Google Pixel telephones get higher wi-fi audio high quality in Android 17

Whereas wired audio is definitely making an attempt to make a comeback, wi-fi earbuds and headphones are extra prevalent right now than ever earlier than, and that’s why it’s fairly excellent news that Google Pixel telephones now help LHDCv5 in Android 17, a codec that helps higher audio high quality.

The wi-fi codec your cellphone makes use of to speak to Bluetooth units issues, with AAC being the long-running customary. SBC is one other pretty customary codec that can be utilized and has been supported on Google Pixel units for some time.

However LHDC is totally different, being a high-quality codec that helps high quality in any other case solely obtainable with a wired resolution. Fairly a number of Android manufacturers have already added LHDC to their units, nevertheless it’s not a local a part of Android and, as such, hasn’t been discovered on Google Pixel units.

That’s now modified.

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Beginning with Android 17’s secure launch, Google Pixel units now help LHDCv5, a model of the codec that was introduced in 2022 and is pretty broadly utilized in high-end wi-fi audio right now. As the corporate behind LHDC announced earlier this yr, LHDCv5 is now a “system-level supported codec in Android 17,” which means it will likely be obtainable not simply on Pixel units, however theoretically any Android machine working the most recent model will get the identical audio high quality enhance. Customers spotted the codec was dwell in final week’s replace, and we’ve been in a position to verify in our personal testing.

After all, you’ll nonetheless want appropriate {hardware}. LHDCv5 is supported on most high-end wi-fi earbuds right now.

You may verify in case your Pixel is utilizing LHDCv5 by way of developer choices. You’ll first must go to Settings > About cellphone and faucet “Construct quantity” till your cellphone prompts you to activate developer choices. At that time, you possibly can to go Settings > System > Developer choices > Bluetooth to verify which codec is getting used.

For those who’re paired to earbuds with LHDCv5, you’ll see the codec as an choice – possible the one picked by default – on the “Bluetooth Audio Codec” part. That’s what we’re seeing with OnePlus Buds Pro 3, the place Pixel Buds Pro 2, which lack LDHCv5, nonetheless use AAC. Nothing Ear (3) additionally doesn’t present LHDC, as they help LDAC as an alternative (which the Pixel 10 doesn’t).