Can Android receive Bluetooth audio?

ByJael Lawler

Bluetooth audio capabilities allow smartphones like Android devices to wirelessly transmit audio to Bluetooth-enabled accessories like headphones, speakers, car audio systems, and more. This wireless connectivity makes it easy to listen to music, take calls, and consume other audio content from your phone without being tethered to wires. Bluetooth audio support has become a standard feature in smartphones over the last decade.

When enabled and paired with an audio accessory, Bluetooth provides a wireless audio link over which stereo audio can be streamed from the phone. This capability is also referred to as Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) in Bluetooth terminology. Bluetooth audio eliminates the need for wired headphone jacks and allows seamless audio streaming to enabled devices located within range of the phone’s Bluetooth transmitter.

This overview will explore Bluetooth audio capabilities on Android devices in more detail – how it works, supported audio formats, pairing devices, quality and latency considerations, and more. Understanding Bluetooth audio on Android can help users take full advantage of wireless listening using their smartphone.

Bluetooth Basics

Bluetooth technology was invented in 1994 by Dr. Jaap Haartsen while working at Ericsson Mobile Communications in Lund, Sweden. The goal was to develop a short-range wireless standard that would enable connectivity between mobile devices and computers (Wikipedia). The name “Bluetooth” comes from Harald Bluetooth, a 10th century Viking king who united Denmark and Norway. This was chosen because the technology was intended to unite different devices (Android Authority).

Bluetooth uses short-wavelength radio transmissions to connect and exchange data between devices over short distances. It implements protocols known as “profiles” to allow devices to locate, connect, and communicate with each other. For audio transmission, the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) is used. This allows high quality stereo audio to be streamed from one device to another using audio codecs like SBC, AAC, aptX, or LDAC (Auris). The audio data is reassembled and played back by the receiving device, providing wireless audio connectivity.

Bluetooth Audio Support in Android

Android has built-in support for standard Bluetooth audio profiles and codecs that allow it to transmit and receive high quality audio over a Bluetooth connection. The main profiles used are A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) and AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile).

A2DP allows for streaming audio from a media source to a destination. The source is typically the Android device, while the destination is a Bluetooth headset or speaker. Android supports high quality audio codecs like SBC, AAC, aptX, and LDAC over A2DP.1

AVRCP allows for remote control of playback functions like volume, play/pause, next/previous track. This allows you to control music playback on your Android device from a Bluetooth headphone remote or car audio system.

Bluetooth audio support was introduced in Android 2.0 and has been expanded across later OS versions. Key improvements include lower latency audio in Android 5.0, AAC support in Android 8.0, and LDAC codec support in Android 9.0.2 Overall, Android provides robust native support for transmitting high quality audio over Bluetooth to headsets, speakers, car audio systems, and more.

Pairing Bluetooth Audio Devices

Pairing Bluetooth headphones, speakers, or other audio devices to an Android phone has become much simpler in recent years with features like Fast Pair. To pair a Bluetooth audio device to an Android phone running Android 6.0 or above, follow these steps:

1. Turn on your Bluetooth audio device and make sure it is in pairing mode. Consult the device’s documentation for specific instructions.

2. On your Android phone, go to Settings > Connected devices > Pair new device. Your phone will begin searching for nearby Bluetooth devices.

3. Select your Bluetooth audio device from the list when it appears. Your Android phone will pair with the device.

4. Some Bluetooth devices support Fast Pair, allowing your Android phone to detect and pair with the device instantly when turned on, without needing to manually pair each time. Devices with Fast Pair support “just work” pairing with compatible Android phones running Android 6.0 or above [1].

Once successfully paired, your Android phone will automatically connect to that Bluetooth device whenever it is powered on and in range. You can then play audio from your phone to the Bluetooth headphones, speaker, or other device.

Receiving Audio from Paired Devices

Once you have successfully paired your Bluetooth audio device like headphones or a speaker with your Android phone, you can start streaming audio to it. Here are the main steps to select the paired Bluetooth device for audio output and control playback:

On Android 9 and above, go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth. Next to your paired Bluetooth audio device, tap the settings icon and select Phone audio. This will set that device as the audio output for your phone calls and media.

For Android 8 and below, go to Settings > Bluetooth and ensure your audio device is paired. Tap the settings icon next to it and select Media audio to make it the audio output for music and videos.

While playing audio or on a call, you can use your phone’s volume buttons to control the volume being sent to your Bluetooth device. You can also play/pause, skip tracks, and perform other playback controls from your phone’s lock screen or notification shade when Bluetooth audio is active.

To switch back to your phone’s speaker, go to the Bluetooth settings and tap Phone audio or Media audio again so it is disabled for your Bluetooth device. Some phones have a media output picker in the notification shade for quick switching between outputs.

With certain headphones, your Android phone may also support advanced playback controls and features like noise cancellation adjustment through manufacturer apps like Sony | Headphones Connect and JBL Headphones. Check your device’s app store for any available companion apps.

Audio Quality Considerations

There are several factors that can impact the quality of Bluetooth audio on Android devices. The Bluetooth version supported by both the transmitting and receiving devices is one key factor – newer versions like Bluetooth 5.0 allow for higher bandwidth and therefore better audio quality compared to older versions. The codec used to encode the audio is another important factor. Android supports advanced codecs like aptX and LDAC that can provide improved quality over the default SBC codec, however support varies across Android devices.

For example, OnePlus and Samsung flagships tend to support aptX, while Pixel phones currently only support SBC. So even though your headphones may support aptX, if your Android phone doesn’t have aptX enabled you may experience lower quality SBC audio. Enabling developer options on Android provides the ability to force higher quality codecs when available, which can maximize audio quality.

According to users on the Android Enthusiasts Stack Exchange forum, switching to aptX can provide noticeable improvements in quality over SBC on supported devices. However, factors like antenna design and signal strength also impact audio transmission, so high quality hardware is required on both transmitting and receiving ends.

Latency Considerations

One common issue with Bluetooth audio on Android is latency, which is a delay between when audio is transmitted and when it is received by the listening device. This can cause lag, echoes, and synchronization problems (1). There are a few reasons Bluetooth audio experiences latency on Android devices:

The Bluetooth protocol itself introduces some latency in transmitting audio data packets between devices. This can account for around 100ms of lag (2).

The Android OS adds extra buffering and processing of Bluetooth audio streams, which further increases latency. Total system latency for wireless audio on Android can be upwards of 200ms (2).

Here are some tips to help minimize latency issues with Bluetooth audio on Android devices:

  • Use Android’s built-in “Bluetooth Audio Latency” developer setting to force audio to render more quickly.
  • Try third party apps like SoundAssistant that have additional audio fine-tuning options to counteract latency.
  • Opt for wired audio connections like AUX cables instead of Bluetooth when latency is critical.
  • Pair your Android device with Bluetooth audio devices that support low-latency codecs like aptX LL.
  • If possible, update to newer Android versions which have made optimizations to reduce Bluetooth latency.

While latency may always be an issue with wireless streaming, there are steps you can take to improve the audio experience on your Android device (3). With the right tweaks and gear, Bluetooth audio can become more workable for latency-sensitive use cases.

(1) https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS21/comments/z4c5w4/its_there_any_way_to_fix_bluetooth_audio_latency/
(2) https://www.soundguys.com/android-bluetooth-latency-22732/
(3) https://www.soundguys.com/android-bluetooth-latency-22732/

Conclusion

In summary, Android phones and devices do have full support for receiving high quality Bluetooth audio from headphones, speakers, and other paired devices. The Bluetooth protocol used today provides sufficient bandwidth for CD-quality or near CD-quality audio transmission to Bluetooth headphones and speakers.

Compared to wired audio connections, Bluetooth has the advantages of wireless convenience, freedom of movement, and easy pairing between devices. However, wired connections still have some advantages in maximum achievable audio quality, latency, and reliability. Many audiophiles still prefer wired headphones for critical listening applications.

For most everyday use cases like streaming music, podcasts, and videos over Bluetooth headphones or speakers, the audio quality is excellent with minimal latency. Unless you have very specialized audio requirements, Bluetooth audio capabilities on modern Android devices will provide an outstanding wireless listening experience.

Additional Resources

Here are some helpful additional resources to learn more about Bluetooth capabilities on Android devices:

Looking for help troubleshooting a specific Bluetooth device? Check the device manufacturer’s website for user manuals and support articles.

References

[1] Google Developers. “Get Started with Bluetooth Low Energy.” https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/connectivity/bluetooth-le. Accessed January 30, 2023.

[2] Bluetooth SIG. “Bluetooth Audio.” https://www.bluetooth.com/learn-about-bluetooth/bluetooth-technology/bluetooth-audio/. Accessed January 30, 2023.

[3] Android Authority. “Bluetooth on Android: How it works and how to fix common problems.” https://www.androidauthority.com/bluetooth-android-852855/. Accessed January 30, 2023.

[4] Android Developers. “Create Android BluetoothChat Sample to send messages between devices.” https://developer.android.com/samples/BluetoothChat/index.html. Accessed January 30, 2023.

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