How to connect Airpods to Samsung

Airpods Pro and Android: what works, what doesn’t work and what are the nuances

Surprisingly, Airpods have significant popularity not only among Apple users, but also among those who, for one reason or another, prefer Android. So I decided to check out how the new noise-canceling model, the Airpods Pro, works with Android devices.

connect, airpods, samsung

As it turns out, there are plenty of nuances, with much depending on the final Android device and its shell. I had the Xiaomi Mi 9T, Vivo Nex 3, and Meizu Note 9 on hand, so I tested the Airpods Pro with them. What came out of this, let’s find out.

Connecting Airpods Pro to an Android device

Connecting the headphones to the Android devices was quick and easy. To do this, you have to open the case with the Airpods Pro and press the key on the back of it until the white light on the front starts to pulsate white. At this point, the headphones become visible in the standard Bluetooth menu and when you tap on them, they successfully connect. I was able to connect the Airpods Pro to all three devices this way. no problem here.

Touch Sensor and Ear Sensor

Airpods Pro has completely changed the playback controls. There is now a small groove on each earphone that you need to squeeze with your fingers. A single tap pauses the track or plays it again, a double tap turns on the next track, a triple tap turns on the previous. Here, too, everything works on all three devices. But pausing when you remove one earbud doesn’t work, just like with the first two generations of Airpods, even if you listen to music through the Android version of the Apple Music app.

Current charge of headphones and case

You will not be able to view the current charge of the headphones and case in Android. This problem can be solved with the help of third-party applications. With Airpods Pro support, I was able to find two:

  • Assistant Trigger. The app not only allows you to view the charge, but also pauses the track if you remove one of the earbuds. This functionality is available in the paid version for 149.
  • Battery Pods for Airpods battery. A permanent notification with headphone charge in the curtain is available for free in this app. In Assistant Trigger this feature is paid.

Activating the AAC codec

Airpods Pro supports only one codec for higher quality playback, and that’s AAC. It is activated in the settings of the Bluetooth device. And here begins the first nuances of using Airpods Pro in Android, as the specified switch is not found everywhere.

The Meizu Note 9 has it and is designated as HD Audio:

How to pair Airpods to Samsung Android phone

The Vivo Nex 3 also has it by default, with the correct name AAC:

In Xiaomi Mi 9T with MIUI 10 I failed to activate AAC. In the Bluetooth settings there was no such item at all, and in the settings for developers it was constantly reset to SBC:

The problem was solved after the update to MIUI 11. there the mentioned switch appeared directly in the Bluetooth settings.

Noise Reduction and Transparent Mode

When paired with an Android device, both of these modes work fine and switch by holding your finger on the touch-sensor, just like with the Apple device.

But there is a curious nuance here. When paired with Apple gadgets, these two modes can be disabled, and then the Airpods Pro will play like regular in-ear headphones with passive sound isolation. But if you take the headphones out of the box and connect them immediately to Android, this mode will not be available.

The problem is solved as follows: you need to find an iPhone or iPad somewhere, connect Airpods Pro to it, go to the Bluetooth settings and check the “Off” checkbox in the settings.

After the mentioned actions of long holding pressure sensor we get switching between three modes, but not two, as by default. That is, you can turn on noise cancelling, “transparency” or mode with these features turned off. With all three Android devices that I have in the test, such a thing worked.

Sound volume is the main problem

Ever since the release of the 2nd generation Airpods, owners of Android devices have had a problem. the headphones play at most half volume when connected. How the Meizu Note 9, Vivo Nex 3 and Xiaomi Mi 9T are doing with this, I will tell you now.

Meizu Note 9. Here the problem is solved as easy as possible, because in the Bluetooth settings there is an item “Synchronize media volume. Activate the switch, and everything works correctly.

Xiaomi Mi 9T. With Xiaomi Mi 9T on MIUI 10 the problem was also solved, but I had to suffer a lot. To do this, you need:

  • Activate “Disable absolute volume” radio button in developer options.
  • Reboot the phone.
  • Re-pair with Airpods Pro.
  • Connect the headphones to your iPhone and turn the volume up to maximum.
  • Reconnect the headphones to the Xiaomi Mi 9T.

After these manipulations the volume is now normal.

After updating to MIUI 11 everything remained as it was, so for the sake of purity I tried to “break” the volume. After running this whole algorithm again, but only with the developer settings unchecked and the volume on the iPhone turned down, I was not able to do it. everything continued to work perfectly correctly. From this I concluded that in combination with MIUI 11, in theory, there should be no problems.

Vivo Nex 3. And with this device I could not get rid of the problem. The algorithm performed on Xiaomi with MIUI 10 did not give any result.

Unfortunately, there were no other devices at hand, but the problem occurs quite often, including with Airpods of the 2nd generation. After reading the reviews of Android-users, I realized that here everything is individual and depends on the device and the firmware. For some people it works correctly right away, for others the switch in the developer settings is enough, for others subsequent reboot helps, and for the fourth one I have to connect to the iPhone and turn the volume to maximum, as I did with Xiaomi, and the fifth, as I had with Vivo, nothing helps at all. Like this.

Conclusion and Summary

I suggest summarizing what works and what does not:

Airpods Pro connects to Android devices and plays sound.

The touch sensor control works (play/pause, next track, previous track).

Noise reduction and “Transparency” work when activated by holding down the touch sensor. And if you preconnect to your iPhone and activate the disabling of both features, then a third option is added. with nothing.

AAC codec is available, but in some devices there is a chance that it can not be activated.

Does not show the current charge of the case and headphones (can be solved with third-party software).

Does not work pause when you take out one earphone (can be solved with third-party programs).

Quiet sound, which on some devices can be fixed, and on some devices not.

It turns out that all owners of Android smartphones when you want to buy Airpods Pro, first of all, you need to check the work of the headphones with your device, and secondly, think very carefully about whether they are worth it. After all, even if everything is fine when you buy it, no one guarantees that nothing will pop up after the firmware update. In my opinion, if you want in-channel headphones with effective noise reduction for your Android device, you should buy the Sony WF-1000XM3. There shouldn’t be any problems with them, that’s for sure.

How to connect Airpods to Android

Place the Airpods inside the case, if you haven’t already done so before.

Open “Settings” on your Android device.

Press and hold the button on the back of the box until the indicator light flashes white.

Go back to your Android device and wait for the Airpods headset to appear in the list of Bluetooth devices. After that, press the “Pair” button.

Close “Settings” on the Android device. The Airpods will be paired and connected to your new device.

You can test the functionality of this bundle by listening to music, podcasts, or any sound from your Android device. Sounds should be coming in and out of the Airpods headphones as expected. As long as the headset is connected and paired to your Android phone or tablet, the Airpods become the wireless audio device used by the operating system to output sound.

On the Airpods side, working with Android devices is not fundamentally different from working with a Windows computer. Don’t be surprised, but it’s also possible. And Airpods connect to your Macs just fine, which makes sense. Pairing with a macOS device is easier to set up if the headphones are already connected to an iPhone with the same Apple ID. You just need to open the Bluetooth device settings and manually initiate the pairing process with the headphones. And it works just like any other Bluetooth device or wireless speaker.

Note that when using Airpods alternately with iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Android, it’s best to disconnect the headset from the current device, but not remove it. Only after that can you pair Airpods with the new platform. If you accidentally delete any settings of your Apple device in the Bluetooth settings, you can always reconfigure both iOS with Android and macOS.

Do AirPods fit Android and how to properly connect wireless headphones to your phone

Connecting to Android devices is easy enough. To do this, you need to open the Airpods Pro box, press the special key located on the back wall. You can hold it pressed until the white indicator on the front starts blinking. From now on, using the Bluetooth menu, you can safely connect your mobile device.

Are Airpods compatible with Android on Samsung and other phones

Apple strives to make its products as accessible and convenient for users as possible. The makers of Airpods wireless headphones have tried to make it easier to use on different devices.

So the problem of how to connect AirPods to Android is practically non-existent. These devices work with cell phones of different manufacturers. In most cases, you can be up and running in minutes.

There is a perception that the Apple headset can only work with the same name technique. In fact, this is a misconception, and when properly connected, you can personally verify the 100% compatibility of these devices

Connection algorithm

Wireless headphones can be easily connected to an Android tablet, cell phone from different manufacturers. Here you need to use the Bluetooth option.

To solve the question of how to connect AirPods to Android, you need to follow the following algorithm:

  • Deploy on the settings screen of your smartphone Bluetooth, make it work.
  • Open the case of the headphones, designed for their charging. Activate the indicator, which should light up green.
  • Then you need to press and hold the round button on the back of the box until the indicator light starts flashing white.
  • In the list of available devices for Bluetooth, select the Airpods position.

After completing the above procedures, further synchronization of the two devices will occur automatically immediately after opening the charging box of wireless headphones.

In addition to the mentioned technology, there is another way to connect the AirPods to Android.

This can be done without the use of additional programs. On the other hand, to control the level of charging, switching audio files, you need to install a special program on your smartphone.

This should be done according to the following scheme:

  • First you need to download and install a phone app like Air Battery.
  • Press the round button on the wall of the charging box to go into search mode. The start of this process will be indicated by a light that turns on.
  • On the screen of your tablet or phone in “Settings” find the item Bluetooth.
  • Here select the item Airpods. Once clicked, wireless headphones connect almost instantly, just like other similar devices.

How to control

Each Airpods Pro headphone has a special groove that can be used to control playback.

  • You can pause the music with a single tap and then start it up again;
  • Double must include the next track;
  • If you press it three times, the previous song will play.

These options work on almost all Android mobile devices.

Sometimes the problem of not connecting the Apple headset to the Android device is only technical. And that’s the first thing to rule out, trying a few universal ways to solve the problem

Best apps for Airpods

You can use smartphone apps to extend the functionality of wireless headphones.

Among them, the following options are the most useful:

  • Podroid.It allows you to change audio files, pause, play, increase volume.
  • AirDroid. Allows you to monitor the level of charge of the headphone case.
  • Droidpods.

You’ll have to pay 139 for this app.

Demonstrates remaining battery life.

How to connect Airpods to Android and is it worth it? Apple headphone review

Apple Airpods are surely the most recognizable and popular Bluetooth headphones on the planet. In fact, they have changed the market and user attitudes towards wireless sound.

The second version of the Airpods, released in late March 2019, while not containing any significant improvements, is still an object of lust for many people around the world, including Android smartphone users. It is for them that we have prepared a review of the new product from Apple.

Are these headphones comfortable without an iPhone? Are there any limits to the functionality? And in the end, is it worth it to own an Android smartphone and overpay for this Apple product??

Apple Airpods 2 review. The appearance and quality of the device

Headphones with case comes in a small box, which also contains a Lightning cable for charging. Everything is neatly assembled in the usual minimalist Arrle style:

The first unpleasant surprise was the build quality of the case. Having previously used headphones from other manufacturers (Huawei, Samsung, Xiaomi) do not expect from such an expensive product name brand such a poor quality of assembly.

When closed, the cover of the case makes squeaks and clicks, and has a considerable backlash. In the opened state it is not fixed with magnets and it just hangs. The quality of Honor FlyPods case is much higher.

The case itself is made of high quality glossy plastic with a handy hole to open the lid with one hand:

Inside the case is a single LED indicator that shows the approximate charge of the headphones or case, if the headphones are removed. Made all very uncomfortable and uninformative.

The indicator lights up either in green when fully charged, or in amber if the charge is low. How little. the manufacturer does not say. In case of the wireless case, the indicator is placed on the front side.

The quality of the headphones assembly does not cause any doubts. They are made of the same glossy plastic.

Airpods are very lightweight (only 4g) and comfortable, they fit securely in your ears. Although, the degree of reliability depends on the anatomy of the auricle. Ears do not get tired and do not hurt, even with prolonged wear.

In addition to the two microphones, each earphone has an optical sensor that automatically stops music when you take the headphones out of your ears. However, this feature only works in conjunction with the iPhone. When plugged into another device, music will play whether the headphones are on or off.

The Apple Airpods and Airpods 2 do not have the slightest difference in appearance and sound quality. These are exactly the same headphones. It’s strange that Apple didn’t even add new colors like they did with the iPhone. After all, others must see and understand that you have the latest and most expensive model. That would have been Apple’s style.

But apparently, the company decided that people will buy the new model and without any changes, even purely cosmetic.

Apple Airpods sound quality

The Airpods are earbuds, with all the advantages and disadvantages of this form factor. In this regard, the vacuum counterparts (Samsung Galaxy Buds or Xiaomi AirDots) will bring much more enjoyment to listening to music.

It’s not just about better soundproofing, but also the amount of bass. When listening to music on Airpods, you will perfectly hear everything that is going on around you, as well as everyone around you will hear your music. Keep this in mind. Sometimes even maximum volume does not save from city noise or in transport.

The sound quality is not bad at all. When listening indoors, the bass is present, and the midrange and treble are relatively well-detailed. In a noisy place, the bass is very missing, the sound loses a little volume and detail. But you can listen to music. By comparison, the wired Apple EarPods that come with any iPhone sound worse than the wireless Airpods.

However, if you choose headphones for Android-smartphone only based on the price-performance ratio, the price of Apple Airpods is quite overpriced. You can get cheaper analogues with better sound quality.

From the codecs only AAC is supported. Hi-Res sound (aptX HD or LDAC) is out of the question. Listening to music with a bitrate over 320 kbps makes no sense.

Sound in games lags a lot (there is desynchronization). When watching videos on YouTube or other applications, there is no sound lag.

What the Airpods are really good at is the convenience of using the headphones as a headset. Because of the presence of additional microphones for active noise reduction during calls (noise reduction during the music is not here), the caller will hear you well, even in a noisy street.

How to connect the Apple Airpods to Android?

Before you can connect your Airpods to your Android smartphone for the first time, do the following:

  • Open the case without removing the headphones
  • Press the round button on the back of the case for 2-3 seconds
  • As soon as the indicator between the headphones starts flashing white, release the button

The headphones are now in pairing mode and can be connected to any device. Next, on your Android smartphone, go into the Bluetooth settings. You can do this either by holding down the Bluetooth icon in the notification bar for a couple of seconds, or by going into your smartphone settings to the Bluetooth item:

In just a few seconds the headphones will be detected. Choose them in the list of found devices and connect to your smartphone.

You only need to perform this entire procedure once. Going forward, the headphones will automatically connect to your smartphone as soon as you open the lid of the case.

The main features and capabilities of the Apple Airpods 2

The headphones have relatively good functionality in conjunction with the iPhone. But when used with an Android smartphone, you will only have the following options available to you:

  • Double tapping either earpiece plays or pauses the music
  • During an incoming call, you can answer the call by double-tapping the earpiece

If you want to change the track, change the volume or call the voice assistant, you will have to take out your smartphone. In terms of functionality in conjunction with Android headphones may be worse than the Apple Airpods only Airpods 2. For the first generation, at least there is an app that displays the charge.

When using Airpods with iPhone, you can not only comfortably see the charge of the case and headphones, but also to fully control the player (track switching, pause/playback). And you can call Siri using just a command.

During the testing of Airpods 2 paired with Galaxy S10, the headphones often behaved strangely. Sometimes, when connecting to the phone or switching tracks, the sound volume was automatically set to maximum, causing considerable discomfort.

Sometimes the sound was distorted strongly for no reason, ECHO appeared. And once, while watching YouTube, the two headphones were out of sync, playing with a slight delay relative to each other. Reconnecting the phone helped.

Some problems were also observed with other Android 9 smartphones.

Apple Airpods review. Autonomy

On average, the headphones can last up to 5 hours on a single charge. Case has enough battery capacity for 4 full charges. So, taking just the Airpods and the case with you on a trip, you can get up to 20 hours of music listening.

The charging time for the headphones in the case is approximately 25 minutes. The case itself when connected to a laptop or 5V power supply charges in an hour and a half.

Headphone talk time is 5 hours

Or 20 hours of charging in the case

The only serious drawback is the proprietary Lightning connector. Android smartphone users are unlikely to have a spare cable. And in the case of travel, in addition to the USB-cable for charging your smartphone you will have to separately take the cable for the headphones.

An option to solve this problem is to buy the wireless charging version of the Airpods 2. But then the price of headphones increases even more, making such a purchase completely irrational.

Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Airpods

At the end of the review we would like to answer the most common questions about the Apple Airpods headphones:

Can the Apple Airpods take a shower?? Is there moisture protection?

The headphones are not IP certified and are not waterproof. The second-generation Airpods have added a water-repellent coating on the chips, but that doesn’t mean you can shower in the headphones. A light rain or sweat will most likely take them without any consequences. No more than that.

Can Airpods connect to your laptop or TV??

If you want to connect the Airpods to more than one device (for example, a smartphone and a laptop), then you need to put the headphones in pairing or search mode before connecting. It’s very easy to do:

  • Put the headphones in the case
  • Press the round button on the back of the case for 2-3 seconds
  • Once the light inside the case flashes white, release the button
  • Done! Pair your headphones in pairing mode

To connect the AriPods to your Windows 10 laptop, do the following on your computer (the headphones must be in pairing mode at this time):

  • Open the Start menu
  • Select Options
  • In the window that opens, go to Devices
  • Next, click Add Bluetooth or other device
  • In the new window select Bluetooth (mice, keyboards, audio, and other devices)
  • When Windows detects the headphones, click to select them

You can use Airpods one earbud at a time?

Yes, each headphone is connected to the smartphone separately and can be used independently. This is great if you plan to use them as a headset. Having discharged one of the headphones, you can take out of the case the other, remaining in touch for up to 10 hours in a row.

How you can reset your Airpods to factory defaults?

To completely reset to factory settings (Hard Reset) you need to do the following:

  • Place both headphones in the case
  • Without closing the case cover, press the round button on the back of the case
  • Hold the button for 15 seconds until you see the flashing yellow light inside the case
  • Releasing the button. All settings are reset, you can try to reconnect the headphones to another device

How to know the exact battery percentage of the case and headphones on Android?

To monitor the battery level of the first-generation Apple Airpods, there is an unofficial app in the Google Play store called AirBattery. However, this app does not support the Airpods 2. So, using an Android smartphone, it is impossible to know the exact percentage of charge of the headphones.

Apple Airpods 2 review. Conclusions

The only reason an Android smartphone owner can buy Airpods is the desire to have exactly headphones from Apple. There is simply no other advantage of these headphones over the competition.

Samsung Galaxy Buds sound better due to the in-channel design and have a much wider functionality (you can control the player, adjust the volume, enable ambient sound amplification mode, and much more).

The Honor FlyPods build quality is higher than Apple’s. The lid of the case does not flip, there is a very handy charge indicator.

Xiaomi AirDots sound better than Apple Airpods due to deeper bass and excellent noise isolation.

So if the brand is more important to you than anything else, you can safely buy the Apple Airpods. They are quite compatible with Android-smartphones, although not so convenient to use.

As for iPhone users, the situation is completely different. Headphones from Apple will be a great addition to your smartphone and probably your best choice.

Many users wonder if the Apple Airpods headphones are suitable for Android. let’s look for an answer to this question! Despite the fact that the device is designed for Apple equipment, it can be used by everyone. But there is one condition. the presence of Bluetooth-module in the smartphone, because the pairing takes place using this wireless technology. Smartphone operating system does not matter. The device really is one of the best offerings on the market (albeit very expensive). So it is worth a try! Now you know for sure if the Airpods wireless headphones work with Android. it’s time to move on to connectivity issues?

Bought a brand new device and want to evaluate the features? It’s time to figure out how to connect Airpods headphones to Android via Bluetooth. It’s so simple, even an inexperienced user can figure it out:

  • Now open the Bluetooth connections menu on your phone and find your device in the list;
  • Click on the “Connect” button and wait for the connection to be established!

That’s it, the configuration is complete. You can start listening to music or watch movies and talk to friends and family on Android via Airpods.

In the video you can see the connection process in more detail and clearly:

We have figured out whether Airpods connect to Android. if you do everything according to the instructions, you will be able to connect the two devices. It’s time to get to the next part of the review. let’s discuss what features are and aren’t available to users.

How to connect your Airpods to your Android phone and use them

Apple Airpods headphones have gained their audience with iPhone owners, but you can also use them with an Android smartphone if you want, all you have to do is connect these headphones via Bluetooth.

This tutorial details how to connect the Airpods or Airpods Pro to your Android phone and use them for listening to music, answering calls, and more. Also might be interesting: How to connect Airpods to your Windows laptop or PC.

Place your Airpods in the charging case and charge them when they are low.

Press and hold the button on the case to put the headphones in pairing mode.

On your smartphone, pull down from the top edge of the screen to reveal the notification bar.

Hold your finger on the “Bluetooth” icon to open its settings.

Turn on the Bluetooth module and click on “Refresh.

If the headphones do not appear in “Available Devices,” open the “Rarely Used” section. Find the headphones and tap on them.

Check the “Allow access to contacts and call logs” box. Then select “Accept.”.

Airpods appear in the “Paired Devices” list.

How do I connect Airpods to my Windows PC or laptop?

Can you use Airpods with a Windows 10, 8 computer.1 or Windows 7? Yes, you can, as long as your computer or laptop has a Bluetooth adapter and it is working properly, you can use the Airpods as headphones with a microphone when they are connected.

This manual details how to connect the Apple Airpods or Airpods Pro to your PC or laptop, and describes potential issues you may encounter when you do so. In the context of the topic may be useful: How to connect any Bluetooth headphones to a laptop or computer and solve possible sound problems, How to connect and use Airpods with Android.

To select the source of your music

The Apple Airpods wireless headphones can connect to your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time. In this case, the sound will switch between devices automatically.

You can select a playback source for music (such as Airpods headphones, iPhone built-in speakers, or Apple TV) by following these steps.

On your iPhone or iPad

  • Open the Control Point.
  • Press and hold your finger on the music player card in the upper-right corner of the Control Point until the audio settings appear.

On a Mac

NOTE. The Airpods headphones will only appear in the Control Point and Mac Menu if they are ready to use and within reach.

In case the Airpods headphones aren’t showing up on your Mac, you’ll need to pair them. To do so:

On a Mac, open “System Preferences” and go to Bluetooth.

Place both Airpods headphones in the charging case and open the cover.

Press and hold the setting button on the back of the case until the status indicator turns white.

Select the detected Airpods headphones in the list of available devices and click “Connect.

If you’re still hearing audio through your Mac’s built-in speakers, click the volume control icon on the menu bar and select Airpods.