Can You Use Airpods On An Android

The old and new Apple AirPods (2019) next to each other.

The new Airpods side by side to the original model are perfectly identical.

The Apple AirPods is everywhere, only that doesn't mean we Android users should opt for them. Rather, the AirPods (3rd generation) should exist avoided like the Bluetooth plague they are to Android systems. That's right, while AAC performs well plenty on iPhones, it but doesn't cut it for Android devices.

Although the line between Android and iOS devices further blurs with each passing keynote, AAC streaming functioning does differ between the ii systems.

Editor's note: this article was updated on October 31, 2021, to address the Apple AirPods (3rd generation).

The AirPods (3rd generation) uses AAC, and that's a problem for Android

A chart showing the frequency response performance of the AAC Bluetooth wireless codec.

Here, you can see the measured high-frequency cut-offs, comparing AAC with SBC on a multifariousness of phones.

Android handles Bluetooth codecs differently depending on the device, connexion quality, and Android's Free energy Aware Scheduling algorithms, which determine a CPU's efficiency. By de-prioritizing Bluetooth encoding, Android may be degrading streaming quality for the sake of energy efficiency.

In a similar vein, AAC takes psychoacoustics into account and streams data accordingly—something that not even aptX does. While we could dive deeper into the nitty-gritty of psychoacoustics, in brusk, it'due south the scientific agreement of how humans perceive audio, positing that we only accept and then much bandwidth to procedure simultaneous sounds. The AAC algorithm that models this eats up a lot more than resources than other Bluetooth codecs, and it shows when you test.

AAC requires some processing power, and Android has shown it'south doesn't prioritize Bluetooth encoding.

Agreement the processing capabilities required for AAC to function sheds light on why Android phones have been shown to struggle. On the iPhone, even so, listeners benefit from a much lower noise floor, one that extends -11dB below the Samsung Galaxy Note viii's . This ways that iPhones, at least the iPhone 7, relay a much cleaner sound when streaming via the AAC codec than what the best Android AAC performer tested had to offering.

Another thing to note is that the Apple AirPods has Apple tree'southward H1 scrap integrated which makes for streamlined connectivity with iPhones. This doesn't mean anything detrimental for Android users except that you are missing out on a slew of software features that an iPhone user would benefit from, such as battery optimization and automated device switching.

Related: AAC simply acceptable on Apple phones

Should you fifty-fifty care about AAC vs other codecs?

While AAC may seem promising and impressive considering that the data reduction accounts for psychoacoustics, it's non every bit skillful as we've been told. Even if you're using an iPhone, you're notwithstanding not hearing CD quality, although you could adequately make the argument that your ears are unable to differentiate between the lossless and compressed data.

How much does fit affair with the Apple AirPods (3rd generation)?

A hand holds a Apple AirPods (3rd generation) earbud by the stem to reveal the open-type fit and embedded sensors.

The Apple tree AirPods (3rd generation) has a slightly angled design that supposedly makes for a more comfy fit.

As any SoundGuy will tell you, sound quality is well and proficient, but information technology's zippo without one thing: a good seal to the ear canal. While it's understandable that Apple designed the AirPods so the earbuds would fit a majority of ears, they cannot form a proper seal with your ear canals.

The negative upshot of this is 2-fold considering 1) your music is going to lack bass, since earbuds like these are tuned to friction match the acoustic impedance of a properly sealed ear canal; and 2) the AirPods allow for the ingress of external racket , which degrades audio quality due to compromised isolation . The latter makes increasing the volume much more tempting which could ultimately impair your hearing .

Related: All-time AirPods alternatives