The AirPods are by far the best-selling Bluetooth headphones in the world. One reason is how well they work with an iPhone. Things are a little different with an Android smartphone.
AirPods are almost a must buy for iPhone owners. The ease of setup and the ever-improving features are solid selling points. But are the Apple headphones also worthwhile for users of an Android smartphone? Not really. TECHBOOK explains why Android users should prefer other headphones.
Just to make it clear in advance. This article is not intended for those who use both iPhone and Android. In this case, there are hardly any restrictions, since the AirPods can always be connected to the iPhone and updated. This is about using AirPods exclusively with an Android smartphone. The following points show why the AirPods are not worthwhile in this case:
There are no updates
Many manufacturers now offer apps for their Bluetooth headphones, which they use to provide improvements and new functions in the form of updates, among other things. With Apple, this works via iOS itself, an additional app is not necessary. The company delivers new functions and improvements via iOS updates.
For example, the AirPods Pro with iOS 14 got 3D audio. Both AirPods and AirPods Pro have also improved automatic switching between devices and optimized charging. iOS 15 added support for the “Where is?” search function and “Conversation Boost”, among other things. All these things that increase the quality of the product are not available for AirPods in conjunction with Android smartphones. There are no stability improvements or new features. So you pay the same price, but ultimately get less performance.
The sound quality is worse
The AirPods (Pro) only support the AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) audio format, which delivers good audio quality with iPhones. In conjunction with Android, however, the AirPods produce poorer quality, such as the audio-focused side “sound guyswrites. As a result, Android assigns Bluetooth a lower priority in order to reduce power consumption. The energy-hungry AAC does not work as well on Android smartphones as it does on iPhones. Technologies like Qualcomm’s energy-efficient “aptX” codec solve this problem for Android smartphones. The AirPods have none of that, however. It is therefore advisable to choose Bluetooth headphones for Android devices that support Qualcomm’s “aptX” audio codecs.
More things that don’t work with the AirPods and an Android smartphone
Easy setup
With an iPhone, all you have to do is simply open the AirPods charging case. This will automatically start the setup process on the iPhone. How the setup works on Android, read below.
wearer detection
If the AirPods are connected to an iPhone, they recognize via a sensor that they are in the ear. If you take them out, playback stops automatically. There are now many alternative Bluetooth headphones that support this function with both iPhone and Android smartphones.
Listen with a single AirPod
Connected to an iPhone, you can only listen to music with one of the two AirPods. On Android, both must be outside the case. This function is also available in many other wireless earbuds.
Audio Sharing
Since iOS 13 it is possible to play an audio source on two pairs of AirPods at the same time. For example, you can watch a film together on the iPad without disturbing other people.
Automatic switching between devices
The AirPods can detect when you’re playing music on your iPhone, for example, and then reach for your iPad to watch a movie. They then automatically switch the audio source and play the sound from the device you are currently using. However, this feature is tied to iCloud, so it only works with iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Other headphone models, such as those from Samsung, now also support this function for Android devices.
Ask Siri
The Apple voice assistant only works on an iPhone. However, there are ways to use additional apps to get Google Assistant working on AirPods on Android.
Adjust what tap and pinch gestures do
AirPods and AirPods Pro have touch surfaces to control playback and launch Siri. The headphones also support these gestures ex works with Android. However, unlike with an iPhone, you cannot change what the gestures do.
Show battery level
The iPhone (or iPad) can show exactly how much battery is left in the AirPods and case. This feature is not available by default on Android. However, there are apps on the Google Play Store that can mimic this feature.
3D audio (AirPods Pro and AirPods Max only)
The AirPods Pro and Max got the new 3D audio function with iOS 14. In conjunction with their acceleration and position sensors, the headphones can determine their position in relation to the iPhone or iPad. The AirPods thus create a three-dimensional sound field in which the sound comes from the direction of the iPhone/iPad. This is not possible with Android and so far there is no comparable competitor product that can imitate this function.
Adjustment to ear shape (AirPods Pro only)
With their built-in microphones, the AirPods Pro can determine whether the fit of the silicone attachments is good. If an attachment does not seal well enough, the test can show this. In this case, it is advisable to try other attachments.
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What even works?
The AirPods also offer some advantages with an Android smartphone. Despite the compact charging case, they have a good battery life. However, limitations are also to be expected here, since the built-in H1 chip with Android cannot access all energy-saving functions. However, when it comes to the stability and range of the Bluetooth connection, users of an Android device can enjoy the H1. Compared to many other Bluetooth headphones, the connection is very stable, even when there is a greater distance between the headphones and the smartphone.
The double-tap gesture on the AirPods interface works for play and pause. However, the functionality of the double-tap cannot be changed. With the AirPods Pro, you can also fast forward and rewind by squeezing the stick several times. However, alternative functions such as calling up Siri cannot be set because the menu for this is missing.
Active noise canceling (ANC) and transparency mode work with the AirPods Pro. However, ANC cannot be switched off. You have to connect the headphones to an iPhone or iPad to set them up. Also, with an Android smartphone, you won’t get access to future updates that may improve ANC and transparency mode.
Also Read: The Best Alternatives to AirPods and AirPods Pro
Set up AirPods with the Android smartphone
Although we do not recommend using the AirPods with an Android smartphone due to the many limitations, we would like to point out that it is still possible. Apple offers on the support page even provides instructions specifically for setting up AirPods on an Android smartphone.
- Go into the Android settings Bluetooth & device connection>Bluetooth.
- Open the charging case with AirPods inserted.
- Press and hold the button on the back of the case until it flashes white.
- The AirPods should appear in the list of discovered devices. Select it to complete setup.