GrapheneOS, hardware and headphone jack

GpNoHeadphonejack

Hello,

I have interest in eventually using a phone with GrapheneOS on it. However, as my username suggests, I notice that in future the only phones that are supported are those without a headphone jack.

While I do understand why only Pixels are supported, it is a major dealbreaker for me as I don't to carry a dongle, block the charging port while listening or have to buy seperate wireless headphones that are limited to battery life and battery degradation while performing poorer than analog headphones for a similar price.
I am sure that the jack doesn't cause any security issue as older Pixels with one are supported normally and I wouldn't have to use bluetooth at all without wireless headphones.

I did hear mentions about this project wanting to be built on seperate hardware outside of Google's offerings and I'd like to ask, if that phone will come built-in headphone jack.

Otherwise, amazing project.

mjnck

GpNoHeadphonejack
You can buy USB-C DAC with charging support
Be sure to buy DAC "converter" (in fact usb-c sound card) instead of just usb-c to jack3.5mm adapter because pixels does not have built in DAC.

strcat

GpNoHeadphonejack USB-C is a headphone jack. You can charge the device while using it for audio output on the non-a series phones with wireless charging support. If you want to use an analog headset instead of a USB-C headset you can leave a USB-C DAC attached to it and treat it as part of the cable. There's no need to carry something extra. Instead, simply never detach it from the headset. There are very small ones available and if you're talking about a high quality headset, it's not a significant extra amount of bulk or weight.

GpNoHeadphonejack

mjnck that counts as a dongle which I don't want to additionally carry around. A built-in one would be less bulky in comparison.

kyuweftea

If you're willing to have security updates stop in August 2024, the Pixel 5a has a headphone jack.

GpNoHeadphonejack

kyuweftea I prefer to switch to a phone with grapheneos when my current working phone gives in which might still take a while. And I don't want to sacrifice on future updates, that's why I'm asking if some alternative hardware with a headphone jack would support it.

abcZ

GpNoHeadphonejack The value of not blocking the "charging port" is negligible (especially with wireless charging!). Battery should be plenty for at LEAST all day for a very heavy user, or maybe 2+ for a light user. Headphone dongles are incredibly compact these days, just leave it connected to your headphones and you won't even notice it.

BLE audio should exceed the quality you could expect to get from any phone's headphone jack, and battery life on headphones is quite amazing these days.

mythodical

GpNoHeadphonejack It's not going to happen any time soon. Pixel phones enable hardware security features that no other device currently does. You simply need to choose between security/privacy and the slight inconvenience of carrying an additional adaptor connected to your headphones.

wonder75

GpNoHeadphonejack I have the same problem as you regarding USB-C headsets.
My experience was not good so far. USB disconnecting problems, you can't plugin the headphones while screen is locked without enabling any new usb dvice while locked. apps often don't realize a headphone was plugged in until you press stop and play, meaning that sound comes out of the devices speaker instead.

you would hate it. ugly experience so far. but i guess it has nothing to do with Graphene. Androids implementation of USB-C audio seems to be not very matured yet.

strcat

wonder75 Disallowing new USB peripherals when locked is a GrapheneOS feature, not an Android feature. You shouldn't have any issues with USB remaining connected. That indicates a low quality headset.

GpNoHeadphonejack

strcat This would affect USB peripherals specifically while I don't think the built-in headphone jack on older Pixels have this restriction. And what counts as a low quality for headphones? The one I have are only powered via the jack and doesn't come with any advanced features other than a pause/play-button.

GpNoHeadphonejack

strcat it's great to have a seperate way of charging while listening but a wireless charger isn't something I wouldn't travel around with that there were I would place it, I'd plug my headphones to a PC anyways. Also as seen with the release of the iPhone 7, the adapter itself can break more easily than a built-in variant and I don't want to buy this feature more than once.

It's a hard decision for me.

rustybird

GpNoHeadphonejack

FWIW there are USB DAC adapters with an input for charging the phone. This doesn't make the absence of a built-in 3.5 mm headphone jack less annoying, but it is what it is.

endthef3d

I tried listening to music with a USB-C dongle. But my phone doesn't recognise it and playing music over phone speaker. Something when on a call.

Is there a place or setting that I need to change so my phone knows when I connected a headset with a dongle?

rustybird

endthef3d Something when on a call.

Are you saying that you consistently do hear headphone output during phone calls, but don't when you're playing music? 🤨

In general, make sure you plug the dongle into the phone while the screen is unlocked. If you're plugging in the headset separately later (into a dongle already plugged into the phone), also do that while the screen is unlocked.

endthef3d

rustybird sorry, it was a typo.
I meant to say "same thing" indicating that I cannot hear anything in the headphones while on the call.

endthef3d

rustybird thanks for the tip though. I disabled USB accessories in security and I just changed it to default setting.