Auracast: As Android announces more Bluetooth LE Audio support, will Apple follow with the iPhone 17?
The autumn is always a big deal when it comes to Android and Apple. There are usually launches of new tech and operating systems.
This year, Android 16 is arriving as Google launches its Pixel 10 phone, while next week Apple will showcase what the iPhone 17 will bring to the table following its announcement of iOS26 earlier this year. The latter was disappointing because Apple is currently eschewing Auracast, and that is baffling and frustrating.
It is widely thought that once Apple follows the likes of Google and Samsung in adopting Auracast as a standard, uptake and installations will follow rapidly. However, the Cupertino-based tech firm is currently directing people to its AirPods 2, which can be used as hearing aids, provided you don’t mind that the battery life is around a working day, not a typical day.
And it’s equally baffling when the iPhone 17 is rumoured to have Bluetooth 6.0, meaning it will be Auracast-ready.
So, with Apple preparing to launch the iPhone 17 next week, the unanswered Auracast question will have an answer that could have enormous implications for people who rely on accessible audio.
We want Apple to finally support Auracast, especially as it is already becoming standard on Android.
Android widens Auracast support
Google announced this week that it is expanding LE Audio Auracast support across more Android devices, which is brilliant news.
Sony headphones and compatible Pixel models – Pixel 8 series upwards – now join Samsung Galaxy and Xiaomi phones in enabling users to connect directly to Auracast broadcasts.
That means more people with hearing aids, earbuds, and headphones can tune into shared audio streams at airports, museums, gyms, or live venues. A simple scan of a QR code or tap via Fast Pair lets listeners join instantly.
The list of compatible phones Google published is:
- Google Pixel 8 series upwards
- Samsung flagship devices released since 2023 (Galaxy S23/S24/S25, Z Fold5/6/7)
- Xiaomi 14T, Xiaomi 14T Pro, Xiaomi 14, Xiaomi 15, Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Xiaomi 15 Ultra, Xiaomi MIX Flip
- POCO X6 Pro, POCO F6 Pro, POCO F7 Pro, POCO F7 Ultra
Punyabrata Ray, Product Manager for Android, wrote in the blog post that the move is about creating “a more connected, inclusive audio experience for everyone.”
We are delighted that the blog expands on the way in which Auracast can be used. We have a natural bias towards helping the deaf and hard-of-hearing community because we live in that space, but Auracast has many other benefits.
Among them highlighted by Google are:
- Stay informed in public spaces such as airports – We took part in a trial at Bristol Temple Meads railway station and can vouch for just how useful this will be
- Enhancing visits to museums etc with guided tours. There is no need for specialist equipment, as people can use an Auracast Assistant to pair their headphones with the museum’s information, even by scanning a QR
- Watch TV and listen in gyms or cafes without background noise drowning out the sound.
- Sharing songs and podcasts with friends. Google says that this allows people to stay in sync as they enjoy “music, movies or podcasts together, whether you’re sitting in a cafe, waiting at an airport or commuting on the train”.
- Sharing audio with a group, such as a new song, a silent disco … all without disturbing others.
Google says Auracast will work with its FastPair, promising connections with a single tap. The process is detailed here, but we have yet to try this.
We are delighted that Android is rolling out Auracast and Bluetooth LE Audio. It has been promised in several Android versions before 16, but it finally seems to be becoming a standard that will be part of our everyday lives in a couple of years’ time.
Apple on the other hand …
Apple’s decision point is approaching
So far, Apple has stayed relatively silent on Auracast. In March, Liam O’Dell reported on his blog that Apple is “super excited” about the tech, but wouldn’t expand further on what that meant for the new Bluetooth standard going forward.
While Android phones, hearing aid brands and major headphone makers have been working hard to create Auracast-enabled products, Apple has yet to support it.
Back in April, we contacted Apple while working on a feature for PC Pro magazine and were told they had said everything they would say on the matter at the time, pointing instead to those AirPods 2. Users can take a hearing test and then tailor the sound output to suit them.
However, we think this approach is flawed for two reasons: the battery life isn’t good enough for people to wear them all day, every day, and if people are wearing earbuds, others will assume they are listening to music and not paying full attention to them.
Either way, it is not the answer.
The iOS launch that followed gave some updates to accessibility features, but when it came to audio sharing, not a dicky bird said.
We hope that the iPhone 17 launch next week will change that.
If Apple enables Auracast, millions of users will gain direct access to live audio streams in public places. If not, iPhone owners may increasingly find themselves at a disadvantage in various settings, including venues, workplaces, and even social gatherings.
Why this matters
Quite simply, the wider the adoption, the more useful Auracast becomes.
Public spaces are beginning to install Auracast transmitters, including theatres, sports stadiums, and public buildings. But the technology only levels the playing field if everyone can connect, no matter their brand of phone.
So, while some Android users can enjoy the benefits of Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast, those wedded to Apple are shut out and risk being left behind unless their headphones or hearing aids have an Auracast Assistant built into them.
