Phone makers ditched 3.5mm for USB-C, but which one offers better audio quality?

As smartphone manufacturers have largely abandoned the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of USB-C, consumers are left questioning the impact on audio fidelity. The transition is not merely a change in physical connectors; it involves fundamental differences in how audio signals are processed. While 3.5mm jacks rely on the phone's internal Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) and amplifier, USB-C audio often shifts this responsibility to the headphones themselves or an external dongle. This shift introduces variables such as the quality of the integrated DAC and the potential for digital signal processing. Ultimately, the choice between the two standards depends on the hardware implementation. While USB-C offers the potential for higher-resolution audio and active noise cancellation, the legacy 3.5mm jack remains a reliable standard for analog simplicity. Choosing the right connection requires understanding whether the audio processing is handled by the device or the peripheral.