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Smartphone brands did not stop including FM radio for one single, documented reason, and they have not all dropped it. The feature became less common as streaming and wireless listening gained ground, while the wired headphone jack that some phones use as an FM antenna disappeared from many designs. Engineering and product-priority trade-offs may also have contributed, but the available evidence does not establish one explanation for every manufacturer.
Why did FM radio become less common in phones?
The change reflects several overlapping shifts rather than a universal decision by smartphone makers.
Streaming changed listening habits and priorities
Streaming services made internet-delivered audio a more prominent part of phone use. A 2023 Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommendation discusses streaming-platform dominance and headphone-jack removal as contributors to the decline of conventional radio and FM functionality in mobile devices. That supports a broader change in product priorities; it does not show that brands removed FM specifically to push customers toward paid streaming. Read TRAI’s 2023 recommendation.
FM reception can depend on a wired headset
Some phones use connected wired headphones as the FM antenna. Motorola’s instructions for the moto g04/g04s, for example, require wired headphones for reception, even if the listener routes sound through the phone speaker or a wireless audio device. As headphone jacks became less common, that arrangement became less convenient. A headset-based antenna is a practical design choice, not proof that every FM phone needs the same setup. See Motorola’s moto g04/g04s radio instructions.
#1 Best Overall
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Engineering trade-offs were raised in a stakeholder submission
A submission by the Broadband India Forum (BIF), hosted by TRAI, argued that adding FM reception could require additional chipset, circuit, antenna, and electromagnetic-compatibility work. It also raised concerns about using wired headsets as antennas and the loss of the 3.5 mm jack. These are the submitter’s arguments in a regulatory consultation, not a regulator finding or a verified explanation for every brand. Read the TRAI-hosted consultation paper.
Can a smartphone still receive FM radio?
Yes, some can, but availability depends on the exact phone and market configuration. Motorola documents FM listening on the moto g04/g04s in India. Samsung Japan says some Galaxy devices have a radio app that can receive radio without an internet connection. These examples show that FM has not vanished everywhere; they are not complete compatibility lists for either brand or evidence that all models in a range support radio.
Rank #2
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Before relying on the feature, check the manufacturer’s current support information for your precise model and region or carrier variant. Confirm that it has an FM receiver and radio app, and note any stated headset, connector, or antenna requirement. A radio app, headphone jack, or FM-capable chipset on its own does not establish that the phone can tune stations.
Does phone FM radio use mobile data?
On Motorola’s documented moto g04/g04s implementation, FM listening does not use mobile data. That is broadcast reception, not streaming. Samsung Japan likewise describes some Galaxy radio apps as usable without an internet connection, but its statement applies to the devices covered by that support page—not every Galaxy phone. Check the documentation for your own model before assuming how its radio feature works.
Rank #3
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What to do if your phone does not have FM
- If the phone has FM: Use the compatible wired headphones or antenna specified by the manufacturer, and check that they fit the phone’s connector requirements. You may be able to listen through another audio route while the wired headset remains connected, as on Motorola’s documented models.
- If the phone lacks an FM receiver: A separate portable FM receiver is the straightforward option for offline broadcast radio. Buying headphones cannot add a receiver to an unsupported phone.
Do not assume a USB-C headphone adapter will enable FM: compatibility depends on the phone, and the cited manufacturer materials do not establish universal support for that setup.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
