Smartphones without the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack is becoming a trend. Apple has already removed the headphone jack for its iPhone, while previous reports also revealed that Sony and Samsung could do the same.
Apple's decision to release the iPhone 7 without the headphone jack drew mixed reactions. Despite the negative comments, Samsung is also reportedly planning to release headphone jack-less Samsung Galaxy S8.
While the two top manufacturers are determined to try new things, Sony appears unready to jump into the bandwagon. Sony Mobile will still port a 3.5mm headphone jack in their upcoming smartphones in 2017 and 2018, ePrice reported via Xperia Blog.
Sony is planning to boast high-definition audio in future Xperia smartphones and removing the headphone jack could backfire if they do that quickly. The company believes that users will have a better audio experience by using headphones without the need for extra adapters or expensive wireless headsets.
However, Sony's decision to retain the traditional headphone jack does not mean that they are not planning to keep in step with their rivals. The Japan-based company is joining the wireless headset competition with their own high-end Bluetooth headphones.
When it comes to Bluetooth headphones, Apple still has the upper hand with their popular AirPods. The AirPods can be used in all Apple devices like the iPhone, iPad and Mac using an iCloud account in just a single tap. This device initially drew negative feedback when it was launched but has been making a lot of noise since it was released.
However, Sony will release wireless headphones that could be a huge threat to the Apple AirPods, Express UK reported. The company unveiled an in-ear headphones during their presentation at CES 2017.
While Sony did not give the name and specific details about their upcoming Bluetooth headset, it is still being considered as a serious challenger to the AirPods. One factor could be the plan to include noise-cancelling technology, which is not present in the Apple AirPods.
According to the report, Sony is known for producing top headsets with noise-cancelling technology. Their MDR-1000X was named among the best headsets with noise-cancelling features. Sony did not give a possible release date and development timetable but more details are expected to surface soon following CES 2017.