LG's G5 has proven nothing if not a divisive and unique piece of hardware. While I understand that many people do like the phone, I had a hard time coming to a favorable conclusion when evaluating it over the last few weeks. Conclusions aside, I want to talk about smartphone accessories - and I don't mean TPU cases (well, maybe HTC's Dot View or Samsung's new copycat thereof may count).

When I look at buying a smartphone, I'm looking at the smartphone. Freebies that come to loyal pre-order customers are always nice, but the vast majority of consumers buy a phone and generally a phone only (again, aside from a case) these days when they walk into a store or submit an order online.

As all sorts of headphone form-factors begin to go wireless (and come down in price), the personal audio market is being increasingly shaped by the smartphones we often listen to our music through. Because of things like Bluetooth allowing us to go wire-free, many people are more comfortable choosing a style or variety of headphone that appeals to their listening preferences as opposed to mere ergonomic concerns.

So, what kind of headphones do you use with your smartphone? I've tried to provide a pretty complete list here, with the option to choose multiple items if you regularly use more than one kind of headphone.

The cost of a smartphone can vary wildly - anywhere from $50 (or even less) to over $1000 depending on just which phone you're talking about. That wide range of prices also means a wide variety of devices are out there that cater to the specific needs or desires of you, the consumer. There are also a growing number of ways to pay for your phone if you really want the expensive stuff.

In America, phone subsidies from carriers (mobile operators) were long the preferred method to acquire a phone. In exchange for a promise to stay with a carrier as a post-paid customer for two years or more, the carrier would greatly subsidize the cost of a smartphone up front.