It has been almost six years since Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone. Yes, you can get great wireless headphones today, but you may prefer to plug in or you just don’t want to think about charging your headphones. The joy of the 3.5mm headphone jack is that it’s one of the few truly universal standards left.
You can use virtually any pair of wired headphones, no need to worry about whether they are Lightning or USB-C or whether connectivity will come and go. No batteries to charge, no dongles to connect, no headphones to lose. There are times when Bluetooth is preferable, but it’s also good to have at least the option. After trying dozens of phones, these are the best options with the venerable port. Read our guides on the best Android phones and the best cheap phones for more recommendations.
Updated June 2022: We’ve revised this guide to replace the old options with new ones, such as the Samsung Galaxy A13 5G, Sony Xperia 1 IV, and Moto G Stylus 5G 2022.
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