- LibrePods improves the AirPods experience on Android
- The application is now available on the Google Play Store
- Use features like Conversational Awareness on select phones
While AirPods have always run Android (they’re essentially Bluetooth headphones), users with Google-powered phones and tablets haven’t been able to enjoy the full AirPods experience. That’s now changing with a new update to an open source app called LibrePods.
LibrePods has been around for a while, but previously required a jailbroken Android device to work properly. As Android Authority reports, LibrePods have just become available on the Google Play Store, so anyone can use it, no jailbreak required.
This has been made possible thanks to a bug fix implemented with the Android 16 QPR3 update, also known as the March Pixel Drop if you are using a Google Pixel phone. As LibrePods developer Kavish Devar explains, this opened up more Bluetooth features.
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It means you get access to features like more accurate battery level reporting, immediate ear detection, the ability to change listening modes, and Conversational Awareness (which reduces the volume of the AirPods when you’re chatting with someone).
Does it go ultra?
As this updated Bluetooth functionality was just added to Android, it will take a while to reach all phones and tablets. At this time, it should work with Google Pixel, OnePlus, and Oppo phones updated to the latest software versions.
Going forward, the improved Bluetooth features should remain in Android 17, which will be One UI 9 on Samsung phones. In the coming months, LibrePods should be compatible with more and more phones as these updates roll out.
Once you’ve installed LibrePods on a compatible phone, you’ll find a host of options available in the menus, including the option to set up head gesture controls (provided you have a pair of AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3).
If you’re an Android user, your choice in terms of the best wireless headphones and earphones just got bigger and could expand even more soon. There are rumors from Macworld that Apple plans to introduce some AirPods Ultra headphones in the near future, while also applying the ‘Ultra’ branding to other high-profile products.
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