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[General question to the Android community] Have you given up on the audio jack, or do you still only buy devices that have it?

(Posting this here rather than !askandroid@lemdro.id as it's a quite general question)

I had a look at the GSM Arena phone finder, and it the choice is getting smaller and smaller every year (only 43 phones from 2023, reviewed by the site, had a jack)

The remaining ones are mostly

  • Xiaomi Redmi
  • Zenfones
  • Sony
  • Samsung entry range

So, has everyone switched to Bluetooth / USB-C dongles, or are there still a few people holding to the jack until the very end?

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  • Still a requirement for me. I listen to music and podcasts while I run, and I run a lot. But I don't want to deal with the privacy issues of leaving my BT on when I leave home. And USB dongles physical connections just aren't as reliable with a lot of motion.

    • Which phone do you use?

    • I run also, and trust me try wireless, such a better experience without the entangling cables. Specially for sport.

      • I know, it's defo more comfortable. Like I said, I just can't deal with the privacy issues related to BT. If there were earbuds supporting some kind of privacy friendly wireless protocol, I'd use them.

        • Do you want to elaborate on the privacy point?

          I personally don't care if somebody snoops on the music I hear...

          • It's not the music, it's location data. BT broadcasts a unique ID to your device. Every device with BT will receive that ID to check if it knows you. That's inherent to the protocol and works as designed. Apps will be able to learn yours and other peoples location that way. That's basically how Apples Airtag network operates.

            • That would be in the few meters range BT works...

              And maybe the attacker needs to know already that you are you for that to work....

              Of course if you use apple or google or Samsung stuff, in general if your stuff is already tracked to you...

              I drive mostly around, they can already track me with my car license plate. BT doesn't give out anything of added value.

              So no, I do not really understand the issue, but this doesn't mean I don't respect your choice.

              • I think you severely underestimate how our devices are networked nowadays. It's not about the device directly next to you. It's about what is beeing agreggated in the back end. Google and Apple have an extensive BT and Wifi map that can locate specific devices very accurately at all times. Which of course is enriched with other device data from installed apps, like where you shop, what you shop, maybe even vitals from your smartwatch etc. to create a scarily accurate persona attached to your name. That's on a whole other level than what you can do with a license plate.

                That being sad I respect your choice as well. Being privacy conscientious is a bit of work.

                • I agree, you are perfectly right.

                  Better pollute the data and make it less economically meaningful?

                  Sorry, I am not degoogled and I even have maps with history enabled!

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