It’s been seven 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 you just don’t want to think about charging your headphones. The joy of the 3.5-mm headphone connector is that it’s one of the few universal standards left.
You can use pretty much any pair of corded headphones–no need to worry about whether they’re Lightning or USB-C or whether the connectivity will blip in and out. No batteries to charge, no dongles to attach, no earbuds to lose. There are times when Bluetooth is preferable, but it’s nice to at least have the option. After testing dozens of smartphones, these are the best with the venerable port. Read our Best Android Phones, Best iPhones, and Best Cheap Phones guides for more.
Updated September 2023: We’ve added the Moto G Stylus 5G, Asus ROG Phone 7, OnePlus Nord N30 5G, Sony Xperia 1 V, and Asus Zenfone 10.
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