My phone doesn't go anywhere without this $10 accessory; it's better than a headphone jack
Android Police 2026-07-11 17:00:11
Context: The author, Tom Bedford, a technology journalist based in London, UK, laments the loss of the headphone jack in smartphones and shares his solution - a $10 USB-C accessory that allows him to plug in both a USB-C and a 3.5mm jack at the same time. This accessory has been a crucial tool for him in his work as a content creator, enabling him to use wired headphones and microphones while also charging his phone. The accessory has been with him since the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Key Facts
- The author's accessory plugs into the USB-C port of his phone and allows him to plug in both a USB-C and a 3.5mm jack at the same time, solving the problem of the missing headphone jack.
- The accessory cost him $10 and he purchased it at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdowns, around 2020, and has been using it extensively since then.
- The author uses wired headphones because they allow for a higher playback bitrate to enjoy lossless music and lower latency while gaming, and also prefers to use cables to connect to his stereo speakers for the same reason.
- The author's USB-C accessory allows him to continue feeding power to his phone while it outputs audio via the 3.5mm port, which is useful when listening to high-quality music for an extended period.
- The accessory also enables the author to use a wired Rode lav mic for recording audio while capturing video with his smartphone, which he prefers over wireless microphones due to their reliability issues.