Users sometimes reminisce about old experiences on smartphones "in the old days"
New experiences gradually make people forget the familiar feeling of old utilities until one day, looking back at the smartphone in hand and suddenly realizing that something that used to be very convenient and familiar, is no longer there...
When old habits are gradually replaced
One of the most notable changes is the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, a connection port that has been ubiquitous on nearly every mobile device for more than a decade.
The reasons given by manufacturers are to optimize design, increase battery capacity, or direct users to the wireless headphone ecosystem. However, many people still regret the convenient "plug-and-play" feeling of wired headphones, especially when wireless products require frequent charging and sometimes still experience audio lag.
Similarly, the notification LED is also gradually being "killed". Previously, the small flashing light on the side of the device helped users easily recognize messages or missed calls without turning on the screen. But with OLED screens and the increasingly popular Always-On Display feature, LEDs have become redundant in the eyes of manufacturers.
Infrared ports, once a "savior" when users could not find the TV or air conditioner remote, are now gradually fading into the past. In the context of IoT devices and the development of smart home ecosystems, manufacturers have turned to WiFi, Bluetooth connections and app control - which many users commented are more modern but sometimes less intuitive.
Sharing the same "fate" are the convenient removable battery - which can be replaced quickly, especially for heavy users; the physical home button - which once brought a familiar "real click" feeling that many people still remember even though they have switched to full touch operation; the microSD card tray...
When technology reshapes smartphone user habits
According to Tuoi Tre Online's research, the disappearance of the above features does not entirely originate from the designers, but reflects the way technology companies are reshaping the entire mobile device ecosystem.
Instead of simply providing hardware utilities, smartphones today are hubs connecting wireless headphones, smartwatches, TVs, portable speakers, and even smart homes, all running smoothly through AI and cloud platforms.
Removing the headphone jack not only frees up internal space for a larger battery or a more complex camera cluster, but also forces users to reach for wireless headphones with built-in virtual assistants.
The LED light is replaced by an Always-On Display, which is also a move from a passive notification experience to an active and customizable display.
Even users themselves are changing. Charging headphones wirelessly has become a habit, controlling the house from a smartphone via WiFi is now more popular than infrared ports...
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhung-dac-san-mot-thoi-cua-smartphone-20250707101846302.htm
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