Do Apple Airpods work with an Android phone?
AirPods are Apple’s very popular wireless earphones. Contrary to what some people think, these earphones also work with an Android smartphone, although you have to miss some functions. We explain how to connect AirPods to Android.
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Connect AirPods to Android
AirPods continue to receive critical acclaim for their great sound, especially with the AirPods Pro. As we often see with Apple products, many manufacturers copy the distinctive design of the AirPods. But if you’re interested in Apple’s earbuds and you have an Android smartphone, don’t worry. AirPods work with Android phones and the main functions just work.
If you want to use AirPods with an Android phone, you must pair them the first time you use them. On iPhones, a pop-up notification will immediately appear on the screen for you to connect, but on Android phones, a few extra steps are required:
- Press the button on the back of the AirPods case
- Swipe down on your phone and hold bluetooth button pressed
- The AirPods should appear among all detected Bluetooth devices
- Tap it to pair
- Your earphones can then automatically connect to your phone
You will miss these features
The most important functions of your AirPods will continue to work. Think of the gesture navigation, active noise canceling (ANC), the transparency mode. It is even possible to use the Google Assistant on Apple earphones.
However, you will have to accept that a number of options work exclusively on iPhones. We make a summary:
- The Siri voice assistant
- Spatial audio, or the feeling that sound reverberates around you
- Adjustments to the AirPods gesture navigation
- Apple’s Find My network, or a feature that helps you track down lost AirPods
- Wear detection, a feature that automatically pauses media when you remove the earbuds
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AirPods Alternatives
Of course there are also excellent wireless earphones that work fully on Android smartphones. Take the new Google Pixel Buds Pro: Google’s answer to the AirPods. We were also very enthusiastic about the new Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in our review. Huawei released its premium FreeBuds Pro 2 and Sony’s LinkBuds S have a very special design.
You can discover all our reviews of earphones and headphones in this overview. Do you already use AirPods on your Android phone or are you considering buying the earbuds? Let us know in the comments.
Do you want to stay informed about the latest tips for earphones and headphones? Then download our Android app and follow us via Google News and on Telegram, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2
The Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 are completely wireless earbuds with noise cancellation and you can consider them as the top model in Huawei’s earbud range. Just like the FreeBuds Pro, the earphones are equipped with 11 mm audio drivers that should provide 11 mm for powerful bass and a wide audio range, from 14Hz to 48kHz.
€199.99
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Sony LinkBuds S
The Sony LinkBuds S are very small and light earplugs of only 4.8 grams, so you can easily wear them all day. The LinkBuds S come with digital noise canceling, good call quality for phone calls and a battery life of 6 hours. They are IPX4 water resistant and made from recycled plastic.
€200
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