Categorie: News

Here’s a list of Android smartphones that will soon be compatible with AirDrop, according to Google

Google has recently confirmed that support for AirDrop, integrated directly into Android’s native Quick Share feature, will be extended to a growing number of devices.

This is not simply a rumor, but an official communication that outlines a clear path for the coming months, specifying which hardware will benefit from this interoperability.

AirDrop on Android, an updated list of compatible models

The direct link with Apple’s iPhones is already a reality for a range of high-end devices. Currently, the integration is active on the entire Pixel 10 family and on the previous Pixel 9 series.

On the South Korean front, interoperability already works on the entire Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup. Looking at the Asian market, the connection is fully supported on the recent vivo X300 Pro and vivo X300 Ultra, as well as on the entire OPPO Find X9 series, which includes the base variants, Pro and Ultra. In addition, the foldable device OPPO Find N6 is added and, somewhat surprisingly confirmed by Google in recent days, also the Pixel 8a.

The Mountain View company has outlined the schedule for the upcoming updates, revealing a substantial lineup of phones that will receive support soon.

The update will cover the entire Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S24 families, including the standard, Plus and Ultra models, with a high likelihood that compatibility will also extend to the FE variants. Also for Samsung, the feature will arrive on a wide range of foldable devices: the Galaxy Z TriFold, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Z Flip 7, as well as the previous generation consisting of Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6.

OPPO will see the activation of the feature on the Find X8 and Find X8 Pro models, while the Find X8 Ultra version will probably remain excluded since its release was limited to the Chinese market. The update will also reach the OnePlus 15 and Honor’s flagship devices, specifically the foldable Magic V6 and the Magic 8 Pro.

An interesting detail concerns Google’s proprietary devices management: while the Pixel 8a is already enabled, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro do not yet appear in the official list. Sharing the same internal architecture, it is highly unlikely that there will be differences in network capabilities in favor of the cheaper model; it is much more plausible that this is a pure matter of timing in the software release for the higher-end models.

The hardware requirements

The reason Google has not activated the feature on all Android smartphones in circulation is strictly technical. Analyst Max Weinbach has clarified that the connection requires a specific network modification at the chipset and wireless modem level.

This configuration enables the Apple Wireless Direct Link, usually indicated by the acronym AWDL, which forms the basic infrastructure on which AirDrop operates.

While in the past open-source projects like OpenDrop had demonstrated the theoretical possibility of devices communicating, the engineered implementation by Google in Quick Share is far more complex. The Android device must therefore keep communications open to simultaneously scan compatible devices both on the AirDrop network and on the Quick Share network.

This level of management of network protocols requires specific radio components, which is why the function will primarily reach high-end processors, almost certainly excluding low- and mid-range phones that do not possess the appropriate technical specifications.

Luca Zaninello

Appassionato del mondo della telefonia da sempre, da oltre un decennio si occupa di provare con mano i prodotti e di raccontare le sue esperienze al pubblico del web. Fotografo amatoriale, ha un occhio di riguardo per i cameraphone più esagerati.

Recent Posts

Galaxy S27: the covers ‘confirm’ the new design, but not for the entire series

The first render images of Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro and Ultra, circulated in the past…

51 minutes ago

The first POCO with a 10,000 mAh battery is official

Xiaomi's brand partner has officially launched in India POCO X8 Power, a mid-range smartphone that…

1 hour ago

GPT-6 Astra: OpenAI launches the new model and reopens the AGI debate

OpenAI unveiled GPT-6 Astra, the new model that the company describes as the most advanced…

2 hours ago

Amazon: the Alexa for Shopping AI can spot scam emails and SMS

Amazon has announced a new feature designed to fight scams: starting today (but only in…

3 hours ago

Midea at IFA 2026: the home becomes intelligent with SMART MASTER

Midea porta a IFA 2026 la propria visione "Simply ideal" per la casa connessa: no…

3 hours ago

Ecovacs è il brand n°1 per la robotica domestica, tutti gli annunci da IFA 2026

Ecovacs has just earned recognition as the world's No. 1 brand for home robotics in…

3 hours ago