4 unnecessary smartphone features I’m glad disappeared

It’s no secret that the design and features of smartphones have undergone significant changes over the past twenty years. Comparing early models, such as the original iPhone, Pixel, or Galaxy, to their latest versions clearly demonstrates this. While processing power, displays, storage, and battery life have all improved, some features have been phased out over time, often for good reasons.

Although it’s understandable that some people might miss certain old smartphone features, I believe many are just remnants of their time. To reach the quality we now expect from smartphones, these features had to become obsolete. Here are four smartphone features that have come and gone — which I don’t miss at all, and you might not either.

1

Physical keyboards

They took up too much space

Sorry, BlackBerry fans, but the first smartphone feature I no longer miss is the physical QWERTY keyboard. While the first iPhone in 2007 marked the beginning of the end for physical keyboards, the last BlackBerry-branded keyboard phone was the BlackBerry Key2 LE, released in 2018 and made by TCL. Before I got my first iPhone, I recall using a BlackBerry with a physical keyboard back in 2010, as well as an LG Rumor 2, and I never enjoyed the typing experience on either device. I always felt the keys were too small, and to me, it felt uncomfortable to type on them.

One of the biggest compromises that comes with a physical keyboard is the loss of screen real estate. Since they’ve been largely phased out, our phone screens have become larger, and the touchscreen typing experience has improved drastically, with better haptic feedback and, of course, autocorrect and on-screen typing assistance. Plus, on Android, you can customize your on-screen keyboard exactly to your liking, with apps like Gboard. I’ll take an on-screen keyboard with a larger display any day over a physical one with a smaller display. However, if you really want a physical keyboard, you can get phone accessories like a Clicks Keyboard case.

2

Removable batteries

It’s not practical nowadays

Back in the day, I really appreciated being able to remove the battery from my Galaxy S4 and replace it easily. Although the iPhone has always had a non-removable battery, many Android phones from that era, like those from Samsung and HTC, had removable batteries. It was considered a convenient and simple way to quickly swap out a dead battery.

However, since batteries have mostly become non-removable and more integrated into devices, I haven’t thought about removable batteries much. Battery technology has improved greatly over the past decade, thanks to advances in both software and hardware, regardless of whether you use iOS or Android, and I haven’t experienced my phone’s battery health decline to the point where a full replacement is needed.

Another factor to consider is the design trade-off with removable batteries, since you’d need the back of the phone to be able to pop off. Most flagship phones now have metal frames and glass backs instead of plastic, and a removable battery simply wouldn’t be possible while maintaining the high design standards and water and dust resistance ratings that people expect today. Removable batteries were convenient back in the day, but today’s premium designs and durability standards make removable batteries less practical, and I don’t miss them at all.

3

The 3.5mm headphone jack

Sorry audiophiles, but wireless earbuds are too convenient

I feel like I’m going to take some flak for this one, but I’m just being honest. I don’t miss the 3.5mm headphone jack that was once on virtually every smartphone. Apple removed it with the iPhone 7 in 2016, and Samsung stopped including it with the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy S20 series in 2019 and 2020, respectively. With the rise in popularity of wireless headphones and earbuds, such as Apple’s AirPods, I rarely think about the headphone jack. Yes, it was a crucial feature in 2015, but a decade later, in 2025, I no longer even own wired earbuds.

Audiophiles might disagree with me, as some wired headphones support lossless audio, which Bluetooth headphones don’t offer. However, while I listen to music on my phone during a jog or my commute, it’s simply not something I think about. If you really need a headphone jack, you can always use an adapter. I believe the advantages of removing the headphone jack outweigh the disadvantages.

Without it, phones have improved water and dust resistance, as well as more internal space for better hardware, such as larger batteries. It also lets devices be slimmer, which I prefer. There’s no denying the headphone jack is fondly remembered. However, given the popularity of wireless audio and the desire for sleeker designs, in today’s world, it’s no longer essential, and I don’t find myself missing it.

4

Proprietary charging ports

This is mostly Apple’s fault

I believe most people share my view that having different proprietary charging ports on phones is a feature of the past that is not missed. Admittedly, Apple is mostly responsible for this. While most Android phones initially used micro-USB and later shifted to USB-C, Apple maintained its 30-pin connector, which was bulky and less than ideal, before adopting the Lightning port back in 2012. This port was phased out in 2023 with the introduction of USB-C on the iPhone 15 series.

Today, whether you have an Android or an iPhone, both use USB-C, allowing you to use the same charger and cables across all your devices — be it a phone, tablet, laptop, or headphones. The universal adoption of USB-C benefits the environment by reducing the need to purchase new cables, chargers, or accessories when upgrading devices, thereby decreasing e-waste and making life easier.

I don’t even remember the last time I bought or got a new charging brick for a phone, whereas in the past, I used to get a new brick with every device. Also, now when someone asks for a charger at my house or in the car, I don’t need to ask what type of phone they have, as there’s a good chance it’s a USB-C device. While USB-C isn’t perfect, it’s significantly better than what came before it, and I don’t miss always having to try to find the right cable to charge my phone or somebody else’s.