Do AirPods Work With Android Phones?
If you’ve ever used wired earphones before, then you already know how frustrating it is to detangle their wires, especially when you’re on a workout run, in the middle of an important call, or while on the bus on the way home. Thankfully, true wireless earbuds came into the picture, doing away with the hassle of dealing with messy cords and making listening to your favorite tracks easier than ever.
Among the mostpopular of these wireless earbudsare Apple’s AirPods, and for good reason. They provide solid quality sounds, up to 30 hours total listening time, a comfortable fit, and a host of convenient features like touch controls and audio enhancements. AirPods also integrate seamlessly into the Apple ecosystem, so if you already have an iPhone, iPad, or macOS computer, then you’re practically all set. But what if you own a pair of AirPods but decided to use an Android device instead. Would your AirPods still work on Android?
AirPods for Android use?
While it may seem like AirPods are exclusive for pairing with Apple products, you may also connect them to other devices. So yes, AirPods work on Android handsets too. This is because they’re just Bluetooth-enabled gear, so non-Apple devices can essentially see them like any other Bluetooth headset in the market.
In terms of compatibility, Google has no specific restrictions on which AirPods model can connect to your Android devices. That said, you’re able to use all the current variants, from the first to fourth generation of AirPods to the first and second generation of AirPods Pro to the only over-ear model, AirPods Max. However, it’s important to note that the experience of using AirPods with Android compared to using them with iPhone and any other Apple product is like night and day. With Android, you won’t be able to access specific iOS/macOS features, so expect the AirPods' functionality to be pretty limited.
The only AirPods features you get on Android
If you plan on using AirPods with your Android device, you’ll be glad to know that it isn’t as non-interactive as you might have initially thought. Sure, you can connect them to your phone and control everything from there. But the AirPods actually feature out-of-the-box hardware controls that work perfectly fine with Android and require no extra setup. The only exception to this, though, is the first generation AirPods. The only default hardware control it has is for activating Siri. However, for the rest of the AirPods variants, here’s a quick breakdown of the controls:
Unfortunately, these are the only AirPods features you get on Android.
The AirPods features you’ll be missing on Android
Being an Apple product, AirPods naturally work better with iPhones or iPads, giving you access to a multitude of features and conveniences that don’t come natively on Android phones. For one, there’s no automatic connection prompt for Android. As soon as you open the lid of an unpaired AirPods close to your iPhone, you’ll see a popup to connect to it. In-ear detection, which pauses the media when at least one earbud is taken out, also works exclusively with Apple devices. Another AirPods feature you’ll be missing out on Android is the battery level indication. Unlike iPhone, you can’tcheck the battery levels of your AirPods on your Androidunless you install a third-party app. Plus, there’s no native way to customize the touch controls on your AirPods and find them using your mobile, as you need an Apple device to do so.
Android phones and tablets miss out on a whole lot of the AirPods' audio features, too. You don’t get Spatial Audio that creates the feeling of sounds coming from every direction, Adaptive Audio that automatically adapts to the noise levels around you, Personalized Volume that customizes the volume based on your preferences and environmental conditions, Conversation Awareness that controls the media volume based on whether or not your voice is detected, and Voice Isolation that isolates your voice during calls for better quality. Then, there’s the audio accessibility features like Live Listen, headphone accommodations, and Mono Audio, all of which are designed for Apple use. Other nifty AirPods features Android lacks include sharing the audio to another AirPods, automatically transferring the sounds to a different Apple device, using Siri for controls and other commands, taking the Ear Tip Fit Test, and updating the AirPods software.
How to connect your AirPods to Android
Pairing your AirPods to your Android phone or tablet is as straightforward as connecting any other Bluetooth device. Here’s how to do so:
You should now see your AirPods as an active device in the Bluetooth settings. Use it as you normally would.
