Audio quality on Android 17 devices quietly got better and it went mostly unnoticed, it seems, for close to a week now. Google launched Android 17 for compatible Pixel devices back on June 16 and while it outwardly advertised plenty of new features, what Google didn’t really showcase to users is that Android now natively supports the LHDCv5 audio codec.
For those who really love their audio and want the best quality possible when streaming from their phone, this is a big step up. It’s worth noting that LDAC was available before this update. So high-bitrate audio was possible, but not all earbuds or headphones support the LDAC codec. This opens things up and gives users more options.
The LHDCv5 audio quality option for Android 17 is hidden within developer options
If there’s one downside to this addition, it’s that Google didn’t make it more visible to users. Even talking about it would have gone a long way to inform users that support was now available. Instead, Google chose not to say anything about it. Which is just an odd decision all around. What’s more, is that it’s not even in a very visible spot. It’s tucked away in developer options.
This is a menu in the settings that quite a few users are unlikely to ever visit unless instructed to do so. That being said, this is where it’s at. So if you have earbuds or headphones that support LHDC, and you stream music from a service that supports lossless audio, you’ll want to turn this on.
To find it, first go into the settings menu. From there, tap on the System menu. Then tap on Developer Options, and then Bluetooth. Finally, tap on Bluetooth Audio Codec and select LHDCv5. You will need to connect compatible audio hardware before you can select this option. So pair and/or connect your headphones or earbuds before trying to select your codec.
The post Music on your Pixel just got better with this new Android 17 feature appeared first on Android Headlines.
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