The short answer is yes, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (Fan Edition) does have a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The S20 FE includes the increasingly rare 3.5 mm audio port that allows you to plug in wired headphones or auxiliary cables. This is good news for people who still use traditional wired headphones or want the flexibility of connecting devices via an audio cable.
More Details on the S20 FE’s 3.5mm Jack
The Galaxy S20 FE has a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the bottom edge of the phone, between the USB-C charging port and the speaker grill. This is the typical placement Samsung uses for the headphone jack on models that still include it.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Headphone jack location | Bottom edge, between USB-C port and speaker |
| Compatible with | 3.5 mm wired headphones, auxiliary cables |
| Supports | Analog audio output |
This standard 3.5 mm audio jack supports analog audio output to any device with a 3.5 mm plug. That includes regular wired headphones from any brand, speakers with an auxiliary input, stereo systems, and more. Basically if it connects via a standard 3.5 mm audio cable, it will work with the S20 FE’s headphone jack.
Using Wired Headphones and Audio Cables
The headphone jack allows you to use regular 3.5 mm wired headphones with the S20 FE. So any headphones you may have with an audio cable will plug right in and work seamlessly. No need for adapters or wireless pairing.
Additionally, the port enables simple connections to other audio devices via auxiliary cables. You can hook the S20 FE up to speaker systems, car stereos, or other devices that accept analog 3.5mm audio input. This allows playing music or audio from your phone through different sound setups.
Advantages of a Headphone Jack
While a growing number of smartphone makers are removing the headphone jack, there are still compelling benefits for users who want this tried-and-true connection option:
Use Your Existing Wired Headphones
Most people have some wired headphones, earbuds or perhaps extensive higher-end headphones that use the common 3.5mm plug. A phone with a headphone jack means you can use your current equipment without needing an adapter or having to purchase new wireless headphones.
Never Run Out of Battery
Bluetooth headphones need to be charged up. If you forget to charge your wireless earbuds or their battery dies mid-use, you’ll be left without audio. Wired headphones don’t rely on batteries so they will always work when you plug them in via audio jack.
Higher Quality Sound
Wired connections allow for transfer of electrical audio signals without digital compression. This produces excellent sound quality that takes full advantage of high-quality headphones. Wireless headphones must digitally compress the audio to transmit it via Bluetooth, slightly reducing sound fidelity.
No Interference or Dropouts
Wireless connections like Bluetooth can occasionally have signal interference issues that introduce unwanted noise or cause audio dropouts. Wired connections do not have these signal stability problems.
Never Have Pairing Issues
Bluetooth pairing can sometimes be tricky and doesn’t always work smoothly, particularly when connecting to certain cars or systems. Physically plugging in via headphone jack makes for quick and seamless connections every time.
Use Audio While Charging
It’s not possible to charge your phone wirelessly and also listen on Bluetooth headphones at the same time. The headphone jack enables charging your S20 FE via USB-C while passing the audio signal out through the headphone jack simultaneously.
Disadvantages of Losing the Headphone Jack
Why do some flagship phones now skip the headphone jack? There are certainly some tradeoffs, but also frustrations for users who rely on wired audio connections.
Less Waterproofing
Including a headphone jack opening makes it more difficult to achieve higher device waterproof ratings. However Samsung managed an IP68 rating on the S20 FE even with the 3.5mm port, so waterproofing is still excellent.
Potential Obsolescence
The future is clearly headed towards wireless audio. At some point wired connections will become obsolete. However, that niche still has many years left given the installed base of audio equipment with 3.5 mm jacks.
No iPhone Parity
Apple shifted to no headphone jack starting with the iPhone 7. Not having a headphone jack creates some product consistency across the iOS and Android ecosystems regarding wireless headphones and lack of ports.
More Licensing Fees
Companies have to pay a small licensing fee per device that includes a 3.5mm audio jack, so omitting it saves money.
What About Bluetooth Audio?
Despite having a wired headphone option, the Galaxy S20 FE also includes advanced Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for audio and device pairing. This enables using wireless headphones or streaming audio to speakers and sound systems. However, the Bluetooth functionality does not negate including the headphone jack as well.
| Audio Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Audio Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX |
| Multi-Point Connections | 2 audio devices simultaneously |
With excellent Bluetooth audio capabilities, the S20 FE provides flexibility to use either wired or wireless audio connections as needed. Users can go wireless with Bluetooth headphones for calls or music listening freedom. Or plug in wired headphones for top notch audio quality and reliability.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE offers the best of both worlds by retaining the venerable 3.5 mm headphone jack while also providing advanced Bluetooth connectivity. With the headphone jack on board, S20 FE owners can connect existing wired headphones or auxiliary cables for charging while listening. Yet going wireless for audio needs is equally simple with multipoint Bluetooth 5.0 support. Given these versatile audio options bundled into an affordable premium device package, Samsung made a sensible choice to give users the flexibility of both a headphone jack and excellent Bluetooth on the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition.
