Why won't phone manufacturers give us what we want?

[Deleted User]

Apparently the headphone jack was omitted from ip7 because the extra space was needed for the haptic engine.

almillar

- Non-replaceable batteries - I've NEVER had a smartphone battery that lasted all day, or a smartphone battery that wasn't shot after about 18 months

Let me introduce you to: The Palm Treo.

Glass backs

Fully agree. Slippery and fragile.

- Disappearing 3.5mm headphone sockets

Again agree. I know why they're going, I've got great BT headphones, but earBUDS are such a faff at the moment. Too heavy and all the charging rubbish. And when they do get good, they'll be tinier and easier to lose.

But I disagree on the removable battery thing. There are many opportunities to charge, power saving features etc, power banks, that get me through the day just fine. I would very happily add a few millimetres to any of my last 5 smartphones, to get an extra 1,000 - 2,000 mAh of battery. Most phones have around 2,000-4,000 at the moment.

But marketers think that users are obsessed with THIN. Especially Apple.

the really important stuff like waterproofing

Waterproofing is a really excellent feature IMO. Look at all the water damaged phones people have - lifesaver, and contrary to your point, saves phones from the scrap heap.

For the record, I've an S8, and whilst I'm happy with the battery life in the context of the modern smartphone (happy = it lasts the day without too much stress), I'd happily take it thicker with a bigger battery. I'll keep (and do use) the headphone socket, and have a case around the glass back, ironically, making that lovely sleek phone a bit fatter.

It is perfectly possible to have a waterproof phone with a 3.5mm headphone jack. The Samsung Galaxy S9 has these features.

Yep, S8 too. I don't know of a removable battery, waterproof phone, but headphone jack plus waterproofing is available.

itm2

almillar wrote: »

Waterproofing is a really excellent feature IMO. Look at all the water damaged phones people have - lifesaver, and contrary to your point, saves phones from the scrap heap.

Yes I take the point about waterproofing - it would be a lifesaver if you're prone to dropping your phone into places that you really don't want to drop it. I suppose the fact that I've never done it in the 12+ years that I've had smartphones has made me a little blase about it.

Having read the other feedback about waterproofing on this thread, I've now concluded that the argument against removable batteries on grounds of waterproofing is probably bogus. If you can waterproof a phone with a 3.5m audio socket then you can certainly waterproof a phone with a battery compartment as well. It shouldn't be an either/or decision, just a question of willingness on the part of the phone designer.

mac.d

telemarks wrote: »

Had to look this one up, Samsung A3 Jan 2017:

• 4.7" Low res screen 720 x 1280
• 2Mb Ram
• Budget range chipset

In other words, a typical low end phone these days.

Nice and small, thin and light though because of that. :A

I think your idea of a low end phone maybe differs to mine! Besides, you did say very low end phone in your earlier post, and its certainly not in that category.

wongataa

john22 wrote: »

Correct you can waterproof a phone and still have a 3.5mm headphone jack. However just to say that the reason to simply remove the headphone jack is to make more money is I would say ignorant.

I would bet there is technical and design reasons for it and it will become more apparent in the years to come.

If the headphone jack is such a critical part of a user experience then that person should not buy an iPhone. Since they have removed it I have not seen iPhone sales fall through the floor.

If someone is going to put down £700-£1000 on a phone and moan that it does come with a 3.5mm headphone jack then they need to seek therapy to help them understand why they do such things.

New iPhones come with a dongle so you can use existing wired headphones. Apple launched their fancy wireless earbuds just after the latest iPhones. Taking away a headphone jack and launching new wireless earphones. Hmm, I see a chance to make more money, especially as they use a special chip in theirs to improve the bluetooth experience over regular bluetooth headphones (so they say). Apple make loads of money with peripherals as they have to be licensed to work properly with iPhones.

telemarks

mac.d wrote: »

I think your idea of a low end phone maybe differs to mine!

Agreed.


Remember Moores law, which for mobiles comes out something like; last years mid range, is this years low end, and is next years very low end. So a design from 2016 isn't going to fare well in comparisons today.



To demonstrate the point I was making ... search for small 2017/18 phones, under 140x70mm, with 4.5"+ screens - gives only 17 results.

• 3 Highend from Sony or Apple
• 13 very low end with 8/16Gb
• and to prove the rule, one exception the 4X .. the phone we ended up getting from my daughter, a bargain at £100

https://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?nYearMin=2017&nHeightMax=140&nWidthMax=70&fDisplayInchesMin=4.5

System

wongataa wrote: »

New iPhones come with a dongle so you can use existing wired headphones. Apple launched their fancy wireless earbuds just after the latest iPhones. Taking away a headphone jack and launching new wireless earphones. Hmm, I see a chance to make more money, especially as they use a special chip in theirs to improve the bluetooth experience over regular bluetooth headphones (so they say). Apple make loads of money with peripherals as they have to be licensed to work properly with iPhones.

I have no evidence that Apple are only doing this to get more money. However going on past experience of Apple ditching hard drives, cd drives, physical keyboards on mobile phones and so called removable batteries from mobile phones when people would say it was crazy but it pushed technology forward then I’m gonna go with that.

mrochester

I have been asking manufacturers to make phones with a better OS than Android and all of those calls have been completely ignored too. I've got no choice but iPhone. Manufacturers have no interest in giving us exactly what we want, only just enough to make us buy their product over that of a competitor.

maisie_cat

Built in obsolescence, and built in fragility, oldest trick in the book.

searchlight123

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

You can have water proof to IP67 (1 metre deep for 30 mins) and a replaceable battery, many hand held 2 way radios are built to that specification. The problem arises when you want a phone with the thickness of a pocket diary... I would guess nearly all phone buyers want a phone that easily fits in their pocket/handbag.

my previous phone Samsung S5 had a removeable battery, was waterproof and very slim - so it can be done. my 'new' S7 has a built in battery, and i hate that fact.