Are AirPods good on Android?

AirPods are Apple’s popular wireless earbuds first released in 2016. They were designed to seamlessly pair and work with Apple devices like the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. Android phones use Google’s Android operating system and are made by many different manufacturers like Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and Xiaomi.

AirPods work with Android devices as well. However, since Android is a separate ecosystem from Apple, the experience using AirPods with Android phones has some differences compared to using them with iPhones. We’ll explore how well AirPods perform with Android, including aspects like connectivity, audio quality, latency, controls, battery life, automatic ear detection, and overall functionality.

Pairing AirPods with Android

Pairing AirPods with an Android device is simple, though the process differs slightly across Android versions and manufacturers. Here are the general steps to pair AirPods to an Android phone or tablet:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android device and ensure Bluetooth is enabled. You may need to tap the “Connections” or “Network & internet” menu to find the Bluetooth settings.
2. Put your AirPods in their case, open the lid, hold it next to your phone, and press and hold the small button on the back of the case. This puts the AirPods into pairing mode.

   after 6 seconds, the light between the AirPods should flash white indicating they are in pairing mode. If the light isn’t flashing, try the process again (source).

3. On your Android device, select your AirPods when they show up in the list of available Bluetooth devices. They will usually appear as “AirPods” or “AirPods Pro” though the name can vary.
4. If prompted for a pairing code or key, enter 0000 or 1234.

Once connected, audio from your Android device should route to the AirPods automatically whenever you put them in your ears. Some additional features like automatic ear detection may be limited though.

Connectivity and Bluetooth Performance

AirPods connect to Android devices using Bluetooth. They have broad compatibility with most modern Android devices as long as Bluetooth version 4.2 or higher is supported. Pairing AirPods to Android works similarly to iPhone – you enable Bluetooth on your Android device, place the AirPods in pairing mode, select them from the list of available devices, and confirm pairing.

According to How to connect AirPods to an Android phone, AirPods use Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity and are compatible with almost all modern Android devices that support Bluetooth 4.2 or higher. However, there may be some Bluetooth connectivity issues between certain AirPods models and some Android phones.

Some common connectivity issues include:

• Pairing intermittently failing
• AirPods randomly disconnecting from the device
• Audio cutting out unexpectedly

One possible cause of AirPods connectivity issues on Android is an outdated Bluetooth AVRCP version. Android uses AVRCP for Bluetooth metadata transfer of information like track title, artist name, etc. Updating this on your Android device may help resolve connectivity issues.

Overall, AirPods function reliably over Bluetooth on most Android devices despite the occasional compatibility issue based on specific device or version combinations. When connectivity problems do arise, there are solutions like updating Bluetooth versions, resetting AirPods, clearing Bluetooth caches, and more as outlined in resources like AirPods Not Connecting to Android: 7 Quick Fixes You Can Try.

Audio Quality

There can be a noticeable difference in sound quality when using AirPods on Android compared to iOS devices. According to reports, AirPods utilize Apple’s Adaptive EQ technology which automatically adjusts the sound profile based on fit and seal in the ear canal. This feature is only available when paired with Apple devices.

Without Adaptive EQ, the sound quality of the AirPods can be more flat and not properly tuned to the listener. High frequencies may become harsher and less controlled. However, for casual listening the difference may not be significant for every user.

There are also complaints about latency and audio lag when using AirPods on Android. This is because Android does not support the same low latency Bluetooth codecs as Apple devices. But with minor lag, AirPods are still usable for media playback.

Lastly, since features like “Hey Siri” voice commands do not work on Android, you lose out on some of the convenience and integration when using AirPods on iOS.

Latency

One of the biggest issues often cited when using AirPods with Android is latency, which refers to a delay between the audio and video when watching videos or lag when playing games. Several users on Reddit and forums like OnePlus have complained about minor lag and delays, especially when gaming.

For example, one Reddit user said “There’s a minor lag with videos. With music I sometimes even get lag between left and right pods” when using AirPods with a Note 9 ^[1]. Another OnePlus user cited lag during games, saying “Impossible to play Pubg” with their AirPods ^[2].

The latency seems to stem from a lack of optimization and integration between AirPods and Android. While Apple has focused on minimizing latency for their own iOS devices and games, that work doesn’t directly translate when using AirPods as a Bluetooth audio device paired to an Android phone.

Controls and Customization

There are some differences in the tap controls and customization options between AirPods connected to iOS vs AirPods connected to Android devices.

On iOS, AirPods allow you to control playback, volume, ask Siri and answer calls by tapping or squeezing the stems on 2nd gen AirPods and Pro models. For example, a single tap plays or pauses, a double tap skips tracks, and a triple tap goes back. You can also press and hold to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode on AirPods Pro (1).

On Android, you lose out on some of that deeper integration and need to rely more on manually controlling playback through the music app itself. However, third party apps like AirBattery for Android can restore some functionality like single, double and triple taps (2).

In terms of customization, iOS allows you to customize the tap controls and switch between noise modes. Android does not offer the same level of customization, but third party apps can provide some options.

Battery Life and Charging

While exact battery life can vary depending on volume and other usage patterns, the AirPods battery life is generally comparable between iOS and Android devices. According to multiple sources, AirPods deliver around 4.5 to 5 hours of continuous listening time or 2 to 3.5 hours of talk time on a single charge when used with the latest Android phones (CNET, Lifewire).

The charging case provides additional charges to deliver up to 24 hours of total listening time. Charging via the case or a Lightning cable works the same with Android as iOS. Importantly, using AirPods with an Android device does not appear to negatively impact battery performance.

An exception is using certain AirPod features like “Hey Google” voice command detection, which can use more battery life in exchange for hands-free access. Still, core functionality and battery efficiency remains on par across Android and iOS.

Automatic Ear Detection

Automatic Ear Detection is a feature that allows AirPods to detect when they are in your ears and pause audio playback when removed. This helps save battery life and makes using AirPods more seamless. According to this article, the feature does work with Android devices, but requires a third party app such as AirBattery to enable it.

AirBattery is a free Android app that gives information about AirPods battery levels and also turns on automatic ear detection. Once installed and paired with your AirPods, the app can detect when the AirPods are inserted or removed from your ears and pause or resume playback automatically. This mimics how the feature works seamlessly on iOS.

So in summary – yes, Automatic Ear Detection does work on Android phones provided you install an additional app like AirBattery. Without a third party app, the feature does not work natively like it does on iPhones. But with AirBattery it can function nearly identically.

Other Features

AirPods unfortunately lose several features when paired with Android that they have when used with iOS. Notable features that don’t work properly include Siri and Spatial Audio https://www.soundguys.com/dont-use-airpods-android-20767/.

Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant, is designed to only work on Apple devices and is not available for use on Android. Attempting to activate Siri by saying “Hey Siri” on Android will not trigger a response.

Spatial Audio is an immersive sound feature available on AirPods Pro and AirPods Max that simulates surround sound based on the position of your head. Spatial Audio relies on Apple’s proprietary head tracking technology and does not function with Android devices. Music will play in standard stereo without the surround effect.

Other AirPods conveniences like ear tip fit testing, automatic device switching, “Find My” tracking network access, and customized on-bud touch controls also will not work on Android. You lose out on much of what makes AirPods unique when used with non-Apple devices.

Conclusion

In summary, using AirPods with an Android device provides a seamless Bluetooth pairing and connectivity experience. Audio quality is very good, on par with iPhone usage. Latency can be an issue with some video apps, but overall performance is quite robust.

Controls and customizations are more limited compared to iPhone, but basic playback controls function properly. Battery life meets expectations at around 4-5 hours of continuous playback. The automatic ear detection feature works reliably to pause audio when removing an AirPod.

While not supporting deeper integration and features tailored specifically for iPhones, AirPods still deliver a quality listening experience on Android. With their unmatched portability and convenience, AirPods remain a good option for Android users looking for great truly wireless earbuds.

If latency or missing features like spatial audio are dealbreakers, high-end Bluetooth earbuds designed specifically for Android may be a better choice. Otherwise, AirPods deliver satisfying functionality for most Android users.