Android update will make using Pixel Buds Pro much less frustrating

Automatic audio switching finally comes to Android

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An upcoming Android update will make the process of switching your Pixel Buds Pro between different devices simpler – and it’ll be coming to other wireless headphones soon too.

When theGooglePixel Buds Pro go on sale on July 28 (alongside theGoogle Pixel 6A) they’ll be sporting a new feature: automatic device switching. As Google explains in itsblog post, if you’re listening to one of thebest Netflix showson your tablet and then your phone starts ringing your wireless earbuds will automatically connect to it so that you can hear your ringtone and talk to whoever is calling.

It’s not only the new Pixel Buds that will get this feature. While they’re first in line, Google has said selectSonyand JBL cans will also benefit from the update, though support for those will be added later. While Google hasn’t specified which models will be supported it’ll most likely be recent models that support Bluetooth multipoint  – meaning they can connect to more than one device at a time.

Importantly though, this tool will only work for Android-powered smartphones and tablets, so if your devices are split across ecosystems you’ll have to stick with manually swapping your connections.

Analysis: The Apple of our ears?

While this update isn’t likely to drastically change the Google Pixel Buds Pro’s ranking among thebest wireless earbudswe’ve tested, it’s an underrated quality of life improvement that will likely save plenty of users some unwanted hassle. But more importantly, it will further improve Google products’Apple-like synergy.

TheApple AirPodsaren’t thebest headphonesever made, but for those reliant on theiriPhone 13andiPad Air (2022), they can still be a great pick. That’s because Apple products are designed to collaborate with one another, giving you a smooth experience that could be ruined if you swap in third-party hardware alternatives.

Google does its part to make transitioning between different Android devices and Chrome similarly seamless, but some of its peripherals lack the necessary functionality. That’s clearly starting to change though, thanks in part to this latest update that enables automatic audio switching.

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Thankfully though, Google isn’t taking too much from Apple’s playbook. Unlike Apple, which keeps updates like these locked to its proprietary hardware, Android audio switching will be coming to a wider selection of first- and third-party options – and we’ll hopefully see more new headphone brands and models arrive with support in the future.

Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.

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