Qualcomm may provide some of the best Apple AirPods features to non-apple Bluetooth headphones
The sound technology in Qualcomm’s Snapdragon was designed with a focus on improving sound quality as well as battery life for Bluetooth earbuds paired with Android devices.
Thanks to a push by Qualcomm, Android users can look forward to having some of the best features of Apple’s AirPods on their non-Apple Bluetooth headphones.
According to most reviews, one of the biggest advantages of using Beats headphones or AirPods Pro, with iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices is how seamless the connectivity is. The earbuds pair effortlessly with Apple products and switch automatically between a user's devices. With features like spatial audio and noise-cancellation, the sound capabilities of the headphones received a significant boost. The reason for this seamless collaboration between both devices is due to the fact that the technology in both the mobile device and the headphones is designed by Apple, hence features are optimized at the hardware and software levels. Qualcomm has recognized this advantage and aims to bring the same advantage to android handset vendors and third party audio designers.
On Thursday, Qualcomm unveiled its new snapdragon sound technology which promises better audio and easier pairing between earbuds and Android devices. Android users can look forward to enjoying better connectivity and audio quality with their earbuds, smartphones PC's and maybe even TVs. This latest development is affected both in the hardware and software just like the Apple equivalent, and so only new devices can hope to enjoy its advantages. Judging by Tech trends, the first devices to enjoy this feature would be headphones paired with high-end Android devices.
Android users can look forward to enjoying crisp and clear calls and music, as well as high-resolution 24-bit 96khz audio. Enjoying snapdragon sound is expected to be glitch-free which means fewer instances of static and dropped calls. The lag time between when the sound leaves the phone and when it arrives at the earbuds is expected to be 89 milliseconds which should mean a more immersive gaming experience as well as better conference call quality. The battery life is also expected to be improved upon compared to what earbuds give today.
According to a reliable source from Qualcomm, the company sees the opportunity to create a premium audio experience as part of the experience of using an Android device is in the audio.
The advantage Apple has is the better compatibility with which their devices work together, but with the Android ecosystem things are not that simple due to the sheer numbers of Android phone manufacturers from tech giants like Samsung to smaller Chinese brands, there is also the issue of buying earbuds from different manufacturers than the smartphones they are to be paired with.
A common trend among Android users is to seek out products from audio focused companies when buying earbuds and using these products with smartphones from other companies. Apple customers on the other hand get all their products from Apple. This trend is what Qualcomm seeks to change.
According to Techanalysis research analyst Bob O'Donnell, Qualcomm wants to go for the best possible audio experience anyone can get over a wireless connection and a seamless connectivity that rivals an Apple-only ecosystem.
Improving the audio experience
Qualcomm intends to allow users to connect multiple pairs of headphones to the same Android device which will enable people to listen to music together. Qualcomm also intends to bring some features found in AirPods to Snapdragon sound including spatial audio. Spatial audio makes sound more immersive by giving the impression that the sound is coming from all around the user. The headphones will also be able to automatically move from a phone connection to a PC connection based on what the user is using at the time.
For this idea to work however, both devices - the Android device, an Android phone for instance, and the headphones need to contain Qualcomm Bluetooth chips. It is expected that in the earlier stages Android devices with Qualcomm's ultra-premium Snapdragon 888 chipsets will be the first to come with Snapdragon sound. The Snapdragon 888 chipsets appeared in Samsung Galaxy S21 and is expected to power most, if not all the high-end Android phones released this year. While the Snapdragon sound will only be available in Snapdragon 888 powered devices, Qualcomm intends to extend the features to Snapdragon chipsets for less expensive phones.
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