Pixel 3 & 3 XL, 3a XL chat

[cybershot]

The adapter is another thing to lose/forget and you're rucked if you want to do the everyday task of charging your phone and listening to music on the move.

Hmm, the 3.5 jack fits in tight into the adapter (at least with the iPhone supplied one) so it would be pretty hard to lose on the move in my opinion, it's literally like a small extension of the existing lead, it's not going to come loose unless it's tugged with force. The only way you're going to lose it is when you misplace it after using the headphones as normal.

Again, depending on how much of an audiophile you actually are, and I'm wondering if anyone in this thread that uses wired headphones actually has a pair that are so expensive you use religiously on your commutes, just have an extra pair that's used with the phone.

I have wired headphones at work, and wireless ones at work, I have loads of wired headphones at home, and 2 wireless pairs at home. None of these headphones cost me anymore than £20.

No one really goes out knowing they are going to be using their phone loads with less than 50% charge, and if you do, you probably already carry a powerbank, so it's horses for courses.

Also the Pixel 2, didn't have a headphone jack did it? Amazing that 12 months on, next model of phone on, and this is still more of a sour point than that fucking ugly notch!

 

[editor]

Hmm, the 3.5 jack fits in tight into the adapter (at least with the iPhone supplied one) so it would be pretty hard to lose on the move in my opinion, it's literally like a small extension of the existing lead, it's not going to come loose unless it's tugged with force. The only way you're going to lose it is when you misplace it after using the headphones as normal.

Strange how having a lumpy adaptor on your earphone lead or earphones that only work for 5 hours and sound worse than cheaper ones can be promoted as some sort of improvement.

 

[cybershot]

Strange how having a lumpy adaptor on your earphone lead or earphones that only work for 5 hours and sound worse than cheaper ones can be promoted as some sort of improvement.

My main point was, that if you go out with a phone less than 50% charged and lose juice, you ain't going to be listening to music full stop, wired or not wired headphones. I think in the grand scheme of things, I'd rather have wireless headphones and a powerbank that can charge either when it comes to it.

 

[salem]

You're on a long train/plane journey. Your Bluetooth earphone batteries go dead while the bloke next to you keep on enjoying music with his magic, no-batteries required, keep going forever wired earphones.

I think airplane mode on my phone turns off bluetooth anyway so your bluetooth headset is useless even if charged.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

I'm still using

I think airplane mode on my phone turns off bluetooth anyway so your bluetooth headset is useless even if charged.

You can probably re-enable just the Bluetooth...

 

[skyscraper101]

Well that looks like a forward step!

It's the smallest of inconveniences really, far outweighed by not being tethered to a handset. Personally speaking.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

I'm ditching wires at some point, the only reason I havnt yet is just don't use headphones that much.

However I'm curious what advantage does it give the manufacturers? Its not like it takes up much space. Makes it easier to waterproof?

 

[cybershot]

I was using the wired lightning headphones with the iPhone X to start with, and I decided to buy some wireless ones to just test with. I now have 3 pairs, 2 at home (one sports, one overears) and a pair at work. I haven't looked back since.

Especially commuting on trains, no more bag getting in the way of cable, no more being careful moving my head around and them popping out my ears because the cable has got caught in my bag or pocket or whatever. No cable in the way at keyboards, I can just go to the loo, with headphones still in.

The benefits outweigh the battery recharge situation, which is only an issue if you're travelling longer than 4 hours, then yes, I'd have the wired ones on backup. Battery on the iPhone X isn't really an issue, coming close to 12 months, more apps, more use, system updates, more stuff using bluetooth, it hardly takes a dent.

If I was out all day commuting, needing to use GPS if I was in a city I'm not used to, then again, I'd probably also equip myself with a powerbank. Odds are on a journey like this, I'm going to have a bag of some sort on me, so storage isn't an issue. I can charge the headphones when I'm not listening, they don't take long to charge, and if I want to charge the phone, I can do that while back on the commute or after the headphones. I think people make the no headphone jack more of an inconvenience to themselves.

It really is the smallest of inconveniences, and if you're a heavy commuter, you're probably carrying a powerbank anyway. Android user, it's the same cable as what charges your phone, so what extra are you really carrying about with you? Potentially Nothing! At worse, a spare spare of USB-C/Lightning headphones. Not much of a chore, unless you have to have the massive over ear ones, but most of those fold up now and take up minimum storage.

Unless you're a proper man's man of course, and everything you ever need on you, should be able to fit in your jean pockets! then yeah, you're probably fucked.

 

[cybershot]

I think airplane mode on my phone turns off bluetooth anyway so your bluetooth headset is useless even if charged.

iPhone X it turns bluetooth off, but allows you turn it back on, while still being in airplane mode. I believe the olny actual time you need to be in airplane mode these days is during landing and taking off, at which point the air stewards make everyone take out their headphones anyway.

 

[cheesethief]

I'm ditching wires at some point, the only reason I havnt yet is just don't use headphones that much.

However I'm curious what advantage does it give the manufacturers? Its not like it takes up much space. Makes it easier to waterproof?

Yeah, easier to waterproof, and opens up a bit of extra space - which is obviously at a premium in modern mobiles.

Some might also argue that it allows certain phenomenally wealthy companies the opportunity to flog more high priced accessories to their already indentured customers.

 

[editor]

Comparably speaking, Bluetooth earphones offer worse sound quality than wired ones.

1) Wired headphones perform better

This one’s a gimme: Bluetooth simply doesn’t have the bandwidth or the performance ceiling to keep up with the best wired headphones. That’s not to say that all wired headphones are better than all Bluetooth headphones. Oh no. That just means that the performance ceiling—and floor—is much, much higher. Ever wonder why the most high-end headphones out there are all wired monstrosities chained to amps? It’s because Bluetooth can’t hack higher quality audio as well as wired cans can.

In the future, wireless audio will easily beat the crap out of our current wired headphones where audio quality is concerned via digital audio transmission. However, that day isn’t today: and if you really want the best of digital audio, you need a cable—be it USB-C, Lightning, XLR, or your standard 3.5mm.

Bluetooth headphones are undeniably convenient when you discount the headaches associated with having to charge the damn thing. However, when you’re paying $50-100 more for the same set of headphones—and the wired version works just as well—you may want to just save the money to spend on better things.

5) Reliability

Now for the kill shot: Bluetooth just isn’t as reliable as a directly-wired connection, and that’s a big deal.



As with most machines, adding a link in the chain will often introduce potential points of failure, and Bluetooth headphones in particular add a point where the connection is subject to external factors not applicable to wired ones. Lots of things can affect whether your headphones will work the way you’ve come to expect them to, and the crappier Bluetooth headphones seem to consult a pantheon of frustration gods to decide how they’re going to piss you off on any given day.

5 Reasons not to buy Bluetooth headphones

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Suspect most people would struggle to notice the difference.

As for reliability I use Bluetooth loads, to the car and to a speaker. Can't say I've noticed any issues, be suprised if it was different with headphones.

 

[editor]

Suspect most people would struggle to notice the difference.

As for reliability I use Bluetooth loads, to the car and to a speaker. Can't say I've noticed any issues, be suprised if it was different with headphones.

I've got a Bluetooth speaker at home and it wigs out a bit sometimes. No big deal as such but if I want to really take in a new album, I'll play it through the wired hi fi.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

I've got a Bluetooth speaker at home and it wigs out a bit sometimes. No big deal as such but if I want to really take in a new album, I'll play it through the wired hi fi.

Sure. All my proper stereo kit is so old and second hand that it was made before, Bluetooth and MP3s were even a thing.

Anyways way I feel is that Bluetooth headphones are the future, despite their inconveniences, but it doesn't mean the manufacturers have to dump the port. Much as I feel about SD cards. I probably store less locally these days, but I'm glad I've got it. I'm more annoyed about loss removable batteries. Not because I'm ever going to carry round a load to change in a field, but I plan to hold on to my phones longer then very well hammered lithium batteries charge cycles.

 

[Fez909]

I feel is that Bluetooth headphones are the future

The immediate future, sure.

But now the old way has been broken, expect to see lots of new standards popping up. What's that, you've only got Bluetooth 4.2 headphones? Nah, they don't want on the Pixel 7, you'll need AptX+HAR convertor, or just buy a new pair. Oh and they won't work on the iPhone 2X10, as that uses AppleTooth now....etc., etc.

 

[editor]

Sure. All my proper stereo kit is so old and second hand that it was made before, Bluetooth and MP3s were even a thing.

Anyways way I feel is that Bluetooth headphones are the future, despite their inconveniences, but it doesn't mean the manufacturers have to dump the port. Much as I feel about SD cards. I probably store less locally these days, but I'm glad I've got it. I'm more annoyed about loss removable batteries. Not because I'm ever going to carry round a load to change in a field, but I plan to hold on to my phones longer then very well hammered lithium batteries charge cycles.

Well that's another thing. Because of the finite life of batteries, Bluetooth earphones come with built in obsolescence (listen to the cheers of the manufacturers!), unlike wired earphones which can, more or less, go on forever. More waste and more expenditure sure seems like a rubbish future.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Well that's another thing. Because of the finite life of batteries, Bluetooth earphones come with built in obsolescence (listen to the cheers of the manufacturers!), unlike wired earphones which can, more or less, go on forever. More waste and more expenditure sure seems like a rubbish future.

Yeah. I'm not in the market for high end ones though so can live with that on a personal level, but tech is increasingly wasteful. I'll change the battery on my S8 and guess that will be easier enough to get done, but what about my Chromebook and other tech? My Bluetooth speaker, my hands free ear piece, my ecigs. The list goes on...

 

[editor]

Yeah. I'm not in the market for high end ones though so can live with that on a personal level, but tech is increasingly wasteful. I'll change the battery on my S8 and guess that will be easier enough to get done, but what about my Chromebook and other tech? My Bluetooth speaker, my hands free ear piece, my ecigs. The list goes on...

I think your laptop will be good for quite a few years yet - and you can always run it off the mains if the batteries fuck up - but those tiny batteries on Bluetooth earphones start from a position of a pretty awful battery life, and once that's diminished, they become totally useless.

 

[editor]

If this really is the Pixel 3 it looks SHIT. That notch is even worse than the Apple one.

 

[BristolEcho]

Yeah must admit I'm not bothered by the pixel.

On the Bluetooth debate: I have Bluetooth headphones at the moment, they have 40 hours of battery life, and they came with a cable so that I can reconnect them like normal headphones if I need too. Absolute no brainer really. I love being able to move around freely and not having to get wires in the way. No regrets really.

 

[alcopop]

I think your laptop will be good for quite a few years yet - and you can always run it off the mains if the batteries fuck up - but those tiny batteries on Bluetooth earphones start from a position of a pretty awful battery life, and once that's diminished, they become totally useless.

Bluetooth Wireless Headset Battery Replacement

 

[editor]

Bluetooth Wireless Headset Battery Replacement

Pretty good at taking apart small Bluetooth earphones that aren't designed to be taken apart by consumers and then fitting in the tiny batteries are you? Reckon your average consumer will have the slightest idea how to do this warranty voiding fiddly operation?

Here. Watch and learn before you post up another utterly pointless link:

 

[BristolEcho]

Pretty good at taking apart small Bluetooth earphones that aren't designed to be taken apart by consumers and then fitting in the tiny batteries are you? Reckon your average consumer will have the slightest idea how to do this warranty voiding fiddly operation?

Here. Watch and learn before you post up another utterly pointless link:

This seems like unnecessary rudeness.

I don't think the batteries will need replacing before a warranty runs out either.

 

[cybershot]

What model are those out of curiosity?

 

[cybershot]

Yeah must admit I'm not bothered by the pixel.

On the Bluetooth debate: I have Bluetooth headphones at the moment, they have 40 hours of battery life, and they came with a cable so that I can reconnect them like normal headphones if I need too. Absolute no brainer really. I love being able to move around freely and not having to get wires in the way. No regrets really.

Pretty good at taking apart small Bluetooth earphones that aren't designed to be taken apart by consumers and then fitting in the tiny batteries are you? Reckon your average consumer will have the slightest idea how to do this warranty voiding fiddly operation?

Here. Watch and learn before you post up another utterly pointless link:

Although expensive, Airpod batteries are immense, and while yes, battery will lower over time, I think compared to lower end market stuff they will last significently longer. Obviously they haven't been around long enough to throw figures, but I'm going out on a limb saying you'll probably get 10 years solid usage out of them (if you don't lose them)

Obviously for the price, compared to wired headphones, which essentially, can and should last longer, that one's going to come down to preference.

If you're spending £15 quid on a pair that can last 8 hours, then instead of dicking around you're just going to buy a new pair, and they are only going to get better, even at the cheap end of the market over time. In fact I'd say the improvements in just the last 12 months compared to the first pair I purchased, and the pair I recently purchased for my OH is significant enough, that I'm considering replacing a pair I use.

 

[editor]

This seems like unnecessary rudeness.

I don't think the batteries will need replacing before a warranty runs out either.

The batteries will categorically get worse and worse over time, and once the warranty runs out you'll be stuffed, as this buyer discovered:

 

[cybershot]

It's the same with all brands, including Bose, and no doubt Google when they release theirs.

I'd suggest those users were probably victim of an iOS 11 bug, which has been fixed. Apple were also replacing pairs with reported bad battery without too much of a fuss around the time of that post, don't know if this is still the case.

Anyway, back to Pixel 3 chat.....

 

[editor]

I know at some point I'll have no choice but to buy one of these fucking things, but - yuk!

Google updates USB-C to 3.5mm headphone adapter ahead of the Pixel 3

 

[cybershot]

Updating page of all the stuff from the pixel 3 announcement. Lots of other stuff here than just the phone.

pixel3event articles on Engadget

The new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are available to pre-order today in the US starting at $799 and $899, respectively, with shipping commencing October 18th. Both sizes will come in regular white and black finishes, as well as more flamboyant pale pink. You can grab them from Google's online store, on contracts through Project Fi and bean-spilling Verizon. On October 21st, the new phones will hit 12 other markets, including Canada, Australia, several European countries including the UK, as well as parts of Asia.

The 128GB model is $999 for those that like to quote high end prices. No larger storage options than that!

Almost a grand for an Android phone.

 

[editor]

Updating page of all the stuff from the pixel 3 announcement. Lots of other stuff here than just the phone.

pixel3event articles on Engadget

The new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are available to pre-order today in the US starting at $799 and $899, respectively, with shipping commencing October 18th. Both sizes will come in regular white and black finishes, as well as more flamboyant pale pink. You can grab them from Google's online store, on contracts through Project Fi and bean-spilling Verizon. On October 21st, the new phones will hit 12 other markets, including Canada, Australia, several European countries including the UK, as well as parts of Asia.

The 128GB model is $999 for those that like to quote high end prices. No larger storage options than that!

Almost a grand for an Android phone.

"Almost a grand" is still better than "one and a half grand"