Why can you use a smartphone while it’s plugged in but not a headphone?
Huh? How would you use headphones while they are charging?
Things that are called “headphones” usually only work while they’re plugged in.
What specific product are you referring to?
I feel like model numbers would be helpful here. I can use my earbuds while the case is plugged in, for example. You can use Sony WH-1000XM3 wired to your phone while charging, but not in wireless Bluetooth mode while charging. Is that what you mean?
Nearly ever device that charges via USB or a magnetic interface can’t be turned on while charging. Smartphones are the exception.
My take is it’s all a matter of cost. On a smartphone that retails for $500-1200, there’s room in the sales margin to arrange things so use and charging can both happen at once.
On a generic USB flashlight, powered bluetooth speaker, miniature fan, vacuum cleaner, meat thermometer, earbuds, or … that sells for 4 dollars from the factory, there just isn’t margin for that sophistication.
Particularly for devices that charge in a special magnetic cradle like earbuds, the ergonomics of charging while using don’t make any sense. So no reason to build that capability in.
Obviously that concern would not apply to some bulky earmuff-like headset that has a USB port somewhere for charging. And that’s probably the sort of thing the OP was thinking of when they wrote “headphones”. Such a thing could be designed to use and charge simultaneously. Some combo of cost and the belief few users would want to use their normally wireless headphones tied to a USB wall wart plugged into a wall outlet. I could see a use case to plug such a headset into a portable power brick on a SB cord. But it’d be a rare use case.
Exactly. I have Bose QuietComfort Wireless Bluetooth Headphones that charge with a USB that often annoys me by my inability to use them if I forget a charge. And my memory tells me that all my earlier wireless headphones had the same issue.
Sounds like you understood the exact question and answered it so I could understand. Thanks.
You can use your Bose headphones in wired mode while charging. It should have come with a wire, but you may need an adapter to plug it into your phone.
In addition to phones, laptops are also one of the things that can charge and be used at the same time. Since it increases cost to add support for concurrent charging while in use, it’s only done for devices which are typically charging and active at the same time.
I use headphones to listen to my Bose soundbar connected across the room to the television when I don’t want to disturb my wife, so running a wire would be awkward. I went to wireless headphones for that reason.
Yeah, Bluetooth speakers can typically be used while charging, since that’s a common use case. At least, the better ones.
I wonder if what would happen if you used a charging-only USB cable. The speculation being that the headphones are seeing the USB port as the active source and defaulting over to them.
Worth a shot if you have such a cable around. They usually come with really cheap chargers since they can save a few pennies or buy one on Amazon for a few bucks. It probably won’t work, but it’s cheap test and the cable is always useful for charging in sketchy places.
(They also come with high-power chargers so they don’t fry the device.)
And tablets and my AppleTV remote control, and wireless keyboards, etc. It’s much more than just smartphones.