The flexible 3.5 mm port would me smaller than a standard 3.5 mm port at the cost of higher complexity and likely higher manufacturing costs.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Microsoft-patent-could-keep-the-3-5-mm-audio-jack-alive.262420.0.html
May as well make new jack type. But future is wireless, higher quality wireless sound - better than ones used now, will be more interesting. Would love to see wireless go from the 3Hz as example.