Android users usually turn to smartphone brands or traditional audio brands when choosing their next headphone or earphones. Products from Samsung, Google, Sony or Bose are common among Android users. They usually don’t hold AirPods because appleheadphones and earphones do not play well with Android or Windows devices. Beats, owned by Apple for more than a decade, unfairly has a similar reputation.
Yes, Beats is an Apple company, but the brand’s headphones and earphones work great with Android phones. In fact, you’ll find that most Beats products support more Google-specific features than some dedicated Android audio products. For example, there are Beats headphones and earphones with Google Find Hub. Google Fast Pair, and Audio Switching support. The integration works deep, making Beats a joy to use on any Android device.
Google Fast Pair
Google’s Fast Pair system is one of the best parts of using a pair of Bluetooth headphones or earphones in the Android ecosystem. Simply turn on a supported wireless headset or unbox a pair of wireless headphones and they will automatically enter Bluetooth pairing mode. Tap the pop-up on your Android device and the headphones or earphones will connect instantly.
Better yet, the Bluetooth device will register with your Google account. This means it will automatically connect with any device signed into your Google account using the Quick Pair feature. Of course, many Beats headphones and earphones support Google Fast Pair. This list includes Solo Buds, Studio Buds Plus, Solo 4and Studio Pro.
All you need to do is open the box for supported Beats headphones or turn on the Beats headphones, and you’ll be able to use Fast Pair to quickly connect and seamlessly switch between Android phones and tablets.
Find My Device (Find Hub)
The same list of Beats headphones and earphones will work with Google’s Find My Device network. Find a hub. It’s a unified way to find lost devices in the Google ecosystem using crowdsourced location data.
When the Fast Pair pop-up for supported Beats audio products opens, you’ll see a card asking you to add the headphones or earphones to the Find Hub network. If you agree, you’ll be able to track your Beats headphones, earphones, or speaker in the Google Find Hub app.
Alternatively, you can download the Beats app for Android and go here Find my beats Click the button to start tracking your products.
Android Audio transition
Once you’ve set up Beats with Google Fast Pair, you can use Android’s built-in audio switching feature to let headphones or earbuds automatically move between devices signed in to your Google account. For example, Beats can switch between your Android phone and tablet as the connected device currently playing audio.
To start using the feature with Beats, open the Settings app on your Android phone and tap Connected devices. Then find your Beats product in the list and tap it Settings icon. Finally, click Audio link and flip the switch next to it Use the audio link. Your Beats headphones, earphones, or speakers will then automatically switch between Android devices signed in to your Google account.
Unfortunately, not every Beats product will work with the features mentioned above. beloved Powerbeats Pro 2 and Powerbeats Fit are notable exceptions. However, even these headphones offer great Android features via the Beats app. You can change settings and control ANC modes with the Beats app for Android.
The app also supports Android home screen widgets, which are great for recording battery life or changing modes. For example, the Powerbeats Pro 2 widget shows battery life, ANC modes or heart rate monitoring status. It also allows you to change the ANC mode or activate the built-in HRM without leaving the Android home screen.
While it’s surprising that not every Beats product offers the same level of Google integration, it’s nice to see that many of them fully support Android features. I wish the Powerbeats Pro 2 and Powerbeats Fit had better Android support, but that’s a result of using Apple H-series chips rather than proprietary Beats chips.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of Beats headphones and earphones, including the Beats Solo Buds, Beats Studio Buds Plus, Beats Solo 4, and Beats Studio Pro, work with these Google exclusives.
Budget Android headphones
Beats Solo Buds are small and affordable truly wireless headphones that work great with Android phones. They support Google Fast Pair, Tap My Device, Audio Switching and widgets. The sound quality is just good, but that’s because the price is quite attractive.
