this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2025
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Google Keeps Making Smartphones Worse (jacobin.com)
submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by JairajDevadiga@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
203 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Google’s Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, started life as open-source software. In its quest for ever-greater profits, the tech giant has been gradually eroding Android’s open-source nature over the last decade.

Originally published on The Lever, but that one asks you to sign up.

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[–] ohwhatfollyisman@lemmy.world 58 points 6 days ago (3 children)

android peaked with the pixel 2. then everyone went overboard on bezel-less displays and fast refresh rates and smart assistant services and brought the whole damn thing crashing down.

[–] LedgeDrop@lemmy.zip 38 points 5 days ago (1 children)

... and I want my headphone jack, back.

[–] lemmeBe@sh.itjust.works 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Yep, didn't use it much but I have studio headphones that I lliked to plug from time to time.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 0 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

TBH getting a nice dongle like a Fiio KA5 is not so bad. It's small enough to just hang off the cord, and sounds better anyway, and you don't have to throw it away every phone switch.

[–] lemmeBe@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Not so bad?

That thing costs 230€ vs a free headphone jack. 🙄

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Sorry, I meant the KA1 or KA3, got them mixed up. My KA3 was like $50 used.

I use it on my PC, too.

Considering the cost in reference to the hardware, and that I can use it basically forever, and that it's a lower distortion DAC than any phone? It's not bad. And it's a barely-noticable addon for my headphones that just lives on the cord.

[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 29 points 5 days ago

I don't think the issue with phones is the smaller bezels or better displays.

That's not what's ruining them.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Fast refresh rates are amazing. I cherished my old Razer Phone 2.

[–] AstaKask@lemmy.cafe 1 points 4 days ago

I think it varies from person to person. My gf can't tell the difference at all, even when she really tries, neither can a friend of mine (who also use the most insane jerky screen settings on his TV). For me, I can't imagine going back to 60hz ever again. It feels like something is physically wrong with my phone if I turn 120hz off.