Apple is known for making products that tie down a user to its own ecosystem, be it iOS or macOC. One good example of such a product is the Apple Watch. However, unlike the watch, there is one very useful and popular Apple product that can be used by Android users as well. This product is the AirPods.
How to connect AirPods with Android phones?
It is quite easy to connect AirPods with Android phones. Also, pairing AirPods with an Android device brings almost the same experience to the Android phones as on an iPhone. All this is possible due to the fact that AirPods are a Bluetooth-based product.
Moreover, the W1/H1 chip used in the AirPods ensures that Apple’s hardware works seamlessly with Android phones. Both the first and second generation of AirPods can be connected to an Android device.
To connect AirPods with Android phones, first ensure that the AirPods case is open. Then, on your Android device swipe down on the Notification Drawer, and launch the Bluetooth settings. Also, ensure that Bluetooth discovery is turned on and enabled.
Next, on the AirPods case press and hold the Pairing button. The light on the case should now turn white. On your Android device, you should now get a notification that AirPods are available to connect.
Now, connect AirPods with your Android phone by clicking on the AirPods option shown in the list of available Bluetooth devices. That’s it! Your Android phone is now connected to an Apple accessory.
Though it is easy to connect AirPods with Android phones and enjoy the same level of experience as on an iPhone, there are many AirPods features that are not available to the Android phone users.
Features not available to Android users
Apple AirPods offer plenty of rich features, thanks to the W1 wireless chip in the original AirPods and the H1 chip in the AirPods 2. However, all such features are not available to Android users when they connect to the AirPods. The following are the features that Android users lose out on:
Easier pairing – pairing AirPods with an iOS is even simpler, all that a user needs to do is open the case near their device and follow quick setup steps.
Siri – an iPhone user can easily ask Siri to perform a range of functions related to AirPods, such as adjusting volume, changing songs or any other query. However, Android users won’t get any such functionality.
Double Tap – an iPhone user can customize what the double tap gesture on AirPods does. The available options are play next track or previous track, play or pause, or trigger Siri.
Connected with iCloud – AirPods are linked with the iCloud account. This allows Apple users to easily switch AirPods between other Apple devices such as an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or Mac.
Checking AirPods battery – one can easily check the AirPods battery life on an iPhone from the Today Center or the Control Center on Apple Watch. Also, Siri can fetch the battery life for iOS users. For Android users, there are no such options available. However, there are a few third-party apps that can help Android users get the AirPods battery status. These apps, such as AirBattery app, are available in the Play Store.
Automatic ear detection – on an iPhone, when a user takes out an AirPod from their ear, it automatically pauses whatever the user is listening to and starts again when the user puts the AirPod back into their ear. Such functionality is not available to Android users.
Single AirPod listening – iOS users can even use a single AirPod for listening to music. Android users, on the other hand, will have to use both the AirPods to enjoy the music.
Should you go for AirPods?
Now that we know about the AirPods features that don’t work on Android phones, let’s talk about the features that are available to the Android users.
Above we said that the double tap gesture is not available on Android phones. However, many say that if a user has set up a double tap gesture using an iOS device, then the same gesture, such as play or pause, or next track and previous track, works on the Android phones as well. But, Siri functionality, as one can expect, is exclusive to an Apple device.
One major advantage of AirPods over other Bluetooth-enabled headphones is the much longer connectivity distance. This benefit is available on both Android and iOS.
Should Android users go for AirPods? Even though Android users have plenty of other options, such as the Galaxy Buds and Pixel Buds, Apple AirPods offers many unique advantages. These advantages include fitting comfortably in the ears, little risk of falling out, better battery life and more importantly, better sound quality.
