The Pixel 7a shares many similarities with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, but does the cheaper smartphone include a headphone jack? The Pixel 7a packs a few upgrades over the Pixel 6a, most notably, with the inclusion of a 90Hz display. Other key differences between the two phones include wireless charging, the newer Google Tensor G2 chipset, face unlock, and massively upgraded cameras.
Unfortunately, one feature that both the Pixel 7a and Pixel 6a have in common is a missing headphone jack. The Pixel 6a was the first Pixel a-series phone to get rid of the legacy audio port, and Google has continued that trend with the Pixel 7a. This doesn't exactly come as a surprise, given that the Pixel 7 doesn't feature a headphone jack either. Smartphones without headphone jacks are becoming increasingly common, and this trend is no longer limited to just flagships.
Pixel 7a Wired & Wireless Listening Options
Even though the Pixel 7a doesn't have a 3.5mm headphone jack, buyers can use their existing wired headphones with the smartphone. All they need to do is buy a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter. Google sells one for $12, but there are other options available, including one from Apple that's cheaper at $9. There are plenty of third-party adapters available on sites like Amazon too. All users need to do is connect the adapter to the Pixel 7a's USB-C port, and plug their headphones into the other end to listen to music with their existing headphones.
Another option is to buy a pair of USB-C headphones, although the selection is much smaller than conventional 3.5mm headphones. Some headphones also come with the option to connect via USB-C or 3.5mm, making them a versatile product. Google sells USB-C headphones for $30, although there are cheaper third-party USB-C headphones priced between $10 and $20.
The easiest way to listen to audio on the Pixel 7a is to use a pair of wireless earbuds. Google sells the Pixel Buds A-Series for $99, and is even including them free with Pixel 7a purchases for a limited time. The Pixel Buds Pro are a more premium option at $159. If users want to explore different brands, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, OnePlus Buds Pro 2, Jabra Elite 7 Pro, Beats Studio Buds, and Sony WF-1000MX4 are all excellent options. Buy any of these wireless earbuds, connect them to the Pixel 7a using Bluetooth, and the missing headphone jack won't be a deal-breaker.
Source: Google