Wired Earbuds Return After Jack

The iPhone 17 Pro Max sits in a market where the 3.5mm headphone jack is still gone, but wired earbuds are selling more again. A decade after Apple removed the jack from iPhone, the market shifted toward wireless, yet recent retail tracking shows wired headphone sales climbing after several years of decline.

Why wired earbuds are coming back

One reason is simple ownership math. Wired earphones do not rely on a built-in rechargeable battery that will eventually wear down. For buyers who keep audio gear for years, a good pair of wired earphones or in-ear monitors can stay useful far longer than many true wireless options.

The role of DAC adapters

To use wired headphones with modern phones, most people now need a DAC adapter. A DAC (digital-to-analog converter) with a small headphone amp plugs into a phone’s USB port and provides a 3.5mm output.

This bypasses the phone’s internal audio path and can deliver cleaner, more consistent output, especially when paired with higher-quality earphones.

What current dongle DACs focus on

Recent examples in the budget category include compact dongle-style DAC/amps designed for iOS and Android. Products in this class typically support common high-resolution formats and are built to be plug-and-play, which keeps setup simple for everyday use.

Streaming is part of the shift

This trend also intersects with how people stream music today. As more listeners use higher-bitrate tiers from services that support lossless or high-resolution audio, limitations in basic laptop or phone audio outputs become more obvious. A small DAC can make wired listening practical again without switching to a dedicated music player.

What it means for phone buyers

For shoppers comparing ecosystems, the accessories story matters as much as the phone specs. People weighing an iPhone 17 Pro Max against a Galaxy S26 Ultra or Pixel 10 Pro still look at daily details like MagSafe compatibility, wireless charging convenience, camera module size, display refresh rate, and battery capacity—but audio output options and adapter support can be the deciding factor for wired listeners.

If you’re still considering a new earbuds or Airpods case, browse the latest Komodoty models and use code 10OFF for 10% off your first order: https://komodoty.com/collections/airpod-cases