Have you ever tried to share a cool song or a funny video with a friend, only to have them crowd around your tiny phone speaker or awkwardly share one earbud? It’s not ideal. Google knows this feeling and is making things much easier for Android users. A new audio sharing feature called Auracast is expanding to more phones and headphones, changing how we listen together.
This clever update uses something called Bluetooth LE Audio. It lets your Android phone send sound to many headphones at the same time. Imagine watching a movie on a tablet with several friends, and everyone hears the sound clearly through their own earbuds. Google is really pushing what’s possible with audio on Android.
Sharing Audio Gets Simpler on Android
Sharing audio from one device to multiple headsets becomes a breeze with Auracast’s wider rollout. This addition improves Android’s audio features, putting Google ahead of many rivals. The company announced that this Bluetooth LE Audio feature will now come to the Pixel 8 and all newer Pixel phones, running on Android 16.
This update isn’t just for Pixel phones. Auracast is already available on some other devices. Samsung Galaxy phones from 2023 and later models support it. Some Xiaomi phones, like the 15 and 15 series, along with the MIX Flip, also have the technology. Even Poco’s X6/F6 Pro and F7 Pro/Ultra models are on the list.
More Devices and Earbuds Get Auracast
For Auracast to work, both your smartphone and your headphones need to be compatible. That’s why Google also announced support for several new Sony earbuds and headphones. These include the LinkBuds S, WF-1000XM5, and the InZone Buds. Other Sony products like the LinkBuds Open, LinkBuds Fit, WH-1000XM6, and InZone H9 II will also work.
These new Sony devices join some hearing aids that gained Auracast support earlier this year. To use it, simply go to your phone’s quick settings and find the Bluetooth panel. An “audio sharing” button will appear. You just need to tap it to confirm the connection with your friend’s headphones or earbuds.
Bluetooth LE Audio also allows you to share sound with a whole group of people. The person hosting can invite one friend or many others. Guests can connect to the audio from an Android phone in a couple of ways. They can either scan a QR code or use the Fast Pair feature for quick setup.
