[jdietrich]

There's a much more mundane explanation - waterproofing. Lightning and USB-C connectors can both be made intrinsically waterproof up to IPx7, while the 3.5mm jack can't. Waterproofing is a key point of differentiation for recent flagship phones. An iPhone 7 will survive a dip in a toilet bowl or a pint of beer, but an iPhone 6 probably won't.

[ars]

> while the 3.5mm jack can't

Of course it can. It's just 3 or 4 wire connections, and an insertion switch.

Why do you think it can't be made waterproof? It's even easier than USB-C to waterproof.

A simple google search "waterproof 3.5mm socket" find tons of results.

[detaro]

So all the other phone manufacturers selling IP68 phones with headphone jacks are lying?

[_r_o_y_]

I had a Xperia Z5 and every time water touched the headphone jack the phone would go crazy thinking that I was plugging and unplugging something repeatedly.

[mhh__]

On the assumption that the phone itself is fine, that could be fixed in software.

[steve19]

Plenty of phones where waterproof before. The lightning port is waterproof despite having many more pins than a simple phone jack.

[diggan]

I don't see the difference in the connector and how that can determine how waterproof the phone is. In the end, lightning/usb-c and 3.5 are just sending electron via a connection, how would the format determine how waterproof you can make it?

[fox8091]

To all the people saying "but waterproof 3.5mm", here's the thing. Despite having _more pins_, lightning and USB-C have the advantage of _active signalling_. So not just an "open/closed" signal, but an active communication saying something was plugged in. So while 3.5mm can be made where it doesn't damage the phone, water will still short the open/closed switch, causing false insertion events.

[CamperBob2]

Yeah, that must be it.

http://www.tradekorea.com/product/detail/P698873/IP67-waterp...

[pymai]

well then sony had been lying to me for years. the last 3 phones I've owned have had waterproof headphone jacks

[gsich]

You are wrong there.