Can you use apple airpods with a samsung phone

There are perfect pairings in this world. Peanut butter and jelly. Beyoncé and Jay-Z. AirPods and Androids. No, really, hear us out.

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How to connect Apple AirPods or AirPods Pro to your Android phone
What features do Apple AirPods offer when connected to an Android device?

AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max are not iOS-exclusive devices. If you've been eyeing those wireless earbuds, but don't want to give up your Android device, we've got good news. AirPods pair with basically any Bluetooth-enabled device.

You won't get all the included features that you would with an Apple device. The battery indicator for the AirPods won't display on your phone, and Siri won't be available to answer any of your requests. However, you can download the MaterialPods(Opens in a new window) app to display battery life on your phone and launch the Google Assistant after double-tapping an earbud.

If this still sounds like a good idea to you, here's what to do:

On your Android device, make sure Bluetooth is on and go to Settings > Connected Devices > Bluetooth. For AirPods and AirPods Pro, open the case, hold it near the Android device, press the white button on the back until you get a pop-up on the on-screen list of connected devices, and then tap Pair. For AirPods Max, take them out of the case, hold the noise control button down on them until the pop-up appears, and then tap Pair.

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Now the only thing left to do is to conspicuously take out your Android while your AirPods are firmly in your ears. Though you may not be able to hear those around you, you'll see their puzzled expressions. You are the bridge between Apple fanboys and rabid Android enthusiasts.

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(Pocket-lint) - While the Apple Watch is still completely tied to iPhones and iOS only, Apple took a different approach with its earbuds, and made them compatible with anything that has a Bluetooth connection. You still get more of the advanced features like dynamic head tracking, Spatial Audio and easy switching between devices if you have Apple devices, but you can still use them for their essential function.

So, yes, it is possible to use Apple AirPods or AirPods Pro with an Android phone like any other pair of Bluetooth earphones.

The pairing process isn't quite as visually pleasing or convenient as using your AirPods Pro with an iPhone, but it's still simple enough, and once connected you don't lose too many features. Or at least, none of the important ones.

Here's how to connect your Apple AirPods or AirPods Pro to an Android device and the features they offer.

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How to connect Apple AirPods or AirPods Pro to your Android phone

Connecting the Apple AirPods to an Android device works in the same way as connecting any device via Bluetooth. To pair them, simply follow the instructions in the video above, or the steps below:

Open the Bluetooth settings on your Android device.
Select Pair a New Device.
Open the Apple AirPods case to enable pairing.
When the AirPods appear on screen, tap on them and confirm pairing.
If they don't appear, push and hold the button on the rear of the AirPods case until the LED light between the AirPods flashes. This puts the AirPods in pairing mode and you can repeat step 4.

Once you've completed these steps, your AirPods should be connected with your chosen device, and will continue to connect automatically whenever you open the case and put them in your ears.

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What features do Apple AirPods offer when connected to an Android device?

Once connected, Apple AirPods function in the same way as other Bluetooth headphones. You'll get the following features:

Play and pause control by double tapping an AirPod whilst it's in your ear
Music and film audio
Call audio
Any other audio that would normally play through your phone's speakers

AirPods Pro is slightly different in functionality, but all the essential features work:

Play and pause music by pressing the AirPod Pro stem once
Skip forwards by pressing twice quickly
Skip back by triple-pressing
Press and hold the stem to activate/de-active noise cancelling or ambient listening mode

Unlike when connected to an iPhone however, call audio doesn't automatically transfer back to your phone if you take the AirPods out of your ears. Similarly, the battery indicator for the AirPods won't appear on your Android device, so you'll need to make a mental note of how many hours you've been listening for so you know when to top up the charge.

Alternatively, there is an app called Assistant Trigger that you can download from the Google Play Store. This will show the AirPods' battery on your phone, as well as allow you to double tap an AirPod to launch Google Assistant or Bixby. So, if you do want AirPods with your Android phone, there's nothing to stop you using them.

However, it may not be the best choice for you. Especially now that more earbuds are rolling out with Google Fast Pair support, including Apple's own Beats Studio Buds. This means you get fast one-touch pairing and a pair of buds tied to your Google account that you can connect to from any other Android/Chrome device with that account signed in. You might also be tempted by the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 or Nothing Ear 1.

Writing by Britta O'Boyle. Editing by Adrian Willings.