Can you listen to FM radio on Android?

FM radio capabilities have become a standard feature on most Android smartphones over the years. The vast majority of Android devices sold today come equipped with built-in FM radio chips and antennas. This allows users to listen to local FM radio stations on their phones without using mobile data. While FM radio was more hit-or-miss on earlier Android models, recent versions of Android have FM radio support built into the core operating system. As a result, accessing FM radio on a modern Android phone is quick and easy through pre-installed apps or by downloading a radio app from the Google Play store. This article will provide an overview of how FM radio works on Android phones, discussing hardware support, software features, apps, and tips for getting the best reception.

Hardware Support

Many Android phones have built-in FM tuners that allow you to listen to FM radio. However, not all Android devices support FM radio out of the box. According to Slashgear, Samsung Galaxy devices from the S4 onwards tend to include FM radio support. Other Samsung models like the Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note Edge, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 5 also come FM ready.

Motorola is another brand that has included FM support in many of their Android smartphones over the years, like the Moto G and Moto E series. Popular Motorola models that support FM radio include the Moto G4, Moto G5, Moto G6, Moto E4, and Moto E5 among others.

In general, mid-range and budget Android phones are more likely to have FM radio capabilities built-in compared to premium flagship devices. You can check the spec sheet for a particular Android phone model to confirm if it has an integrated FM tuner.

Software Support

Android has provided native support for FM radio tuners since Android 2.3 Gingerbread, released in 2010. However, hardware support was still required as the phone’s chipset needed to contain an FM tuner ^[1]. Over the years, more Android devices included FM radio chips and support grew. By 2014, most Android phones had FM radio capability even if it was not enabled by default.

With Android 8.0 Oreo in 2017, the operating system removed support for the legacy FM radio API. This broke many FM radio apps. However, Android 9 Pie introduced support for the newer DAB standard in 2018 ^[2]. So newer Android devices can still utilize FM radio functionality, provided the hardware supports DAB.

Using Pre-Installed Apps

Many Android devices come with pre-installed music or radio apps that allow you to listen to FM radio. The default apps vary depending on the device manufacturer skin and Android version:

On Samsung devices, the Samsung Music app includes an FM radio function. This works for listening to FM radio without needing internet access or data.

For LG phones, the LG Music app allows FM radio listening and recording.

Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and others often come with built-in music apps like Mi Music that include radio functionality.

On OnePlus devices, OnePlus Music Player has an FM radio feature.

For many devices, the pre-installed music app is the easiest way to listen to FM radio without additional software.

Downloading Apps from Play Store

The Google Play Store offers many great FM radio app options for Android devices. Some of the most popular and highly-rated apps include:

NextRadio – Uses your device’s built-in FM tuner to play FM radio stations. Provides a tuning dial and presets.
Radio India – Lets you listen to Indian radio stations from around the world. Features over 2300 radio stations.

iHeartRadio – Gives access to over 850 live radio stations from the iHeartRadio network.
Firefox – The Firefox web browser has an integrated FM radio feature you can use.

These apps provide an easy way to access free FM radio on your Android device through the Google Play store. They offer features like tuning dials, presets, curated radio stations, and more. You can install any that fit your preferences and listening needs.

Connecting Headphones

For the best FM radio reception on your Android phone, you’ll want to connect headphones. This is because headphones act as an antenna for your phone to pick up FM signals.

The audio cord in your headphones essentially turns into an antenna when plugged into your phone’s headphone jack. This allows your phone to use the cord to receive FM frequencies and play them through your headphones.

Without this extra antenna from the headphones, your phone may not be able to pick up FM stations well, if at all. The reception typically improves greatly once headphones are connected. So make sure to plug in headphones before listening if you want to enjoy FM radio on your Android device.

You may be able to get FM reception without headphones in some cases if you are near a strong station signal. But for consistent and reliable access across stations, using headphones as an antenna is recommended.

Reception Quality

FM radio reception on Android phones can vary greatly depending on several factors. The most important factors impacting FM reception include:

Antenna – Most Android phones have a built-in FM antenna inside the headphone cable. Connecting headphones with a longer cord can act as an antenna and improve reception. Some phones also have an internal FM antenna, but reception is usually better with headphones plugged in.

Location – Being outdoors or near a window can significantly improve FM reception compared to being indoors. Concrete and steel buildings tend to block more signals.
Geography – Radio reception tends to be better in flat, open areas versus locations surrounded by mountains or dense forests that can obstruct signals.
Weather – Heavy rain or dense cloud cover can interfere with FM signals and cause static or lost reception.

Proximity to station – Stations will come in clearest when closest to the transmitter. More powerful stations may be picked up from farther away.

In some cases, the phone hardware itself may limit FM reception. Testing different headphones, locations, and apps can help determine if issues are caused by the device or environment.

Data and Battery Usage

Using the FM radio feature on Android does not use mobile data as it relies on the FM receiver hardware in the phone rather than streaming data over the mobile network. As noted on the Android Central forums, “No data. Assuming you’re using a “Real” over the air FM radio app. Just turn off your data and WiFi and see.” [1]

The FM radio app itself uses a minimal amount of battery since it utilizes existing hardware in the device. The main battery drain comes from keeping the screen on during usage. Per the article on IT Still Works, “The system processes required to keep the phone operating use battery life, though the largest drain on the battery is the power required to run the display.” [2]

So in summary, using the FM radio does not use mobile data, and only minimally impacts battery life aside from keeping the screen on during usage.

Alternatives

If listening to FM radio through your Android device doesn’t work well for you, there are other options for streaming radio online. Popular music streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, and SiriusXM offer extensive libraries of music stations and podcasts that can be accessed on demand. Additionally, there are apps specifically for streaming live online radio stations, such as Attawheed Online Radio and the online radio stations offered by Radio Expert. These apps give you access to AM/FM stations worldwide without needing to rely on your phone’s built-in FM radio receiver.

Conclusion

In summary, most Android devices have built-in hardware support for receiving FM radio signals. The capability is enabled through the internal tuner and antenna typically included in the chipset. Software-wise, many Android smartphones come with pre-installed FM radio apps that leverage this hardware. Popular options are NextRadio, FM Radio, and Samsung’s native FM Radio app.

For devices without a pre-installed FM app, many options are available for free download from the Google Play store, like Tunable Radio and Spirit FM Radio. These apps can activate the dormant FM receiver hardware in your device. When listening via the external speaker, reception quality varies depending on factors like antenna position and station signal strength. But connecting wired headphones, which act as an antenna, greatly improves reception in most cases.

FM radio tuning uses very little data and minimal battery. So it provides a convenient entertainment option while traveling or anytime you don’t want to drain your data plan. The only downside is lacking some of the advanced features and visual interfaces of streaming apps. But overall, FM radio is a handy capability that almost every Android user can access and enjoy.