The tech world has a way of cannibalizing itself: Trends become standards, and progress is made. Apple was the first to announce that it would forego the headphone jack in favor of a wireless future — despite pushback from iPhone users due to the ubiquity of the jack and the fact that removing it entirely meant removing their ability to choose what sort of headphones to use.
Apple's announcement came months before the original Google Pixel, which featured a standard headphone jack, made its debut on the phone market in October 2016.
So what about Google's newer phones? While the Pixel 2, Pixel 3, Pixel 4, and Pixel 5 notably lack a headphone jack, some other versions — the Pixel 3a, 4a, and 4a (5G) — once again feature a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.
The Google Pixel 3a, 4a, and 4a (5G) phones have a headphone jack
In contrast to most other Google Pixel models, which lack a headphone jack, the (a) versions of Google Pixel phones feature a headphone jack on top of the phone.
That means owners of Pixel 3a, 4a, and 4a (5G) — like owners of the original Pixel — are able to use wired headphones without the go-between of a USB-C dongle adapter, as depicted below for the Pixel 2 and 3.
Google Pixel models that do not have a headphone jack
The Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 were the first to forego the headphone jack that the original Pixel featured, and the Pixel 4 and Pixel 5 followed suit. Instead of a headphone jack, these devices only have a single USB-C port, which you can use with an adapter, or dongle, to connect to standard headphones.
The Pixels 2 and 3 came with an adapter, while the Pixels 4 and 5, unfortunately, do not.
In addition to the headphone adapter, only the Pixel 3 comes with a pair of USB-C (though not wireless) earbuds, which can use the charging port as a makeshift headphone jack.
Google sells headphone adapters for $12, and you can find other options online as well. But, if you have a Pixel 2, be sure to get an adapter with a built-in Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC), otherwise it may not work properly.
Alternative headphone options
If you aren't interested in the more cumbersome adapter setup, or you just want a way to listen to your phone while it's hooked up to the charger, you can opt to use wireless headphones instead.
All Pixel models are compatible with Bluetooth-enabled devices, so it would simply be a matter of pairing the headphones with your phone.
One wireless headphone option is Google's own Pixel Buds, which cost $179 when bought through the company, although cheaper options can easily be found elsewhere. Or, if you prefer a wired-in situation, sans dongle, you could instead buy headphones with a USB-C port-compatible hookup.
Related coverage from Tech Reference:
How to set up a voicemail account and greeting on a Google Pixel, and access your mailbox from anywhere
How to connect your Google Pixel to a computer in 2 different ways, for Mac and PC
'Does the iPad have a headphone jack?': Here are the iPad models that have a standard headphone jack
How to turn on Bluetooth on your Windows 10 computer, and use it to connect a Bluetooth device
'What is Bluetooth?': A beginner's guide to the wireless technology
SEE ALSO: The best true wireless earbuds for your Pixel
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