Should it be from the same manufacturer? How to choose earphones that are compatible with your favorite smartphone

Many people enjoy listening to music by connecting their smartphones and earphones while commuting to work or school. Recently, it is common for smartphones to come with earphones as a set, and you will likely see people wearing them on trains.

However, the desired sound quality and comfort vary from person to person. Therefore, this time, I would like to introduce earphones that are convenient and have good sound when used with a smartphone.

Compatible products are recommended for smartphones and earphones

Many models of smartphones and earphones developed by the same company are highly compatible. First of all, let's introduce a smartphone x earphone set that goes well together.

The fixed combination of iPhone x AirPods Pro

The first thing to introduce is the "iPhone", which is said to have nearly half the share of smartphones in Japan, and the completely wireless iPhone, which is also released by Apple. It is a type earphone "AirPods Pro". AirPods Pro are slightly higher priced at less than 30,000 yen when purchased from Apple's official website, but they are high-spec earphones equipped with a lightweight and fitting canal type, active noise canceling function, etc.

[Reference] Apple official website

The essential compatibility is also outstanding, and if you have "Apple Watch", you can switch the noise canceling function on and off, and you can play the same music on two AirPods Pro with one iPhone. You can even locate your lost AirPods Pro from your iPhone.

Sony earphones are recommended for Xperia

Sony's smartphone "Xperia", which is known worldwide for developing high-quality Japanese electronic devices, and Sony's Earphones are also a recommended set.

Speaking of SONY earphones, there are a wide variety of models such as completely wireless, neckband, and wired earphones for each price range, and they have a good reputation for their high sound quality.

On the other hand, Xperia, the latest model "Xperia 5" has a unique vertically long display, RAM 6GB, waterproof performance IPX5 / 8 and high performance.

By using two high-performance products as a set, you can enjoy music without stress. By the way, since the earphone jack is abolished depending on the model of Xperia, a USB Type-C converter is required when using wired earphones.

[Reference] SONY Official HP

Huawei also sells its own earphones!

Huawei, which is famous for selling relatively cheap and high-spec smartphones, also develops its own earphones.

Huawei's earphone "HUAWEI FreeBuds 3" is equipped with Bluetooth 5.1 SoC and 356MHz audio processor. Fast and stable connection is the selling point.

If you have a Huawei smartphone, just open the lid of the earphone charging case and a pop-up will appear, allowing easy connection. With the dedicated app, you can adjust the noise canceling effect to suit your ears.

[Reference] Huawei official website

It is possible to synchronize smartphones and earphones even if they are not made by the same manufacturer

Even if the smartphone and earphones are not made by the same manufacturer, many products can be connected. However, if the smartphone is an old type, it may not be possible to catch the Bluetooth frequency used by the latest earphones, so be careful.

Earphones with a microphone support voice calls and voice input

In the case of earphones with a microphone, even if the manufacturer of the smartphone and the earphone is different, voice input and phone functions may be used. You can operate it without taking your smartphone out of your pocket or bag, so you can make calls while doing housework or studying. Depending on the smartphone, it is necessary to activate the voice input function in the settings, so please check your smartphone.

You can enjoy music with wireless earphones while charging your smartphone

Wireless earphones that connect smartphones and earphones via Bluetooth have become common in recent years. Since there is no cord, I am happy that I can use it even if I am a little away from my smartphone. Recently, smartphones that do not have an earphone jack have come to be seen assuming the use of wireless earphones.

My smartphone doesn't recognize my earphones!? That's what I said. In the case of wireless earphones, make sure the battery is not dead, and restart the smartphone or earphones.

If you can't hear the sound even if you connect a wired earphone, the cord of the earphone may be broken.

Earphone jacks are in danger of extinction!?

As mentioned earlier, smartphones without earphone jacks have been released in recent years. Since it has been discontinued one after another from famous models such as iPhone, Xperia, Galaxy, etc., I have the impression that "earphone jack / no earphone jack controversy" is happening everywhere. I think there are still people who prefer wired earphones, but will earphone jacks disappear from smartphones in the future?

Why did smartphones without earphone jacks appear?

By eliminating the earphone jack, smartphones can be made smaller and slimmer. Furthermore, since there are no holes, the waterproof performance can be improved, and there is more space for other functions such as the battery and camera, so it can be said that the quality will improve as a result.

Will earphone jacks become extinct in the future?

So, will earphone jacks disappear completely in the future? It's just my speculation, but I don't think it will go extinct any time soon. Wired earphones are still popular, and new products are being released. Although the transition to the wireless era is coming, the earphone jack itself will probably survive for several years.

* Data is based on editorial research as of mid-February 2020. *Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the content. * Please use the product at your own risk.

Sentence / Fumihiko Sato