wireless headphones and was pleasantly surprised by those, so I bought a good quality set myself. Now I’ve gotten so used to being untethered from my phone while listening to music, or podcasts, etc that I don’t think I’d go back to wired headphones while mobile.
That just leaves stereo systems, portable speakers, vehicles and the like. All of those, instead of carrying around or leaving an aux-aux cable, swap that for a usb c to aux cable.
Or even one of these:
As OP said, more space for battery. It’s also one less opening to waterproof. It took me a good long while, but I’ve come around to agree a headphone jack just isn’t worth the extra space it takes up. It’s not worthless, but there’s better ways to use the space.
I don’t understand how people like Bluetooth earbuds.
You have to constantly clean them because of ear wax for starters, and they’re much more uncomfortable if you’re sweaty. Not to mention all the years of doctors saying don’t use Q-tips because it pushes ear wax into your ears just for everyone to start shoving buds in there anyway. To bad the younger generation didn’t get to learn about wired clip-ons or flat cables. Wish they still make them but I suppose bonephonesoike Shokz are safer for when cycling.
Then there’s the battery issues. That just feels like a downgrade. Not only is it yet another thing you have to remember to charge, but they can run out of battery. Aux version literally never runs out of battery. Maybe if we had a new gen of battery that lasted months sure, but we don’t yet.
And lastly battery on phone isn’t an issue. I have an Xperia 1 V and can easily use the phone all day without running out of battery, and it has a headphone jack.
Depends on what you’re doing with them. If I’m listening to music and want fidelity, I use wired headphones (also with my Xperia 1 v), but if I’m at the gym I much prefer my Bluetooth headphones as they’re generally easier to keep in my ears for long periods of time. Just a point of reference though, I’m not recommending the airpods style of Bluetooth headphones, I’m talking the older style wired connecting the two earpods and when you’re not using them, they magnetically join together around your neck. They’re actually pretty decent with Bluetooth 5.2, can get a couple of days of battery life and charge quickly over USB c if they’re low.
Yeah the sports clips make more sense to me than the buds tho. Or in general, because they have at least better battery life
Not all Bluetooth earbuds are in-ears.
And I prefer charging than having to deal with a cable all the time and the jack is a real dirt magnet.
Idk how you’re getting your jack dirty. I guess if you go mudding outdoors, but then your USB C port would have the same issue.
Also, if the earbuds aren’t in-ears, aren’t they just clip-ons or headphones? I think buds by definition go inside your ears
Idk how you’re getting your jack dirty.
Dusty warehouse environment. Even with my phone staying in my pocket most of the time; it collects dust in the ports and has to be cleaned regularly. I’m glad I only have one port to clean now.
Also, if the earbuds aren’t in-ears, aren’t they just clip-ons or headphones?
Sure, but nobody said you can only use wireless buds. If you don’t like in-ear style headphones/buds try a different style.
These used to by my wired earbuds of choice; I swapped the replaceable cable with a usb c one. There’s also a bluetooth cable/adapter you can buy.
I haven’t actually used them much though because I primarily switched to some wireless Raycons 2-3 ago years now. They’ve been fantastic and I’ve gotten so used to being untethered from my phone that I don’t think I’d ever go back.
8-10 hrs of runtime and only about 20min to charge; More often than not, I’m only wearing one anyway, so one charges while the other plays audio. Swap as necessary or listen to both and take an occasional break (which is good for you anyway). They charge in the case whenever not being used, and the case wirelessly charges whenever its on my bedside table, or from usb c if you ever needed it. I’ve yet to kill all three batteries, even with continuous use all day long.
Dusty warehouse environment. Even with my phone staying in my pocket most of the time; it collects dust in the ports and has to be cleaned regularly. I’m glad I only have one port to clean now.
You might want to look into these for the USB port:
https://www.amazon.com/usb-c-dust-cover/s?k=usb+c+dust+cover
They also have them for aux jacks and other ports, for those using headphones.
Hope you’re masking up too
Edit: the Sony’s are wired. Thanks either way since I’ve been looking for something like that but wired, didn’t know they were still made
Edit2: nvm, they indeed don’t make them anymore
My wife used to work in a bakery and her phones always broke up because all the ports got extremely dirty with flour.
Yo I love my bonephones
Compared to what?
Corded earphones that go in the ear would give you the same problem. You can buy over ear Bluetooth headphones, and the ones I use for work have a charger where one battery is in and one is charging.
Shokz batteries last forever and still let you hear surroundings, so they are go-to for leaving the house. And for just audio, phone battery doesn’t matter either.
No cables for Bluetooth, and I wouldn’t wear earbuds anyway.
Additional bonus: my wife and I used to dance before kids and we can connect TWO sets of headphones for same audio without having to be touching, or we can listen to same audiobook while walking.
Of course, no cable snags or tangles either.
Counterpoint: I haven’t ever plugged my phone in to charge. The USB C port is now full of lint and crud. It definitely wouldn’t work for headphones with an adapter. A headphone jack would still work if I had one. If it didn’t work a toothpick could clean it out. I have a stylus inside my phone instead which I use once every few months.
What I’m trying to say is that I don’t think phones should have any ports. A micro SD card spot next to the SIM card inside is everything necessary. Wireless charging doesn’t require you to hold the phone and cable at the right angle for the charging to happen. Just drop it on the charger and forget about it. Hell, they build wireless chargers into couches and tables now. I have a portable speaker that does wireless charging. That’s true wireless charging. I could charge my phone in a hurricane.
I know this is unpopular opinion but using the charging port for anything but charging or the occasional data transfer is unnecessary wear. I could never deal with “hold the charge cable at juuust the right angle” again. It starts going bad and you get to see it getting worse until you can’t trust it charging and you buy the new phone you’ve been thinking about for months now. The USB C port in my phone is where I keep my collection of pocket detritus and I wouldn’t miss it if it was gone.
I feel this is a very good unpopular opinion, as I think a lot of the annoyance about the fair phone not having a headphone jack is that they bill themselves as a sustainable phone maker who prides themselves as reducing waste and increasing repairability of their devices, something that dongles kinda fly in the face of from an ewaste perspective.
The same target group that they are aiming at generally likes stuff like expandable storage (so that they don’t have to upgrade devices just to hold all their photos and stuff) and having a dead simple headphone jack so they can use one of the oldest standard ports in the world to use their headphones.
Since most newer phones have multiple days worth of battery life, I’m more than willing to sacrifice a few hours worth of runtime (maybe even a days worth) just to have a headphone jack. And you could say that I am in the minority of phone users, which is apparently true, however I’d argue I am pretty solidly in the target demographic for a fairphone, which I’m not getting due to the lack of a headphone jack. I instead, got a Sony Xperia 1 V (stupid name for a very nice phone) which offered a 3.5 mm, expandable storage, and decent repairability.
Same. Also on the feature list was the smallest screen I could find
Cool…so I wanna listen to my headphones and charge my phone. Should I just get fucked then?
The ONLY compromise I would find acceptable, if is they had 2x usb-c ports that could handle data/audio, and one of them dedicated for charging…but guess what, that’s more expensive for them compared to a 3.5mm
Wireless charger. Or use Bluetooth headphones, that way you aren’t tied to wall waiting for your phone to charge while listening to audio.
I bought a y-shaped cable for exactly this the other day.
Usb c on one end, aux and usb a on the other end.
But does it charge the phone while you listen?
Yup, that’s what it’s for.
I assume you have another extender from the usb-a to a power socket, or do you sit against the wall/outlet and listen?
This particular cable is more intended for connecting to a stereo + charger, so those would be close together.
I’m mainly using it with one of these stereos, but it would be good in a car too:
If you want to connect headphones+charge, the dongle style adapters may be a better fit:
Though you could use a usb or aux extension on either of the shorter ends of the first cable I showed if you wanted too.
Appreciate 👍
First one flat out says does not support charging.
Second one says charging, then they also say it doesn’t support Samsung, apple, and laptops. Whatever the hell that means. It also states 'so you can enjoy music while charging. Note: does not support music control.
I just wouldn’t trust the 2nd to function as I want, with the really weird description.
Weird descriptions is just how Aliexpress is. I think your right, the first one is a bad example, but there are definitely ones that work, I have one at home that explicitly marks the charge side and audio side.
Never tested it properly though, so YMMV.
The existence of these adapters does make me beleive that if apple/samsung/etc wanted to, they could trivially include an official one for $10 or so.
Do not use those to charge, ever:
https://hackaday.com/2025/04/07/why-usb-c-splitters-can-cause-magic-smoke-release/
Really depends on if it has a proper internal USB hub or not.
And with a non-PD charger its perfectly safe.
But very good point, that you do need to be careful. Especially with Aliexpress junk.
Edit: tested mine, which is a Y cord thing, like the first link, and it does not pass more than 5v to the audio side. So it really depends what you get. You can’t power it from the audio side either, so there must be some kind of proper isolation.
