4 pointless smartphone options I am glad disappeared

It is no secret that the design and features of smartphones have undergone important modifications over the previous twenty years. Evaluating early fashions, such because the original iPhone, Pixel, or Galaxy, to their newest variations clearly demonstrates this. Whereas processing energy, shows, storage, and battery life have all improved, some options have been phased out over time, typically for good causes.

Though it is comprehensible that some individuals would possibly miss sure old smartphone features, I consider many are simply remnants of their time. To achieve the standard we now count on from smartphones, these options needed to change into out of date. Listed below are 4 smartphone options which have come and gone — which I do not miss in any respect, and also you won’t both.

1

Bodily keyboards

They took up an excessive amount of house

Sorry, BlackBerry fans, however the first smartphone function I not miss is the bodily QWERTY keyboard. Whereas the primary iPhone in 2007 marked the start of the tip for bodily keyboards, the final BlackBerry-branded keyboard telephone was the BlackBerry Key2 LE, launched in 2018 and made by TCL. Earlier than I acquired my first iPhone, I recall utilizing a BlackBerry with a bodily keyboard again in 2010, in addition to an LG Rumor 2, and I by no means loved the typing expertise on both machine. I all the time felt the keys have been too small, and to me, it felt uncomfortable to sort on them.

One of many largest compromises that comes with a bodily keyboard is the lack of display actual property. Since they have been largely phased out, our telephone screens have change into bigger, and the touchscreen typing expertise has improved drastically, with higher haptic suggestions and, after all, autocorrect and on-screen typing help. Plus, on Android, you possibly can customise your on-screen keyboard precisely to your liking, with apps like Gboard. I am going to take an on-screen keyboard with a bigger show any day over a bodily one with a smaller show. Nevertheless, should you actually need a bodily keyboard, you may get telephone equipment like a Clicks Keyboard case.

2

Detachable batteries

It is not sensible these days

Again within the day, I actually appreciated with the ability to take away the battery from my Galaxy S4 and substitute it simply. Though the iPhone has all the time had a non-removable battery, many Android telephones from that period, like these from Samsung and HTC, had detachable batteries. It was thought of a handy and easy strategy to rapidly swap out a useless battery.

Nevertheless, since batteries have principally change into non-removable and extra built-in into gadgets, I have not thought of detachable batteries a lot. Battery expertise has improved enormously over the previous decade, because of advances in each software program and {hardware}, no matter whether or not you employ iOS or Android, and I have not skilled my telephone’s battery well being decline to the purpose the place a full alternative is required.

One other issue to think about is the design trade-off with detachable batteries, because you’d want the again of the telephone to have the ability to pop off. Most flagship telephones now have steel frames and glass backs as an alternative of plastic, and a detachable battery merely would not be potential whereas sustaining the excessive design requirements and water and mud resistance scores that folks count on as we speak. Detachable batteries have been handy again within the day, however as we speak’s premium designs and sturdiness requirements make detachable batteries much less sensible, and I do not miss them in any respect.

3

The three.5mm headphone jack

Sorry audiophiles, however wi-fi earbuds are too handy

I really feel like I will take some flak for this one, however I am simply being sincere. I do not miss the three.5mm headphone jack that was as soon as on nearly each smartphone. Apple eliminated it with the iPhone 7 in 2016, and Samsung stopped together with it with the Galaxy Word 10 and Galaxy S20 sequence in 2019 and 2020, respectively. With the rise in reputation of wi-fi headphones and earbuds, reminiscent of Apple’s AirPods, I not often take into consideration the headphone jack. Sure, it was an important function in 2015, however a decade later, in 2025, I not even personal wired earbuds.

Audiophiles would possibly disagree with me, as some wired headphones help lossless audio, which Bluetooth headphones do not provide. Nevertheless, whereas I hearken to music on my telephone throughout a jog or my commute, it is merely not one thing I take into consideration. If you actually need a headphone jack, you possibly can all the time use an adapter. I consider the benefits of eradicating the headphone jack outweigh the disadvantages.

With out it, telephones have improved water and mud resistance, in addition to extra inner house for higher {hardware}, reminiscent of bigger batteries. It additionally lets gadgets be slimmer, which I choose. There isn’t any denying the headphone jack is fondly remembered. Nevertheless, given the recognition of wi-fi audio and the need for sleeker designs, in as we speak’s world, it is not important, and I do not discover myself lacking it.

4

Proprietary charging ports

That is principally Apple’s fault

I consider most individuals share my view that having totally different proprietary charging ports on telephones is a function of the previous that’s not missed. Admittedly, Apple is usually answerable for this. Whereas most Android telephones initially used micro-USB and later shifted to USB-C, Apple maintained its 30-pin connector, which was cumbersome and fewer than splendid, earlier than adopting the Lightning port again in 2012. This port was phased out in 2023 with the introduction of USB-C on the iPhone 15 sequence.

Right this moment, whether or not you’ve an Android or an iPhone, each use USB-C, permitting you to make use of the identical charger and cables throughout all of your gadgets — be it a telephone, pill, laptop computer, or headphones. The common adoption of USB-C advantages the setting by decreasing the necessity to buy new cables, chargers, or equipment when upgrading gadgets, thereby lowering e-waste and making life simpler.

I do not even bear in mind the final time I purchased or acquired a brand new charging brick for a telephone, whereas prior to now, I used to get a brand new brick with each machine. Additionally, now when somebody asks for a charger at my home or within the automotive, I need not ask what sort of telephone they’ve, as there is a good probability it is a USB-C machine. Whereas USB-C isn’t perfect, it is considerably higher than what got here earlier than it, and I do not miss all the time having to attempt to discover the correct cable to cost my telephone or any individual else’s.