There was a time when buying a mobile phone meant getting more than just a device for calls and text messages. You could listen to your favourite radio station, follow the news, enjoy music and stay informed without spending money on mobile data.
Today, however, many modern smartphones no longer offer built-in FM radio, leaving some users wondering why a feature that was once common has gradually disappeared.
The surprising part is that FM radio has not become obsolete, nor has it become impossible to include in modern smartphones. Instead, a combination of changing phone designs, manufacturing decisions and shifting consumer habits has made it easier for manufacturers to leave the feature out.
Here is why.
- The Disappearance of the Headphone Jack
One of the biggest changes in smartphone design has been the removal of the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack.
For many phones equipped with FM radio, wired earphones served a dual purpose: they allowed users to listen privately while their cables acted as antennas, helping the phone receive radio signals.
When manufacturers began removing headphone jacks, this arrangement became less convenient. Although a smartphone can still support FM radio without a headphone jack, it needs another effective way to receive signals.
Meanwhile, wireless earbuds became increasingly popular, reducing the number of people who regularly used wired earphones.
However, Bluetooth earbuds cannot simply replace a wired earphone cable as an FM antenna. This made the traditional FM radio experience less straightforward on some newer devices.
- Manufacturers Prioritised Other Features
Smartphone manufacturers constantly make decisions about which features to include, balancing production costs, internal space, battery performance and consumer demand.
Over the years, greater attention has been given to features such as advanced cameras, high-resolution displays, powerful processors, larger batteries and slimmer designs.
FM radio, by comparison, has become a lower priority for some manufacturers, particularly in markets where consumers increasingly rely on music-streaming services, internet radio and other online entertainment platforms.
Although FM radio reception may require supporting hardware and a suitable antenna, its absence is not necessarily the result of a lack of space or technological limitations. In many cases, manufacturers have simply decided that other features deserve greater attention.
- The Rise of Internet Radio and Streaming Services
The growth of mobile internet has transformed how people listen to music, follow the news and access entertainment.
Services offering music streaming, podcasts and online radio have given smartphone users more ways to access audio content from around the world.
For manufacturers targeting consumers with reliable internet access, traditional FM radio may appear less essential than it once was.
However, this shift has an important limitation: internet-based services generally require a data connection, while conventional FM radio can receive broadcasts without mobile data.
For users who want to save money on data or listen in areas with poor internet connectivity, FM radio remains a valuable feature.
In countries such as Ghana, where radio continues to play an important role in news, public education and entertainment, losing access to built-in FM radio can be particularly frustrating for listeners who prefer a free, direct connection to their favourite stations.
- FM Radio Was Often Available but Not Activated
Another important detail is that some smartphones have contained FM radio-capable hardware without offering users an accessible radio application.
In certain cases, the necessary receiver may be present but disabled by the manufacturer, mobile carrier or software configuration. In other cases, the device may lack the required hardware altogether.
This means that two smartphones from the same manufacturer can offer different radio capabilities, depending on their models and regional versions.
However, installing an FM radio application does not automatically make a phone capable of receiving conventional FM broadcasts. If the necessary hardware is missing or inaccessible, a regular app cannot replace it.
Users should therefore check their specific phone model before assuming that built-in FM radio can be activated.
- Manufacturers No Longer See It as an Essential Feature
Ultimately, one of the biggest reasons FM radio has disappeared from many smartphones is that manufacturers no longer consider it a must-have feature.
As smartphones have evolved into devices for photography, gaming, video streaming, social media and internet communication, traditional FM radio has received less attention in some product designs.
Manufacturers often make decisions based on what they believe their target customers value most. If they expect customers to use streaming services instead of conventional radio, they may see little commercial advantage in including FM functionality.
Yet this decision overlooks an important benefit of traditional radio: it does not require a mobile data subscription to receive broadcasts.
For listeners who depend on radio for news, emergency information, local programming and entertainment, FM remains relevant even in an increasingly digital world.
So, Is FM Radio Gone for Good?
Not necessarily.
Some modern smartphones still support built-in FM radio, while others do not. The availability of the feature depends on the specific device, its hardware, software and manufacturer decisions.
The disappearance of FM radio is therefore not simply a story of technology replacing an outdated feature. It is also a story about changing consumer habits and the choices manufacturers make when designing their devices.
The irony is that while smartphones have become more powerful and sophisticated, some have lost a simple feature that allowed users to listen to the radio for free, without using mobile data.
For many people, FM radio may seem like a small feature. But for those who rely on it to stay informed and entertained without additional costs, its absence is a reminder that newer technology does not always mean every useful feature gets better—or even survives.
