One should be at the bottom one at the top. I understand space on the phone is a premium but a second port would make the phone so much more usable. Wired headphones, flash drives, camera modules, speaker modules, keyboards, even connection to a TV, all could be used while charging. It’s a shame it’s not a thing, USB is extremely versatile port, but you only get one and it’s used for charging half of the time. (I am aware dongles exist)
ASUS ROG Phones have them. Also with a headphone jack I think.
Weird headphones don’t use ucb-c, there is already a standard for headphones and it’s the 3.5mm audio jack.
a) I have a USB-c headset at work
b) the 3.5mm headphone jack can’t be used to transfer data (at a good rate)
Not sure what exactly you mean by headset. But headphones and IEMs will use a 3.5mm or 1/4" jack. My sennheisers use it, my beyerdynamics use it, my audio Technicas use it. Even my KZ IEMs and moondrop IEMs use it. This is a universal standard for a reason.
And not sure what the data rate has to do with anything. It’s an audio connector, it’s not used to transfer data, it’s used to move the drivers in a set of headphones. As usb-c doesn’t output line level audio, any headset you have that uses it needs its own DAC and amp which is problematic for e-waste reasons.
Headset, as in headphones with a microphone. I use it for MS Teams meetings and a bit of music and it works fine.
The point OP was trying to make is that you can use USB-c for other things besides listening to music.
Since you seem to be an audiophile with a list of fancy headphones (don’t ask me, my Cardo combined with earplugs is fine for the level of listening I want to do) then wouldn’t an offboard DAC / amp that you could keep far longer than a phone, and isn’t restricted by size constraints going to be better than a built-in version?
Also, if you’re worried about e-waste maybe you shouldn’t buy so many headphones. My partner’s Sennheisers have lasted 20 years so far.
This is what life is when all viable phones are made by two giant tech companies.
- I never understood why space should be at premium. A phone does not need to be as thin as possible. 1½-2cm thickness is reasonable in my eyes, and would allow so much more ports and/or buttons. I would have use for 2-3 extra buttons.
- The biggest pro of two opposing ports: you could always charge your device regardless of orientation. With just a port on the bottom charging while scrolling in the bed is often uncomfortable
The biggest pro of two opposing ports: you could always charge your device regardless of orientation. With just a port on the bottom charging while scrolling in the bed is often uncomfortable
This is my biggest problem with my switch! I have to awkwardly hold it when I’m trying to ay laying on the couch or in bed. I hear the Steam Deck has a port on top for charging so it’s already begun!
Can confirm top port for the SteamDeck. Perfect for relaxed gaming while charging. :-)
And most people add a bulky case anyway. Just integrate that shit into the phone!
I agree. If we’re going to lose the headphone port in favour of connecting to a universal connection (either directly or via an adaptor) then it’s time we have two of them. As for positioning I gather that there are lots of handheld PC’s with the one on top and one on bottom configuration and that it’s generally accepted to be the best way (and my on top 3.5mm and on bottom USB-c seems to work pretty well) so I think you’re right but it would be nice to see manufacturers try out a few different configurations to see in practise what people prefer.
I think on a phone it would make sense for bottom and side, which is the top of a handheld PC. That way you could have the cord sticking out whatever direction was handy for you by turning your phone.
We’ll to be clear, on handheld PC’s I’m talking about having them on opposite sides rather than at a right angle to each other. But I can definitely see the advantage to the right angle orientation. Personall I prefer to have them in line, yesterday for example I had my phone plugged in to power, with audio out connected via cable and wanted to be able to watch video in landscape orientation. With top and bottom connections it all paid smoothly in a line, had they been at a right-angle then one of them would have had to go straight up into the air out of the middle of the device.
I suspect that right angle is better for flexibility in how to connect a single cable at a time but in line is better for connecting multiple cables at once (really side-by-side is best for multiple at a time but you lose nearly all the flexibility for single cable connection.)
Asus ROG does this
I very much like this idea, would be nice to be able to use a phone in more of a mini-computer manner, whereas at the moment they’re somewhat hamstrung.
I’m always surprised phone docks aren’t a thing, my work laptop has a USB-c dock that is bristling with ports that are useful.
Wireless USB never took off. Essentials company was promisimg with PH1, it had wireless USB port. only released two wireless USB compatible devices for it though.
You know what? As long as the second port isn’t gimped in any way (can do video out + all the typical USB things), then I might forgive them for taking away the headphone jack.
You shouldn’t be using your phone while it’s charging. It’s bad for battery health.
thank god user replaceable batteries are coming back
If this is anything like the first EU decision and how it is worded, people are vastly overstating what it actually means. The important part about that one decision is that devices with water protection should only be serviceable by certified professionals, which should include the manufacturer’s repairmen and third parties, but not the end user. On the removable batteries part, having pull tabs already suffice the requirements, the batteries just can’t be glued down requiring alcohol or other prying methods to remove.
The devil is in the details
The bit you’ve referring to was about devices designed FOR use underwater. Not devices that can operate under water. The OEMs will try and interpret it as you said and will end up getting fined.
That’s fine, third party repair is good enough for me. Right now third parties can’t even do battery swaps because Apple signs batteries to the phone and you lose features without that signature.
More and more phones have a mode that is using only the needed power to do what you’re doing without charging the battery, like if your battery were disconnected.
How do I not do that when my battery is at 2% tho
Switch to second phone I guess?
What about when using it as a hotspot? There is no internet where I am, but I have data, so I use it for laptop use. It’s actually my primary ise if data. The hotspot uses a lot of power, tho. Can the os not regulate charging? I thought that was the case now. No need to cycle to lower %s for battery health.
And the 2nd one could go full thunderbolt too
There arw usb-c/heasphone-jack Y-cables so you can charge while listening to music without going for a full blown usb-c hub
All the ones I’ve tried have noise when charging and having headphones plugged in. It’s like a high frequency whine. Would appreciate a suggestion if you have one.
Grow old enough to where you can’t hear the high frequencies
Did you try different chargers as well?
I just bought https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B09PHMS83L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and it’s working fine for me. Might be about the combination of all components though (phone, charger, cable, headphones)?
I want a side port.
I still keep a drawing of my ideal phone from years ago and I also has two ports like you mention. I totally agree!
can i see?
Can USB hubs even allow the phone to be charged and simultaneously control things through the same port? I know I tried that back in the USB2 days and found it infuriatingly false, since had set up a wired USB mouse and game controller to my tablet for portable shooters. One particular hazard is I’ve found that combining bluetooth headphones and game controllers can result in unplayably-bad latency on Android, so wired options would be nice.
I think yes. USB-C docks are the proof.
Never needed it but I could with wireless charging . Also I connect to my TV via Samsung Smart View, no USB required.
