Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Headphone jack: top vs bottom

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Posts
    6,585
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    246 times in 208 posts

    Headphone jack: top vs bottom

    What are people preference on those? I am not sure what is the norm, my S3 and 2G iPhone has it on the top of the device, my iPod Touch 4G has it at the bottom, and my understanding is that so does the iPhone 5. Not sure what the likes of HTC, Sony, Nokia etc. does.

    Given the choice, I've gotten used to putting the phone upside down in the pocket, so headphone jack at the bottom works better in that sense. However I used to put my phone upside up so that lone isn't a deal-maker/breaker. But another thing it does affect, is the location of the volume control, which by necessity is always near the top of the phone. One thing I noticed with the S3, is that I frequently end up pressing the volume bottom when taking the phone out of my pocket. The problem is made worse because the volume button is too easily pressed down on the S3 (thinking back, the iPhone 2G didn't cause me any grief in this regard). On the other hand, while Googling the position of the headphone jack on the iPhone 5, I saw one person vocally protesting the move to the bottom on the basis that it makes it harder to adjust the volume on the go. Still, I'd rather deal with the inconvenience of having to put my hand deeper in my pocket to adjust the volume, than accidentally press the volume button when taking the phone out.

    So, what's everyone's take on this?

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Glasgow
    Posts
    148
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked
    11 times in 10 posts
    • fatguy666's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z77A-G45
      • CPU:
      • i5 3570K @ 4.3
      • Memory:
      • 2 x 4GB Crucial 1600
      • Storage:
      • 240GB Sandisk SSD, 500GB + 1.5TB + 3TB + 3TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gigabyte WF3 780 TI OC @ stock
      • PSU:
      • 600w Silent Pro Gold
      • Case:
      • CM690 II Advanced Black & White
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 21" IPS
      • Internet:
      • Virgin 100

    Re: Headphone jack: top vs bottom

    The only device I've ever had with the headphone jack on the bottom was a Nokia N73 and that's because it never actually had a jack built in, you had to use an adaptor. Only ever used it if my Creative MP3 player ran out of battery but it was pretty annoying.

    No idea why anyone would think having the jack at the bottom of the device would be a good idea.

    Don't find the buttoms on the S3 THAT easy to accidentally press but maybe that's due to the case I've got - Androidified CruzerLite TPU Case if you're interested.

  3. #3
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    30,749
    Thanks
    1,788
    Thanked
    3,288 times in 2,647 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: Headphone jack: top vs bottom

    Quote Originally Posted by fatguy666 View Post
    No idea why anyone would think having the jack at the bottom of the device would be a good idea.
    Well it means you can sit the device on a desk and operate it the right way up without having to loop headphone cable around the place - and my sennhiesers aren't long enough to loop without using the extension.

  4. #4
    Editable... jimbouk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Bristol
    Posts
    2,811
    Thanks
    244
    Thanked
    238 times in 191 posts
    • jimbouk's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asrock B450M-HDV R4.0
      • CPU:
      • AMD Ryzen 5 3600
      • Memory:
      • Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4 3200 MHz C16
      • Storage:
      • Sabrent Rocket Q 1TB NVMe PCIe M.2 2280
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire Pulse RX 580 8GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic Core Gold GC-650
      • Case:
      • Lian-Li PC-V1100 ATX
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • AOC CU34G2/BK 34" Widescreen
      • Internet:
      • EE FTC

    Re: Headphone jack: top vs bottom

    And better for docks I guess. I must admit it wouldn't make or break a decision for me; top, bottom, left or right. Looping the cable round or having the device upside down in your pocket is a reasonable trade off for not having to loop it round when you're phone's on the desk.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Blastuk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    984
    Thanks
    93
    Thanked
    66 times in 64 posts
    • Blastuk's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z77X-D3H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i5 3570
      • Memory:
      • Corsair Vengeance LP 4x4GB @ 1600mhz
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 840 Pro 250GB, Samsung 850 EVO 500GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • GeForce GTX 970
      • PSU:
      • OCZ ZS 650W
      • Case:
      • Antec Eleven Hundred
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2209WA 22" + Dell U2412M 24"
      • Internet:
      • Virgin 152Mb

    Re: Headphone jack: top vs bottom

    The volume buttons are too easy to press on the s2 as well, I get around this by using a case that sits around the button so that the buttons are lower down than the case.

    Also, there's an app I use called volume lock .. which locks the volume of various things to your liking.

  6. #6
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    35
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    2 times in 1 post

    Re: Headphone jack: top vs bottom

    Not too fussed, top on my phone works just fine though.

  7. #7
    Larkspeed
    Guest

    Re: Headphone jack: top vs bottom

    Top for me.

    I have a desktop charger for both my Galaxy S2 and my Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 so they stand up facing me.

    If either is sitting in their charger then the headphone socket would be unavailable if it were on the bottom

  8. #8
    Admin (Ret'd)
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    18,481
    Thanks
    1,016
    Thanked
    3,208 times in 2,281 posts

    Re: Headphone jack: top vs bottom

    I prefer it on the top, but for me, the location of the power button is more important. For instance, I love my Kindle, but the power button, on thd bottom, is right where my thumb wants to be when holding it one-handed .... which is about 99% of the time. And I've lost count of how many gimes I've turned it off by mistake. The headphone jack is right next to the power button, and USB/charger socket.

  9. #9
    Theoretical Element Spud1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    North West
    Posts
    7,494
    Thanks
    335
    Thanked
    313 times in 249 posts
    • Spud1's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Aorus Master
      • CPU:
      • 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 16GB GSkill Trident Z
      • Storage:
      • Lots.
      • Graphics card(s):
      • RTX3090
      • PSU:
      • 750w
      • Case:
      • BeQuiet Dark Base Pro rev.2
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus PG35VQ
      • Internet:
      • 910/100mb Fibre

    Re: Headphone jack: top vs bottom

    Despite my initial reaction on this (which was "how stupid is it to put the jack on the bottom!") I've found that it doesn't actually matter or make much difference.

    It seems illogical to put it at the bottom as that means putting your phone in your pocket upside down, which only serves to encourage pocket presses of the power button. Not an issue on an iPhone with a strong power button, but a real pain with a HTC device that likes to reboot itself if you hold the power button down, which can happen if you have tight pockets.

    So my preference is still for the top, but I found it doesn't actually make any difference in daily use.

  10. #10
    Oh Crumbs.... Biscuit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    N. Yorkshire
    Posts
    11,193
    Thanks
    1,394
    Thanked
    1,091 times in 833 posts
    • Biscuit's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI B450M Mortar
      • CPU:
      • AMD 2700X (Be Quiet! Dark Rock 3)
      • Memory:
      • 16GB Patriot Viper 2 @ 3466MHz
      • Storage:
      • 500GB WD Black
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire R9 290X Vapor-X
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic Focus Gold 750W
      • Case:
      • Lian Li PC-V359
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 x64
      • Internet:
      • BT Infinity 80/20
    Quote Originally Posted by Spud1 View Post
    ... but a real pain with a HTC device that likes to reboot itself if you hold the power button down, which can happen if you have tight pockets.
    So its not just me!

    Personally it doesn't really matter to me which side its on, however the top seems most logical.

  11. #11
    Theoretical Element Spud1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    North West
    Posts
    7,494
    Thanks
    335
    Thanked
    313 times in 249 posts
    • Spud1's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Aorus Master
      • CPU:
      • 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 16GB GSkill Trident Z
      • Storage:
      • Lots.
      • Graphics card(s):
      • RTX3090
      • PSU:
      • 750w
      • Case:
      • BeQuiet Dark Base Pro rev.2
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus PG35VQ
      • Internet:
      • 910/100mb Fibre

    Re: Headphone jack: top vs bottom

    Quote Originally Posted by Biscuit View Post
    So its not just me!
    Definitely not - its one of the most stupid design decisions made by HTC..and way my number 1 complaint about my HTC titan before I sold it

    Hardbaked into the firmware too so custom roms don't help

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •