Being Bluetooth earbuds, Apple does allow connecting AirPods to Android devices. With this option, Android users can use AirPods without changing their devices. You can use AirPods with any type of device with Bluetooth compatibility including smart TVs and Windows devices. Unfortunately, not all the features will be supported when you use AirPods with Android phones.
How to Connect AirPods to Android Phone?
Connecting AirPods to an Android phone is very simple. You will have to follow these steps for the same.
Step 1: Go to “Settings” on your Android phone.
Step 2: Look for Bluetooth and enable it.
Step 3: Open the AirPods case and press and hold the white button on the back which will flash the white light.
Step 4: Again on your Android phone, go to “Settings” followed by “Connections” and “Bluetooth.”
Step 5: From the list of available devices, select the AirPods name to connect your phone with AirPods.
Drawbacks of Connecting AirPods With Android
Even though you can connect AirPods with Android, it does come with many downsides. Android users will be restricted from many handy features. Here are some of them.
Siri: Siri is exclusively for iOS devices and Android users will not be able to manage daily tasks like texting, calling, and navigation. Users will not have any access to gestures or commands for activating Siri through AirPods.
Battery Status: An iPhone user can ask Siri about the battery life of AirPods. But with Android devices, you will have to do it manually. Thankfully there are third-party apps that can provide notifications on battery status.
Double-tap Customization: There will be no option for customizing double-tap. This is exclusively for an iOS device. With this functionality, iPhone users can skip songs and summon Siri.
Easy Setup: The Apple one-step setup let you have automatic pairing with other iOS devices. However, pairing AirPods to Android devices requires manual setup.
Automatic Switching: AirPods can automatically switch from an iPad to an iPhone. This offers better convenience and flexibility. You will not be able to do it while using an Android device.
Ear Detection: Another notable feature is automatic ear detection. With this feature, AirPods will automatically pause whatever you are listening to while using it on your iPhone. Being an independent iOS feature, this will not work on Android.
Ear Tip Fit Test: With the ear tip fit test, there will be the best possible sealing for your ear. It helps to prevent any kind of audio leaks. This is also an exclusive iOS feature and will not work with Android devices.
Conversation Boost: For people having mild hearing disabilities, conversation boost serves great. This feature requires iOS 15 and AirPods Pro. You will not be able to use it if you are using an Android device.
How To Improve AirPod Compatibility on Android?
Even though you will not be able to enjoy all the features of AirPods on Android, there are some android apps that can offer more functionality. AndroPods offers an all-in-one solution as it lets you check the battery level. If you use the app in a pro version, you can even add Google Assistant as a shortcut. The pro version also lets you pause the music when you remove the AirPods and it will start again automatically when you put it back.
Some other apps include Assistant Trigger which comes with a double-tapping Google Assistant and ear detection system. The pro version of the app comes with many other features. For just checking the battery, you can hop for AirBattery.
Better AirPods Alternatives for Android
Using AirPods will prevent the hassle of dealing with wires. However, with Android devices, it offers limited functionality. Thankfully many wireless earbuds let you use them with Android phones. These earbuds come with advanced features and you don’t have to worry about getting additional apps while using AirPods on your Android device. The wireless earbuds are also affordable and can support Alexa or Google Assistant.
Conclusion
While AirPods come with many different features and can outperform Bluetooth earbuds, it does not offer complete functionality on Android devices. Airpods are comfortable and have added benefits when you use them on iOS devices. Android users will have to get additional apps so that they can enjoy wire-free music. Luckily there are many wireless earbuds for Android devices which are not only loaded with features but come at a cheaper value than AirPods.
