What In The World Is Google Doing? (Headphone Jack, Pixel 2, Again)

[Extremevl]

I know a lot of people (not saying in these forums) that bagged on Apple for taking away the headphone port but guess what...now the Pixel 2 line doesn’t have a headphone port either but no one seems to care like they did when Apple did it?

Why doesn’t Google put a pair of wired headphones in the box??? They’re charging $20 for a headphone adapter to use your current wired headphones but I think you get one USB-C to 3.5mm adapter in the box?

To top it off they are charging $159 for Google Pixel Buds? I know what they feature but seeing how they don’t put any headphones in box, like every other company provides (for phones in these price ranges), just seems greedy!

Google seems to be going all in on trying to mirror Apple in everything from pricing to available options...weird

 

[PhiPsi32]

Go wireless

 

[dsignori]

Well..

(1 ) The adapter is included in the box free
(2) Anyone paying attention knew this was happening months ago
(3) I agree - at this price point, it wouldn't have killed them to throw in a pair of USB C headphones ..

 

[firebirder]

Don't like it but I think that is the trend

 

[Extremevl]

Go wireless

I understand about going wireless but I was pointing out that so much of a fuss was made when Apple took away the headphone port and now Google does and all you hear is crickets...

I was telling my friend this morning and he thought I was joking. At the end of the day mobile phone manufacturers will follow whatever trend is popular even if techies like us hate it because the average consumer probably doesn’t care either way...

 

[modifier]

This very topic was discussed ad nauseum here: https://forums.androidcentral.com/google-pixel-2-pixel-2-xl/803105-say-goodbye-headphone-jack.html

Unfortunately the jack is being moved to an adapter in many photos. If having it inside the phone itself is your top priority then you'll have to select a different phone.

 

[Extremevl]

Well..

(1 ) The adapter is included in the box free
(2) Anyone paying attention knew this was happening months ago
(3) I agree - at this price point, it wouldn't have killed them to throw in a pair of USB C headphones ..

Not including a pair of wired headphones in the box at these prices just seem dirty!

 

[modifier]

Not including a pair of wired headphones in the box at these prices just seem dirty!

Google probably logged headphone plug events in prior devices and ran the numbers. If only a small percentage actually used the free headphones before then it meant they could kill them off without much complaint.

Besides, "free" headphones are typically decent for calls but poor for audio. Many who care about audio quality will prefer to supply their own.

 

[Extremevl]

This very topic was discussed ad nauseum here: https://forums.androidcentral.com/google-pixel-2-pixel-2-xl/803105-say-goodbye-headphone-jack.html

Unfortunately the jack is being moved to an adapter in many photos. If having it inside the phone itself is your top priority then you'll have to select a different phone.

I know I would have to get another phone but I just don’t like how Google is following the trend now. I guarantee the Pixel 3 or Pixel 4 won’t have a fingerprint senor and will use some type of facial recognition like Apple has on the iPhone X

Just sad to see Google following and not being different anymore but the camera is really nice.

Sorry rant over

 

[Bertolus]

Apple has set the industry standards in many cases. They made fingerprint sensors mainstream and you can expect any leading smartphone manufacturer to adopt FaceID until next year. Apple had to take the first step towards wireless headphones and I bet next year Samsung will also follow the trail and ditch the headphone jack.

 

[Extremevl]

Google probably logged headphone plug events in prior devices and ran the numbers. If only a small percentage actually used the free headphones before then it meant they could kill them off without much complaint.

Besides, "free" headphones are typically decent for calls but poor for audio. Many who care about audio quality will prefer to supply their own.

How could Google really know how many people are using the in box headphones? I don’t recall hearing them ever doing a survey about it to consumers that purchased pervious Pixel or Nexus devices?

I heard the AKG headphones that come with the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 are really nice but I haven’t used them myself. Also what if a consumer is coming from an iPhone and can’t use their wired iPhone headphones? It would be nice to have a pair of wired headphones in the box of a phone that cost this much.

I’m just saying that providing a pair of wired headphones is pretty much standard with any high-end phone. Maybe not everyone uses them for calls or audio but taking them away all together just seems weird

 

[modifier]

I know I would have to get another phone but I just don’t like how Google is following the trend now. I guarantee the Pixel 3 or Pixel 4 won’t have a fingerprint senor and will use some type of facial recognition like Apple has on the iPhone X

Just sad to see Google following and not being different anymore but the camera is really nice.

Another option is a small USB DAC/amp if you need a 3.5mm jack and good audio quality. That's my plan. I'll use the USB-C to headphone adapter with my wired headphones for calls, then a small DAC/amp with my IEMs for music. It's more "stuff" but a solution I'm willing to try.

FPR will likely remain since it's baked into Android as a security option. Even if we start seeing facial recognition become more popular, neither face nor fingerprint will replace PIN/password in business. They're convenient, not secure — well, not yet anyway.

How could Google really know how many people are using the in box headphones? I don’t recall hearing them ever doing a survey about it to consumers that purchased pervious Pixel or Nexus devices?

If you've opted into data collection then Google can log headphone plug events in the software. No surveys or polls are needed. The devices tell them everything they could ever want to know. It's the same software event some music apps use to launch their app when headphones are plugged in.

 

[Extremevl]

If you've opted into data collection then Google can log headphone plug events in the software. No surveys or polls are needed. The devices tell them everything they could ever want to know. It's the same software event some music apps use to launch their app when headphones are plugged in.

Yeah I didn't think about that, you're right but I still think it would have been good to put a pair in the box because Google (like any other company) wants to get as many customers as possible. If someone that has owned an iPhone for awhile switches to the Pixel 2 they already know they can't use their wired headphones but to not even have any in the box isn't good.

The reason why I used an iPhone customer is because that seems to be Google's target market for gaining more customers since Apple seems to be more their direct competitor than any other company. Google seems to be doing direct battle with the iPhone 8 and X with their Pixel line.

 

[dejanh]

Google seems to be going all in on trying to mirror Apple in everything from pricing to available options...weird

They absolutely are. In every possible way. It's quite sad to watch really.

 

[modifier]

...but to not even have any in the box isn't good.

Maybe. The problem is we don't know the numbers. Google might have found that 5%, 3% or even 1% (all hypothetical numbers) only used headphones in previous phones, then decided it was worth the risk to kill off and add an inconvenience for those who want them. I'm not saying it's right but in a world run by bean counters watching every penny on a BOM, it's not a surprising move.

The reason why I used an iPhone customer is because that seems to be Google's target market for gaining more customers since Apple seems to be more their direct competitor than any other company. Google seems to be doing direct battle with the iPhone 8 and X with their Pixel line.

Google is certainly giving Apple a run for their money. Every company is battling for a slice of the same market share. It's no different than automobiles. SUVs aren't competing for the sports car market or vice versa. Having diversity in choice is a good thing. I'm just glad there are more options now than ever.

 

[AustinIllini]

They absolutely are. In every possible way. It's quite sad to watch really.

I dunno man. The device looks pretty amazing

 

[pseudoware]

Don't like it but I think that is the trend

It's the new replaceable batteries or expandable storage. As much as I don't like it, I just can't be that guy rocking a Galaxy S3 in 2017. No offense.

 

[Chex313]

That's interesting everything I see at an Apple keynote copies Android...large screens, removing headphone jack, wireless charging....all done by Android phones first.

 

[dejanh]

I dunno man. The device looks pretty amazing

What in particular amazes you about it compared to every other smartphone slab out there? Genuine question. I want to see what in your mind justifies paying the Google Tax for this phone?

 

[Chex313]

What in particular amazes you about it compared to every other smartphone slab out there? Genuine question. I want to see what in your mind justifies paying the Google Tax for this phone?

Google's ecosystem, it's all About the experience not the hardware.