OnePlus 6T will ditch headphone jack but bring better battery life

The traditional 3.5mm headphone jack is disappearing from smartphones quicker than you can say “USB-C”, and it appears the latest brand to join the rally is OnePlus.

Speaking with TechRadar, the company’s co-founder Carl Pei said that the "next OnePlus handset" (which we know will be called the 6T thanks to the usual deluge of online rumours) will not have the jack.

Apparently, it was time - and not because everyone else was doing it, but because the company found earlier this year that 59% of its ‘community’ already owned wireless headphones - a figure Pei expects to have risen since.

"Two years ago the percentage [of wireless headphones owners] would have been much lower and it would have caused a lot of friction for our users," he told TechRadar.

Naturally OnePlus loyals with their trusty 3.5mm-ended headphones won’t be overjoyed at the news, however they may find comfort in the performance upgrades that ditching the jack allegedly allows.

“By removing the jack we've freed up more space, allowing us to put more new technology into the product," he continued. According to Pei, the forthcoming flagship phone will bring battery life improvements "substantial enough for users to realise."

Unlike Apple’s forthcoming trio of iPhones, the OnePlus 6T (pictured top, image credit: TechRadar) will be bundled with a 3.5mm adapter. Next-gen versions of its budget Bullets wired USB-C headphones will become available, too.

MORE:

OnePlus Bullets Wireless review

Apple launches iPhone XS and XS Max with Super Retina OLED displays

Apple iPhone XS hands-on review

 

Becky Roberts

Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of the brand's sister magazines Down Under – Australian Hi-Fi and Audio Esoterica. During her 11+ years in the hi-fi industry, she has reviewed all manner of audio gear, from budget amplifiers to high-end speakers, and particularly specialises in headphones and head-fi devices. In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.

Latest in Smartphones
The Google Pixel 9a being held horizontally at waist-height so only the back is visible.
The Google Pixel 9a launches at £100 less than the iPhone 16e with a better screen
iPhone 16 Plus smartphone
Got an old iPhone? We'll help you decide on how to upgrade
iPhone 16e in black and white on a white background
iPhone 16e vs Sony Xperia 10 VI: what are the differences?
A blue iPhone 16 pictured next to a white iPhone 16e
The iPhone 16e's downgrades are in all the right places if, like me, movies on the move are your priority
iPhone 16e on white background
Apple officially unveils the affordable iPhone 16e complete with an OLED display and Dolby Atmos support
A blue iPhone 16 pictured next to a white iPhone 16e
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: what's the difference, and which one should you buy?
Latest in News
Sony Bravia Projector 8 home cinema projector
Terrible news: Sony is about to stop selling projectors in Europe, including the UK
Audiolab 6000A MkII amplifier in silver
Audiolab upgrades its five-star 6000A amplifier with a new DAC chip, enhanced circuitry and HDMI ARC
Qobuz
Qobuz reveals average payout per stream – and claims it is higher than rivals
Sonos Beam Gen 2
Quick! This five-star Sonos Dolby Atmos soundbar has dropped close to its lowest price
The Google Pixel 9a being held horizontally at waist-height so only the back is visible.
The Google Pixel 9a launches at £100 less than the iPhone 16e with a better screen
A woman flicking through stacks of vinyl records in a Rough Trade shop.
Vinyl records and music streaming both hit landmark highs – but the one growing faster in revenue may surprise you