The Galaxy S9 holds the key to a ‘true wireless’ future – here’s why

A new report from Qualcomm suggests that the ‘true wireless’ revolution is now well underway, but is the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack really living on borrowed time? We spoke to one of its top aptX execs to get the inside scoop on where the consumer audio industry is heading – and it all might just hinge on what Samsung does with its 2018 flagship, the Galaxy S9.

Wireless is the way forward.

That was the clear message from American telecoms titan Qualcomm when it briefed Trusted Reviews ahead of the launch of its annual State of Play report into consumer audio preferences.

State of Play 2017 is based on a survey of 4000 smartphone users in the US and UK, and while some of the findings might seem unremarkable (80% of us expect ‘new features’ when buying something!), reading between the lines gives us a good idea of where the audio industry is heading – and can help us ensure we make better purchase decisions as result.

For one, it’s interesting to note that most people now favour wireless headphones, with 53% of Brits saying that they already owned or were considering buying a pair of Bluetooth headphones.

A further 57% of UK respondents said that they saw wireless headphones as the future of on-the-go audio, but as appealing as the convenience of Bluetooth audio is, it’s not necessarily the same thing as saying we no longer want the option of a 3.5mm socket on our devices.

So what does the future hold? You can find the full Qualcomm State of Play 2017 report here – or read on for our hot take on what its top brass really think is going to shape the consumer audio space in the months and years to come.

The ‘true wireless’ revolution  – it all comes down to Android

Wireless headphones really leapt into the spotlight back in 2016, when Apple unveiled its AirPods alongside the headphone jack-less iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

It was a controversial decision at the time, and many of us would probably still say we wanted to have our ‘true wireless’ cake and eat it, too – that is to say, enjoying the option of wireless audio without being restricted to it.

Of course, Apple has a history of making these calls on behalf of its users (it did a similar thing with USB-C and its MacBook range), and while parts of it fanbase might have been irked by the dropping of the headphone jack, dissenting voices were generally drowned out by the borderline rabid praise heaped on Apple and its ‘bold’ design principles.

Ultimately though, Apple is always a premium proposition, and there can be little doubt that people who can afford a £600+ phone can also shell out for a new pair of cans or ear buds.

Which is why the fate of the headphone jack ultimately comes down to what a handful of Android manufacturers do.

This is a realisation I had speaking to Qualcomm Director of aptX Sales and Marketing, Jonny McClintock, after the launch of the State of Play report.

During the event, there was much talk from all sides of the the audio jack being “gone,” but talking exclusively to Trusted Reviews, McClintock revealed that it wasn’t quite as straightforward, suggesting that a lot rests on the next generation of Android flagships.

“The big move has been what’s happened with Apple. Is that a sign of things to come or is that just a brave move that may or may not work? I don’t know what’s going to come out of that [but] what will truly affect change is one big Android manufacturer making that decision – [then] the rest will fall in behind.”

As some Android manufacturers have already joined Apple in dropping the jack – the HTC U11, Moto Z2 Force, and Andy Rubin’s Essential Phone (PH-1) come to mind – one might assume McClintock is referring to the two big forthcoming Android phone, the Galaxy S9 and Google Pixel 2, both of which have been heavily linked to a headphone jack-free design.

And given Qualcomm’s familiarity with the mobile industry and the Android phone world in particular, it’s safe to say that the Galaxy S9 dropping the jack would be an industry-wide klaxon that ‘this is happening, and there’s no going back’.

I also find it interesting that Moto has gone the jack-free route with its latest flagship. Would it be brave or foolhardy to extend a socket-free design to its more affordable offerings, like the Moto G and Moto E? In 2018, perhaps slightly precipitous, but should the Galaxy S9 join the wireless party, I’m convinced the headphone jack will be dead and buried by the end of 2019 – save for maybe your nan’s Doro phone.

What does this all mean for you? Well, those wanting to future-proof their tech investments should probably look at buying a pair of wireless headphones first and foremost – after all, it’s not like they won’t work with your phone in a year’s time, but the same can’t necessarily be said of wired alternatives. Sure, we all know dongles exist – but they’re a right fiddle, get lost easily, and sound too phallic to be discussed at polite dinner parties.

Your move, audio manufacturers?

No.

Your move, Samsung. Or should that be checkmate, Google?

Is it time for phone manufacturers to ditch the headphone jack for good? Tweet your thoughts to @andro_territory