6 Best Phones With Headphone Jacks (2026), Tested and Reviewed

Julian ChokkattuGearJul 31, 2026 7:00 AMThe Best Phones With an Actual Headphone JackHeadphone jacks are endangered, but they’re not extinct. Here are our favorite smartphones that still let you plug and play.CommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyFeatured in this articleBest OverallMotorola Moto G Stylus 2026Read more$500 AmazonRunner-UpMotorola Moto G Power 2026Read more$400 $370 (8% off) AmazonA Phone With a Matte ScreenTCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5GRead more$250 $180 (28% off) AmazonAn Uber Budget PhoneMotorola Moto G Play 5G 2026Read more$250 $220 (12% off) AmazonIt’s been 10 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 don't want to charge your headphones. The joy of the 3.5-mm headphone connector is its universal compatibility. You can use any pair of corded headphones—no need to worry about connectivity blips, batteries dying, dongles, or misplaced earbuds.There are times when Bluetooth is preferable, but having the option is nice. Unfortunately, every year, another major manufacturer decides to cut the headphone jack from the feature list. In 2025, that was Samsung, which no longer offers the venerable port on its Galaxy A-series phones. But don't lose hope! You still have some options, like Motorola's Moto G Stylus 2026. These are the best phones with the headphone jack.Read our Best Android Phones, Best Samsung Phones, Best Motorola Phones, Best Pixel Phones, Best iPhones, and Best Cheap Phones guides for more.Updated July 2026: We've added the Moto G Stylus 2026.What Happened to the Headphone Jack?AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronIt all began when Apple removed the port on the iPhone 7 in 2016—yes, technically Oppo did it first, but Apple's decision sparked an industry trend. Apple famously cited space-saving reasons to make the phone slimmer and fit a bigger battery, but it was also to nudge along the burgeoning wireless headphone market. (Guess who sits at the top right now?) Since then, other companies followed swiftly until the port was found only on budget and midrange phones.Now, cheap phones are beginning to lose the port, likely because you can buy decent wireless earbuds for as little as $30 these days. The 3.5-mm port will likely disappear entirely from all smartphones within the next few years.Does Plugging In Improve Audio Quality?AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronYes, plugging in a pair of wired headphones means the audio is not compressed, so it can transmit more detail, offering a higher-fidelity audio experience. There's also little or no latency, meaning there's no delay between the music coming from your phone and the audio playing through the headphones. Wired connections also offer zero connectivity issues, and you won't have to worry about battery life. Some wired earbuds also have physical buttons for music playback controls, which always beats out the finicky touch controls on most earbuds.On the other hand, today's Bluetooth codecs are significantly better than those from even five years ago. Most people will not hear a major difference in audio quality between wired and wireless headphones.You Can Use a USB-C DongleAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronNot having a 3.5-mm port doesn't mean you can't use wired headphones with a smartphone. You can buy a USB-C headphone dongle that plugs into your smartphone's USB-C port and adds a 3.5-mm port.Apple USB-C to 3.5-mm Adapter for $9. This adapter from Apple will work with any smartphone with a USB-C port—that means Android phones and the iPhone 15 and newer. I recommend buying a few because they’re easy to lose. If you have an iPhone with a Lightning port (iPhone 14 or earlier), you'll need to use a third-party dongle, as Apple has officially discontinued its adapter.Google USB-C Earbuds for $31: Alternatively, you can use USB-C earbuds. They're standard wired earbuds, but instead of a 3.5-mm conne