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Smartphone brands did not stop including FM radio for one shared, documented reason. Streaming’s growing role, the decline of wired listening and headphone jacks, and the engineering work involved in supporting reception all appear to have contributed. FM has not vanished from every phone: support still depends on the exact model and market.
Why did FM radio become less common in phones?
The evidence points to several overlapping changes, not a single industry-wide decision. Streaming became a more prominent way to listen, wired headsets became less central, and phone designs increasingly dropped the 3.5 mm headphone jack. Those shifts made a traditional FM receiver less convenient to include and use.
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FM reception can depend on a wired headset
On Motorola’s documented moto g04 and g04s, wired headphones serve as the FM antenna. The headset must be connected even if the listener routes sound through the phone’s speaker or a wireless audio device. That arrangement makes FM less convenient for someone who no longer carries wired headphones.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsA submission by the Broadcast India Forum (BIF), hosted by India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), argued that using a wired headset as an antenna can raise electromagnetic-compatibility concerns and may require filters. It also argued that removing the headphone jack makes this antenna arrangement harder. These are the submission’s arguments in a regulatory consultation, not a finding that explains every manufacturer’s decision.
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Adding support can involve design trade-offs
The BIF submission also argued that support for FM in chipsets had declined as the industry moved to 4G and 5G, and that adding reception could require additional chipset, circuit, antenna and electromagnetic-compatibility work. This describes the stakeholder’s position; it does not establish the capabilities of every current chipset or prove that all phone makers faced the same costs.
Streaming changed listening habits and product priorities
TRAI’s 2023 recommendation discusses streaming-platform growth and headphone-jack removal as factors cited in the decline of conventional radio and FM functionality in mobile devices. That supports treating streaming as part of a broader shift in listening and product priorities. It does not establish that manufacturers removed FM specifically to push customers toward paid streaming.
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Can a smartphone still receive FM radio?
Yes, some phones can. Motorola’s support instructions cover FM listening on the moto g04 and g04s, and Samsung Japan says some Galaxy devices have a preinstalled radio app that can receive radio without an internet connection. These examples show that FM remains available in certain model-and-market combinations; they are not a complete list or evidence that every phone from either brand supports it.
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Check the manufacturer’s current support information for your exact model and regional or carrier variant. Look for an FM receiver or radio app, any software requirements, and the specified headset or antenna setup. An app, headphone jack or FM-capable chipset on its own does not confirm that the phone can tune stations.
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Does FM radio on a phone use mobile data?
FM broadcast reception and internet streaming are different: a supported receiver picks up a local radio broadcast rather than fetching audio over mobile data. Motorola says FM listening on the documented moto g04/g04s does not use mobile data. Confirm the behavior for your phone’s particular radio app and implementation instead of assuming every app labeled “radio” works the same way.
What do you need to listen to FM on a supported phone?
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the phone. On Motorola’s documented moto g04/g04s, connect wired headphones to act as the antenna; you can then listen through the phone speaker or a wireless audio device if preferred. Check the required connector and accessory compatibility for your own model before buying headphones.
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If your phone does not have FM reception, compatible headphones will not add it. A separate portable FM receiver is an alternative for offline broadcast radio. The available evidence does not establish that a USB-C adapter will enable FM universally.
How to decide which option fits
| Option | What to confirm | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| FM radio built into the phone | That the exact model and regional variant support FM, plus any required app or antenna arrangement. | You want radio integrated with a phone that is confirmed to receive broadcasts. |
| Separate portable FM receiver | That the receiver covers the stations and bands you need; phone compatibility is not required. | Your phone lacks FM and you want offline broadcast radio. |
| Internet radio or music streaming | A suitable app and internet connection; data use depends on the service and connection. | You want stations or audio delivered online rather than received over FM. |
TRAI’s 2023 recommendation and a MeitY advisory from the same year address FM receiver availability in mobile phones in India, but neither establishes a percentage of smartphones with FM or a universal explanation for why manufacturers omit it.
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Sources: BIF submission hosted by TRAI, 24 March 2023; TRAI recommendation, 5 September 2023; MeitY advisory, 28 April 2023; Motorola Support India: moto g04/g04s FM radio instructions; Samsung Japan: FM radio support for some Galaxy devices, updated 11 November 2024.
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