Google announced its latest Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones today and they look to be a great way to cap off the year for Android devices in 2017. Top notch internal hardware, OLED displays, squeezable gestures and a camera that bests the Note 8 and iPhone 8 make them incredible drool worthy. However, one sad exclusion from the Pixel devices is the trusty 3.5 audio jack. It’s something we’ve all relied on for over a century and while there are thousands of options for wireless headphones and accessories, there are many of us who hate having to deal with the downsides of Bluetooth. Poor connections, internal batteries that wear out over time, inability to play high fidelity music, and the basic fact that you have to charge them in order to listen to music. That’s not an option for us who have long daily commutes on the train or subway, or even for those of you who take long flights where 3-5 hours of battery life just won’t cut it.
While Apple and Motorola did away with the audio jack last year, very few third-party manufacturers have stepped up to make USB-C headphones. Even those who have, there are lots of poor reviews that lead us to believe there is a long way to go. Let’s hope a few major audio players like Bose, Sony and Sennheiser step up with USB-C headphones sometime in the near future.
However there are some benefits to USB-C wired headphones: they can power active noise cancelling earbuds without the need for an external battery, they have more detail and clarity than traditional wired headphones, and they use the same port that charges your phone (also a downside).
If you can’t live without wired headphones, we’ve assembled a complete guide to all of the options available to you in another post which you can find here. Otherwise, we’ve picked our favorite options out of that list and assembled them below.
Monoy Connector Type C to 3.5mm Audio adapter – $9.99 at Amazon
Be prepared to lose the dongle that comes with your USB-C smartphone. Audio adapters are the easiest way to use your current headphones with all of the new smartphones. If you plan to go this route, don’t let a lost adapter ruin your day without music. Stock up on a couple of these from Monoy as they are the most reliable and they even allow for headphones with inline remotes to control the smartphone through the adapter. Buy a couple and leave them connected to your headphones at all times.
ZINSOKO TYPE-C EARBUDS CERAMIC CORDED EARPHONES – $29.99 AT AMAZON
The Zinsoko Type-C earbuds are a favorite of mine as they offer incredible sound detail and tight bass at an extremely affordable price. They have ceramic housings around the drivers for low resonance and high detail while offering unmatched durability and looks. These Zinsoko earbuds are also sweatproof which means you can wear them during your hardest workouts without fear of ruining them.
SMART&COOL TYPE-C3.0 3D SURROUND / STEREO TWO-MODE EARBUDS – $26.99 AT AMAZON
The Type-C earbuds from Smart & Cool might be the best deal of the bunch. They offer 5.1 channel stereo simulation which is fantastic for movie and TV watchers with no external power required to drive the features. When you want to listen to music, simply turn the stereo sound off for more realistic sound.
VIOTEK AQUA USB-C STEREO EARBUDS – $39.99 AT AMAZON
If you have small ear canals these might be the best option for you. These VIOTEK Aqua Type-C earbuds are some of the smallest with 8mm internal drivers. They come with soft silicone tips for a tight fit that blocks out all background noise. Similar to other Type-C earbuds, you can maximize sound quality through the new connector and play lossless music that wireless headphones can’t match. These also have an extended cable at 47″ for those of you who are a bit taller.
2 IN 1 TYPE C TO 3.5MM HEADPHONE AUDIO JACK ADAPTER – $11.99 AT AMAZON
If you like to connect your phone to a wireless speaker, car input, or any other audio device with a 3.5mm audio jack, you’ll need one of these cables from Datavision. Simply plug the USB C end into the bottom of your phone, and connect the other end into your auxiliary port. Doing away with the audio jack is arguably one of the most annoying things smartphone manufacturers are taking away from us as it leads to additional costs on accessories like this cable.
KINGMAN.INC TYPE C IN-EAR SPORT HEADPHONES – $29.99 AT AMAZON
Noise cancellation with the KINGMAN.INC Type-C headphones comes at a bargain at just $30. While you can’t charge and listen to your phone at the same time with USB-C headphones, you can take advantage of things like noise cancellation. These headphones also come with adaptive noise cancellation which allows you to block out sounds in a safe manner. They’re also waterproof meaning you can run or workout in them without fear of ruining the pretty earbuds.
STELL&KERN XB10 PORTABLE HIGH-RESOLUTION BLUETOOTH DONGLE
If you are an audiophile and want to use your HiFi headphones wirelessly, you can get the Astell & Kern XB10 Bluetooth Dongle for $129. It’s not cheap but neither are your headphones. Anyone who knows audio knows the brand Astell & Kern for its unmatched sound reproduction. The XB10 uses Bluetooth to connect to your 3.5mm or 2.5mm balanced audio cables wirelessly to your smartphone. It can transmit 24-bit audio for the most demanding listener while providing them with the ability to take calls as well. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get the XB10 in two days or less with free Prime Shipping.
I see from a few Amazon reviewers that this adapter doesn’t work on Pixel 2.
The Pixel 2 USBC only supports digital audio and this adapter is analog. So they are incompatible.
Unfortunately with USB-C audio specifications they allowed two types of audio-over-USB standards – analog and digital
Not all phones support analog and in fact, the trend now is away from analog support in the device.
So be sure to buy a digital adapter. Digital adapters will work with every device. Always.
But how do you tell if it the adapter is digital? It is not easy for consumers to know for sure. So….
To eliminate any chance of incompatibility, buy the adapter that the phone manufacturer provides online. Or be sure to check on Amazon for specific adapter compatibility with your device. The cost for Google adapter is $9 – cheaper than the one in this article.
P.S. I don’t work for Google and any adapter company. I hope to help a few avoid the pitfall. Perhaps Derrick this topic would make for a good follow up article.