www.wired.com Open in urlscan Pro
151.101.194.194  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Skip to main content

Open Navigation Menu
Menu
Story Saved

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories.

Close Alert
Close

Story Saved

To revisit this article, select My Account, then View saved stories

Close Alert
Close
Sign In



Search
Search
 * Backchannel
 * Business
 * Culture
 * Gear
 * Ideas
 * Science
 * Security

 * Podcasts
 * Video
 * Artificial Intelligence
 * Climate
 * Games
 * Newsletters
 * Magazine
 * Events
 * Wired Insider
 * Jobs
 * Coupons

 * Last-Chance Cyber Monday Deals
 * The Best iPads
 * How to Make Autocorrect Work for You
 * Favorite Soundbars
 * How to Clean Your Keyboard
 * Get Our Deals Newsletter
 * All Our Coverage






Julian Chokkattu

Gear
Dec 5, 2022 10:00 AM


THE BEST PHONES WITH AN ACTUAL HEADPHONE JACK

Headphone jacks might be endangered, but they’re not gone. Here are some of our
favorite smartphones that still let you plug in.
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Email
 * Save Story
   Save this story for later.

 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Email
 * Save Story
   Save this story for later.



If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This
helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to
WIRED

Featured in this article


MOST COMPATIBLE
SAMSUNG GALAXY A13 5G
READ MORE

$250 at Amazon


TINY AND POWERFUL
ASUS ZENFONE 9
READ MORE

$699 at Amazon


A RUGGED PHONE
NOKIA XR20
READ MORE

$493 at Amazon


FOR GAMERS
ASUS ROG PHONE 6
READ MORE

$999 at Amazon
Show more
4 / 9

It’s been six years since Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone. Yes,
you can get excellent wireless earbuds nowadays, but maybe you prefer plugging
in, or you just don't want to think about charging your headphones. The joy of
the 3.5-mm headphone connector is that it’s one of the few truly universal
standards left. 

You can use pretty much any pair of corded headphones—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, no earbuds to lose. There are
times when Bluetooth is preferable, but it’s also nice to at least have the
option. After testing dozens of phones, these are the best options with the
venerable port. Read our guides to the Best Android Phones and Best Cheap Phones
for more recommendations.

Updated December 2022: We’ve added the Asus Zenfone 9, ROG Phone 6, OnePlus Nord
N300 5G, and Nokia G400 5G.  

Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25
off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if
you'd like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

 * Photograph: Samsung
   
   
   MOST COMPATIBLE
   
   Samsung Galaxy A13 5G
   
   Times are tough. With the Pixel A-series line no longer featuring a headphone
   jack, it's getting harder to find a jack-of-all-trades smartphone with a
   3.5-mm port that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and supports all the major US
   carriers. That's why I've settled on the Samsung Galaxy A13 5G (7/10, WIRED
   Recommends) to take the top spot in this guide. This 6.5-inch Android phone
   is drab to look at, but it has performed quite well considering its low
   price. The MediaTek Dimensity 700 chip inside has been crushing it—apps
   launch quickly, there are rarely any stutters, and even lightweight games
   like Pako Forever run smoothly. The 90-Hz refresh rate is a nice touch that
   makes every operation feel fluid, though the LCD screen is low-res and
   doesn’t get bright enough to comfortably read on sunny days. It might have
   three cameras on the back, but only the main camera is really usable; it
   offers decent daytime photos and passable low-light images. 
   
   The battery easily lasts more than a full day, and you get niceties like a
   MicroSD card slot, a reliable fingerprint scanner, NFC so you can tap to pay
   at retailers, and of course, the headphone jack. Most impressive is Samsung's
   commitment to software updates. The Galaxy A13 5G will get two OS upgrades
   and four years of security patches—hard to find on a phone so cheap. Samsung
   confirmed that 5G connectivity works on all major US carriers with the
   unlocked model. 
   
   $250 at Amazon
   $250 at Samsung
   $250 at Best Buy
   
 * Photograph: Asus
   
   
   TINY AND POWERFUL
   
   Asus Zenfone 9
   
   I love this tiny Asus phone (7/10, WIRED Recommends). At just 5.9 inches,
   it's one of the most compact Android smartphones out there, yet it doesn't
   skimp on performance. It's powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon Snapdragon 8+ Gen
   1 flagship chipset, so it's got all the horsepower to run your favorite apps
   and games. That's without mentioning the day and a half of battery life, the
   bright, 120-Hz AMOLED screen, and IP68 water resistance. It even has this fun
   texture on the back that makes it a pleasure to hold and use. The headphone
   jack is here and you'll also be happy with the loud output from the stereo
   speakers.
   
   The camera system is OK—there's nothing groundbreaking here—though they do
   have some great video stabilization if you frequently find yourself filming
   while moving around. The only few downsides are the lack of wireless
   charging, and Asus is only promising two years of updates, which is one of
   the worst software update policies these days. Oh, and it won't work on
   Verizon, just AT&T and T-Mobile.
   
   $699 at Amazon
   $700 at Asus
   
 * Photograph: Nokia
   
   
   A RUGGED PHONE
   
   Nokia XR20
   
   Drop your phone frequently? If you’re reading this through cracked glass, you
   might consider HMD Global's Nokia XR20 (7/10, WIRED Recommends). Its screen
   is protected by just about the strongest glass you’ll find on any Android
   phone, and the back is made of a tough polymer composite. I dropped it on the
   street three times, and it came out with only a few minor scuffs on the back.
   After a year of brutal use, it's still kicking just fine with a near-pristine
   display, save a few scratches. (This is no guarantee that the screen won't
   crack, just cautious optimism.) There’s a spot to attach a wrist strap if you
   want to be extra careful and keep your phone tethered. 
   
   It runs well and lasts a full day. Better yet, it has features like wireless
   charging, dual SIM, a MicroSD card slot, IP68 water resistance, and NFC for
   making contactless payments. Being a year old, it'll get two more OS upgrades
   and three more years of security updates. Oh, and the headphone jack. That’s
   a lot! Unfortunately, it doesn’t work on Verizon, and 5G support doesn’t
   include AT&T (though LTE works just fine).
   
   $493 at Amazon
   $498 at Walmart
   $550 at Best Buy
   $550 at Nokia
   
 * 

Featured Video



Jenna Ortega Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions



Most Popular
 * gear
   20 Viral TikTok Gifts That Are Actually Worth It
   
   Brenda Stolyar

 * gear
   26 Delightful Gift Ideas for Music Lovers and Audiophiles
   
   Parker Hall

 * gear
   The 18 Best Wireless Headphones for Everyone
   
   Parker Hall

 * gear
   How to Start a Cassette Collection in the 21st Century
   
   Orlando Mendiola

 * 





 * Photograph: Asus
   
   
   FOR GAMERS
   
   Asus ROG Phone 6
   
   The primary reason to get the Asus ROG Phone 6 is because it's a kickass
   device for playing mobile games and streaming games from your Xbox or
   PlayStation. Not only does it have the most extra specs—like the 12 GB of RAM
   and 165-Hz screen refresh rate—but Asus has all kinds of accessories like the
   ROG Kunai 3 to make gaming on a phone feel more tactile. It also has built-in
   software to map your game controls to physical buttons. The 6,000-mAh battery
   will easily last two days with average use and will power your long gaming
   sessions. 
   
   There are caveats. Like the Zenfone 9, this phone only works on AT&T and
   T-Mobile (sorry, Verizon subscribers). There's no wireless charging, Asus
   still only offers two years of updates, the IPX4 water resistance rating is
   lackluster, and the cameras are just OK. But hey, at least it has a headphone
   jack!
   
   $999 at Amazon
   $1,000 at Asus
 * Photograph: Motorola
   
   
   TWO GOOD MOTOROLA PHONES
   
   Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) and Moto G 5G (2022)
   
   Motorola releases tons of phones each year, but these two are standouts for
   2022. You can read more about them in my review, but here’s a brief summary.
   Before you buy, I strongly recommend waiting for a sale, as Motorola
   discounts its phones often.
   
   The Moto G Stylus 5G is powerful, has nearly two-day battery life, supports
   NFC for contactless payments (rare for a Motorola), and comes with 256 GB of
   storage, so you’re getting a ton of storage. With its 6.8-inch LCD screen,
   it’s on the large end for a phone, but it supports a 120-Hz refresh rate, and
   there’s a built-in stylus you can pull out to doodle or sign documents. The
   headphone jack is on the bottom. It’ll sadly only get one OS upgrade (up to
   Android 13) but three years of security updates, and it has lackluster
   cameras and poor water resistance (it’ll be fine in rain).
   
   The Moto G 5G is smaller and cheaper, but it’s the lesser phone. It runs
   almost as well as the Stylus 5G, but the camera system is worse. And there’s
   no NFC support, so you can’t pay with your phone. You do get 256 GB of
   internal storage and a MicroSD slot to expand space. There’s no stylus
   either, and the LCD screen has a 90-Hz refresh rate. It still functioned
   perfectly well as a smartphone though, and it has a headphone jack!
   
   $350 at Amazon (Moto G Stylus 5G)
   $300 at Amazon (Moto G 5G)
 * Photograph: OnePlus
   
   
   ANOTHER GREAT CHEAP PHONE
   
   OnePlus Nord N20 5G
   
   This OnePlus phone feels like a callback to the good old days of OnePlus,
   when it offered tremendous quality at an astonishing price. The Nord N20 5G
   (7/10, WIRED Recommends) has a 60-Hz screen, sure, but it uses an AMOLED
   panel instead of an LCD—rare at this price. That means you get pitch-dark
   blacks and vivid colors that pop, though the screen can be a bit hard to read
   on sunny days. Naturally, you get a headphone jack, but it has many other
   merits. Its performance is class-leading for a sub-$300 phone, the battery
   lasts a full day, and there’s NFC for contactless payments, not to mention a
   microSD card slot and 5G connectivity. It’ll only get one OS update to
   Android 13, but it will get three years of security updates. 
   
   The downsides? The cameras are subpar. It’s available unlocked, but it won’t
   work on Verizon, and if you’re on AT&T, don’t expect to access 5G
   connectivity.
   
   $230 at Amazon
   $299 at OnePlus
   $230 at Best Buy

Most Popular
 * gear
   20 Viral TikTok Gifts That Are Actually Worth It
   
   Brenda Stolyar

 * gear
   26 Delightful Gift Ideas for Music Lovers and Audiophiles
   
   Parker Hall

 * gear
   The 18 Best Wireless Headphones for Everyone
   
   Parker Hall

 * gear
   How to Start a Cassette Collection in the 21st Century
   
   Orlando Mendiola

 * 




 * Photograph: Sony
   
   
   A FLAGSHIP WITH THE JACK
   
   Sony Xperia 1 III
   
   The Xperia 1 III costs way too much at MSRP, but its price has since come
   down. It’s just about the only phone around with a 4K OLED 120-Hz screen,
   which makes it fantastic for watching movies (as fantastic as a tiny phone
   screen can be). It has great-sounding front-facing stereo speakers and a
   headphone jack when you want to plug it in. Its camera system isn’t quite the
   best, but it encourages you to tweak photo and video settings so you can have
   more control over the results. If you’re a photo tinkerer, this is for you.
   You can find pretty much any feature that’s available in a high-end phone
   here, including wireless charging. 
   
   However, 5G is limited to sub-6 5G (the slower kind), and it's only available
   on Verizon and T-Mobile—sorry, AT&T subscribers, you're stuck on 4G LTE. The
   4,500-mAh battery isn’t a standout either. It lasts just a day, sometimes
   less if you use it a lot. It also will only get one more year of updates. 
   
   What about the Xperia 1 IV? Yes, Sony has a new version. Unfortunately, the
   Xperia 1 IV (6/10, WIRED Review) costs an absurd $1,598. The 4K OLED screen
   gets plenty bright, fixing one of the qualms I had with the Xperia 1 III, and
   the battery now easily lasts a full day too. The cameras are better and share
   many of the same features, so they’re consistent, but the imaging quality
   still isn’t up to par with competitors. It doesn’t help that Sony still isn’t
   committing to more than two years of software support. 
   
   $798 at Amazon
   $798 at Adorama
 * Photograph: Asus
   
   
   HONORABLE MENTIONS
   
   Solid Phones
   
   Here are some alternatives to consider if none of the phones above strike
   your fancy. 
   
   Asus Zenfone 8 for $499: You can still buy the Zenfone 9's predecessor (6/10,
   WIRED Review). It has flagship-grade performance as it’s powered by the
   top-end chip of 2021: Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888. It also has a 120-Hz AMOLED
   screen and IP68 water resistance. Cons? It doesn’t work on Verizon, and its
   cameras and battery life are so-so. It’ll also only get one more Android
   version upgrade (Android 13). 
   
   Moto G Stylus 2022 for $200: This Motorola phone (6/10, WIRED Review) is a
   perfectly fine phone option. The headphone jack is present, as is a 90-Hz LCD
   screen, two-day battery life, decent performance, and a MicroSD card slot.
   There’s no NFC, so you can’t pay with this phone, and no 5G support, plus it
   will only get an update to Android 12. It has a stylus if that makes a
   difference. 
   
   OnePlus N300 5G for $230: This phone only works on T-Mobile and Metro by
   T-Mobile, so if you're on that network, it's a great, affordable device.
   It'll only get one update to Android 13 and two years of security updates,
   but there's 5G service, you can pay with the phone via NFC, and the 5,000-mAh
   battery lasts two full days. The MediaTek Dimensity 810 chipset is quite
   speedy too. It also has a 90-Hz screen, a microSD slot, and a headphone jack.
   As with many of the phones in this guide, the cameras are meh, and there's no
   water resistance.
   
   Nokia G400 5G for $270: Nokia's new phone will work on every major US
   network, hooray! I've only just started using it so I don't have a definite
   opinion yet. But it's promising so far. There's a 120-Hz screen refresh rate,
   a 5,000-mAh battery, plus the ability to make contactless payments.
   Performance seems OK, but the 4 GB of RAM already feels limiting, so you'll
   have to deal with some lag here and there. 
   
   
 * Photograph: Apple 
   
   
   IF YOU LOST THE JACK
   
   Dongle Life
   
   Sorry iPhone owners. None of Apple’s phones have a headphone jack, and that
   includes the iPhone SE. You’ll have to make do with a headphone dongle. The
   options below should work. And if you have an Android phone that lacks the
   jack, we have a nice pair of USB-C earbuds we like.
   
   For iPhone: Apple Lightning to 3.5-mm Adapter for $8. If you want to be safe
   and stick with Apple-branded cables, this simple adapter will let you quickly
   plug your cans into your iPhone. I recommend buying several because they’re
   easy to lose.
   
   For other phones: Google USB-C Earbuds for $30. If you have an Android phone
   without a headphone jack, try these USB-C earbuds from Google. They sound
   decent, and you can get Google Assistant to read out notifications when your
   phone is in your pocket. If you just want an adapter so you can use your own
   headphones, Apple has a USB-C to 3.5-mm adapter that should work.
   
   




Julian Chokkattu is the reviews editor at WIRED, covering personal technology
and reviewing consumer products. Previously he was the mobile and wearables
editor at Digital Trends, steering coverage and reviews of smartphones and
smartwatches, and an intern at TechCrunch. He graduated from Rutgers University
with a bachelor's degree in English... Read more
Reviews Editor
 * Twitter


TopicsShoppingbuying guidesAudiophileHeadphonesphonessmartphones
More from WIRED
The Best Cheap Phones for Almost Every Budget
There’s little reason to pay top dollar for a smartphone. These iPhones and
Android devices—ranging from $150 to $500—stood up to WIRED’s testing.

Julian Chokkattu

71 Best Buy Deals to Drool Over This Black Friday
From iPads to mirrorless cameras, here are the shiniest deals we could find from
this popular retailer.

Matt Jancer

The Best Phone, Tablet, and Smartwatch Cyber Monday Deals
Treat yourself to a bargain as we serve up a platter of irresistible discounts
on small screens and mobile accessories. 

Simon Hill


The Best Target Black Friday Deals
The retailer started its holiday sales early this year, but it's still going
strong, with deals on soundbars, iPads, and games.

Medea Giordano

Last-Chance Cyber Monday Deals Still Going Strong Right Now
The sale bonanzas may be over, but many of the same discounts are alive,
including on phones, office chairs, and kitchenware. 

Scott Gilbertson

14 Best Cyber Monday Deals on Google Devices We Like
The sale started early, but there's still plenty of time to grab a brand-new
Pixel 7 or Pixel Watch at a discount.

Eric Ravenscraft

How to Pair Joy-Cons to Your iPhone and What Games to Play
The small Nintendo Switch controller now connects to Apple’s smartphones and
tablets for even more gaming options.

Reece Rogers

20 Viral TikTok Gifts That Are Actually Worth It
We tried out the gadgets that kept showing up in our feeds. Here are the ones
that deserve the hype—and would make awesome presents.

Brenda Stolyar




WIRED COUPONS

TurboTax Service Code

Tax Season Deal: Up to $89 off TurboTax Live Assisted


H&R Block Coupon

20% Off - All H&R Block Tax Software


Finish Line Coupons

Finish Line Coupon Code: $10 off by signing up for texts


Dyson promo code

Extra 20% off sitewide - Dyson promo code 2022


Gopro promo code

GoPro: Get 15% off sitewide without a promo code


Samsung Promo Code

Samsung promo code - Up to 40% off sitewide




WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. It is the essential source of information
and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation. The WIRED
conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our
lives—from culture to business, science to design. The breakthroughs and
innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking, new connections, and
new industries.
 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Pinterest
 * YouTube
 * Instagram
 * Tiktok

More From WIRED

 * Subscribe
 * Newsletters
 * FAQ
 * Wired Staff
 * Press Center
 * Coupons
 * Editorial Standards
 * Black Friday

Contact

 * Advertise
 * Contact Us
 * Customer Care
 * Jobs

 * RSS
 * Accessibility Help
 * Condé Nast Store
 * Condé Nast Spotlight
 * Do Not Sell My Personal Info

© 2022 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance
of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your
California Privacy Rights. WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that
are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with
retailers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed,
transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission
of Condé Nast. Ad Choices

Select international siteUnited StatesLargeChevron
 * UK
 * Italia
 * Japón

We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as unique
IDs in cookies to process personal data. You may accept or manage your choices
by clicking below or at any time in the privacy policy page. These choices will
be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data.More Information


WE AND OUR PARTNERS PROCESS DATA TO PROVIDE:

Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for
identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised ads
and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product
development. Please note, preferences expressed on this site will also apply to
“es.wired.com” List of Partners (vendors)

I Accept
Show Purposes