Does the Google Pixel 7 have a headphone jack?

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro aren’t Google’s flagship phones anymore — having been surpassed by the Pixel 8 series — but they’re still worth buying. If you’re wondering if they have a 3.5mm headphone jack, however, we have some bad news for you: they don’t.

Does the Google Pixel 7 have a headphone jack?

Both the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are missing a headphone jack, unfortunately.

Pixel flagships have been this way for a while. The original Pixel had a jack, but every model since then has skipped one. If you want external audio, you’ll have to rely on USB-C or Bluetooth connections.

Google did include a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter with the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3, and for the latter, Google briefly sold USB-C headphones in some markets. Since then, however, both options have been dropped. The company would rather sell you some Pixel Buds.

Why did Google remove the headphone jack?

Back when the Pixel 2 launched, Google mentioned that it was removing the headphone jack to establish a mechanical design path for the future. The company wanted to trim front bezels, pushing a Pixel’s display edge-to-edge. This necessitated the removal of the jack, and Google decided to do it sooner rather than later.

Other OEMs have given a myriad of reasons for the same decision, such as connectors taking up too much internal space. Space is indeed a big constraint inside a smartphone, especially when you’re trying to maximize battery life and camera functions.

Can you use a headphone jack adapter with the Pixel 7?

Even though Google doesn’t include a headphone jack adapter in the box anymore, you can still use one with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. Here are some recommended adapters:

Official Google USB-C to headphone adapter

The safest adapter that you can use with the Pixel 7 series is the official Google model. The quality of the wire isn’t the best, so do handle it with care. Surprisingly for a first-party product, it’s a cheap adapter that includes a built-in DAC and should be able to serve all your wired headphone needs.

JSAUX USB-C to 3.5mm headphone and charger adapter

One of the cons of Google dropping a headphone jack is you can’t do wired audio and power simultaneously. At least not without an adapter like this one from JSAUX, that is.

The product takes a standard USB-C connection and splits it out into a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB-C input. There’s also a DAC with 24-bit/96KHz audio. Technically the USB-C input can accept 60W of power, but that’s well above the 21-23W the Pixel 7 series can charge at.

Anker USB-C to 3.5mm audio adapter

If you want something a bit more durable, take a look at this Anker adapter. It has a high-quality braided cable, and a DAC with 24-bit/96KHz audio support. Anker is a reputable brand in the accessory market, so this should probably be your first choice.

Other options: USB-C headphones and TWS

While using an adapter will let you use your existing wired headphones with the Pixel 7, it’s an admittedly clunky solution. Instead, you might look at using these great wired USB-C headphones. Or, you can embrace the wireless life with these recommended earbuds. There’s no need to buy Pixel Buds just because you own a Pixel 7.

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