The next Android update promises to bring a new lease of life to the way we listen to music and watch videos together. Android 15, with its “audio sharing” function, now allows multiple headphones to connect to a single device.
Bluetooth has evolved over the years, with significant improvements in reducing latency and increasing audio quality. We recently saw the introduction of Bluetooth LE Audio. “Auracast”, as it is known, is one of these innovations. This allows a transmitter, whether a smartphone, computer, or other, to share audio with several headphones and speakers simultaneously.
Android 15 (Vanilla Ice Cream, or VIC) Developer Preview 2 is available:- 📦 archive apps to free up storage – 🎥 use phone as webcam in HD- 🎧 better Bluetooth audio sharing- 🛰️ Satellite Messaging – 🐞 usual bug fix#AndroidDev
— Android Developer News (@AndroidDev_News) March 24, 2024
How audio sharing works on Android 15
Within the “connected devices” menu in Android 15 settings, the “audio sharing” option now appears. For now, details about this functionality are limited, but the concept is simple and promising, as 9to5Google reveals.
The concept is to enable others to listen to audio with you, using their own compatible headphones. The function includes a button to “share audio” and the option to “play a test sound” to confirm the correct connection of the headphones.
However, initial impressions indicate that this functionality is still in the improvement phase. This is because the share button is deactivated when you leave the page. But it's something that will surely be fixed by the final version of Android.
This feature benefits those looking for a shared experience when listening to music or watching videos, but it also promises to be a valuable tool for people with hearing difficulties or language interpretation needs. The ability to connect multiple devices to a single audio source wirelessly is something I personally didn't want on my smartphone. In addition to being convenient, it makes the process more hygienic.