Google’s new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones come with a 3.5mm to USB-C headphone adapter in the box since Google is sadly following in Apple’s footsteps and nixing the traditional audio jack on its newest smartphones.
If you are planning to use your old headphones with your new Pixel 2, you probably shouldn’t lose the free adapter that comes in the box: Google is charging a hefty $20 each for replacement dongles.
That’s... not great, especially since even Apple — a company that isn’t exactly known for having cheap accessories — sells its own replacement Lighting to 3.5mm adapters for a mere $9, less than half of what Google is charging.
Similarly, Android Police notes that if you’d like to charge your new Pixel 2 and listen to music at the same time, the only option on the Google Store is a third-party Moshi dongle that offers a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB-C port for $44.95, which is also pretty pricey. (iPhone users have their own option in the almost-as-bad $35 Belkin 3.5mm Audio + Charge Rockstar. Its most redeeming quality at this point seems to be that it’s cheaper than Google’s option.)
And while there are plenty of far cheaper options around on dongle sites like Amazon, most of those come from sketchy-looking sellers with poor ratings, which makes it kind of a crapshoot on if the dongle will even work.
Given that more and more phones are switching over to USB-C, odds are that we’ll start seeing more reputable sellers with cheaper adapters soon. For now, just don’t lose your free dongle.
And while there are plenty of far cheaper options around on dongle sites like Amazon, most of those come from sketchy-looking sellers with poor ratings, which makes it kind of a crapshoot on if the dongle will even work.
Given that more and more phones are switching over to USB-C, odds are that we’ll start seeing more reputable sellers with cheaper adapters soon. For now, just don’t lose your free dongle.
No comments:
Post a Comment