Do AirPods Pro work well with Android?
The AirPods Pro are Apple’s premium in-ear wireless earbuds. First released in 2019, the AirPods Pro feature active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and a customizable fit with three sizes of soft, flexible silicone tips. In September 2022, Apple announced the second generation of AirPods Pro, which offer improvements like enhanced audio quality, longer battery life, a new extra small ear tip size, and a lanyard loop.
With their sleek design and convenient charging case, AirPods Pro deliver high-quality sound in a portable package. Key features include spatial audio with dynamic head tracking for an immersive listening experience, Adaptive EQ to automatically tune music to your ears, sweat and water resistance for everyday wear, easy access to Siri by saying “Hey Siri,” and a Force Sensor control to quickly switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes.
While designed for use with Apple devices, AirPods Pro can also pair and function with Android smartphones. This allows Android users to utilize features like noise cancellation and customize the sound profile. We’ll explore exactly how well AirPods Pro work with Android devices.
Pairing Process
To pair AirPods Pro to an Android device for the first time, the process is straightforward but has a few key steps to ensure connectivity [1]. First, make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your Android phone or tablet. You can do this by pulling down the top menu and toggling on Bluetooth in the Settings pane. Next, with your AirPods Pro in the case, open the lid near your phone to put the earbuds into pairing mode. Your Android device should detect “AirPods Pro” in the list of available Bluetooth devices. Tap on it to connect.
If your AirPods don’t connect right away, you may need to manually put them into pairing mode by pressing and holding the small button on the back of the AirPods case for a few seconds until the light starts flashing white [2]. This will make the earbuds discoverable for pairing again. Select “AirPods Pro” from the Bluetooth menu on your Android to finish connecting. Once paired, your AirPods Pro should automatically connect to your Android device each time you open the case lid in range.
Connectivity
The AirPods Pro use Bluetooth 5.0 to connect to devices. Pairing them to an Android phone or tablet is straightforward – just enable Bluetooth on your Android device, open the case near the phone, and tap Connect when the AirPods Pro pop up in the list of available devices.
Overall, Bluetooth performance when connecting AirPods Pro to Android is excellent. The connection is quick and reliable, with most users reporting stable connectivity even at longer distances from their phone. Range is similar to what you’d expect when pairing AirPods Pro with an iPhone.
Some key points on connectivity:
- Bluetooth pairing works smoothly on both Android smartphones and tablets from brands like Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, LG, Motorola, and more.
- Connectivity remains solid even through walls and floors, with AirPods Pro able to maintain a connection up to 10-15 meters away from an Android phone in ideal conditions.
- Switching between Android devices is easy – the AirPods Pro will disconnect from one device when you open the case near a different paired device.
- Occasional Bluetooth drops or stutters are rare, but can happen due to interference. Overall the connection is very reliable for Bluetooth earbuds.
So in summary, Android users don’t need to worry about connectivity or pairing issues when using AirPods Pro. The wireless performance is on par with iPhone and you’ll get the same great experience.
Audio Quality
Overall, the audio quality of AirPods Pro on Android is quite good, comparable to listening with AAC Bluetooth on iOS. According to testing done by SoundGuys, while Adaptive EQ doesn’t work on Android, limiting some frequency adjustments, the sound profile is not hugely different across operating systems. The AirPods Pro still provide clear audio with emphasized lows and highs on Android. Many users on Reddit also report great sound quality on recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices. So while minor automatic tuning features don’t work, the core sound drivers and hardware in the AirPods Pro still perform well, producing detailed audio with decent bass and treble on Android.
Active Noise Cancellation
One of the flagship features of the AirPods Pro is Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). This uses microphones to detect outside noise and create an opposite canceling sound to block it out. ANC performance is impressive on iPhones, but how well does it work when paired to Android devices?
Overall, ANC is still quite effective when used with Android phones based on hands-on testing and user reviews. The AirPods Pro can block out a significant amount of environmental noise like traffic, chatter, and airplane engines even when connected to non-Apple devices (1). However, some users report that ANC seems slightly less powerful on Android compared to iOS. This may be due to differences in how the earbuds integrate with each platform’s software and audio processors (2).
In summary, while ANC on AirPods Pro functions well on both operating systems, it appears optimized and most robust when used with Apple devices. But Android users can still enjoy meaningful noise reduction that makes the AirPods Pro worthwhile, especially for travel and commuting situations.
(1) https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/dqnf5h/activating_airpods_pro_noise_cancellation_on/
(2) https://www.refurb.me/blog/do-airpods-work-with-android
Transparency Mode
Transparency mode allows outside sounds to pass through the AirPods Pro so you can hear your surroundings. This can be useful for hearing traffic or announcements while still listening to audio.
Transparency mode works well on Android devices. When enabled, it pushes background noises into the headphones so you can remain aware of your environment (Source 1). The ambient sounds come through clearly without being overpowered by your audio.
You can cycle between noise cancellation, transparency mode, and off by pressing and holding the force sensor on the AirPods stem while connected to an Android device (Source 2). This allows easy switching between modes.
Some users have reported issues getting transparency mode to work properly on certain Android devices. However, when enabled, it generally performs well for hearing ambient sounds while listening to audio (Source 3). Overall, transparency mode is a useful feature that provides situational awareness for Android users.
Controls
One of the key differences when using AirPods Pro with Android is how the touch controls work. Since Android does not have Apple’s proprietary H1 chip, you lose out on some of the native integration that iPhone users enjoy.
However, you can still use the touch and squeeze controls to control music playback and toggle between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes. According to Pocket-lint, you can:
- Play and pause music by pressing the AirPod stem once
- Skip forwards by pressing twice quickly
- Skip back by triple-pressing
- Press and hold the stem to toggle between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode
You can also squeeze the AirPods Pro stem to toggle between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode. While not as seamless as on iOS, you still get convenient onboard controls to manage music and noise cancellation.
Some Android users report needing to install a special app like Assistant Trigger to gain access to voice controls (“Hey Google”) on AirPods Pro. Without an app, the native microphone may not work for voice commands.
Battery Life
The battery life of AirPods Pro when used with Android phones is comparable to their battery life when used with iOS devices. According to research from Lifewire, AirPods Pro can last for 4.5-5 hours of listening time or 2-3.5 hours of talk time on a single charge, regardless of whether they are paired to an Android phone or an iPhone[1].
Battery performance does depend somewhat on connection strength between the AirPods and the phone. To get the best battery life, make sure your Android phone and AirPods are within close range of each other. The headphones will use more battery power if the Bluetooth connection is weak and continuously searching to maintain the link.[2]
You can monitor the battery levels of both AirPods using Android apps like MaterialPods. This gives you real-time feedback on battery percentage so you know when it’s time to pop them back in the case for charging.[3]
Software Features
One of the biggest differences in using AirPods Pro with Android is the lack of access to some key software features. Apple has developed proprietary features like Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ that are exclusive to Apple devices (1). This means Android users miss out on some of the advanced functionality that enhances the listening experience on iOS.
Spatial Audio enables the AirPods Pro to simulate surround sound and adjust audio positioning based on the direction your head is facing (2). This creates a very immersive experience for music, movies, and more. Meanwhile, Adaptive EQ automatically tunes music to suit your individual ear shape for better quality audio.
While Android users still get great sound from AirPods Pro, they don’t get to take advantage of Apple’s software magic. There are some third party apps like Assistant Trigger that aim to add more AirPods control from Android, but they can’t unlock proprietary features like Spatial Audio (2). So this is something to keep in mind if you rely heavily on advanced software capabilities.
Conclusion
In summary, AirPods Pro do work well with Android devices but lose full functionality compared to using them with an iPhone. The pairing process is straightforward using Bluetooth, and connectivity is generally strong and stable. Audio quality remains excellent, with active noise cancellation and transparency mode working to block or allow in ambient sound. However, you lose access to advanced software features like Spatial Audio, Automatic Switching, Announce Messages, and Find My integration that require Apple devices. Battery life is decent at around 4-5 hours per charge. While AirPods Pro deliver a good listening experience on Android and are worth considering, especially for features like noise cancellation, they are still optimized primarily for iPhone users.
