Android 17 brings a surprisingly big upgrade for wireless earbuds
Google has introduced native LHDC v5 codec support for Pixel devices via the Android 17 stable release in June 2026. This update enables higher-quality wireless audio for compatible Bluetooth headphones and earbuds. The feature was added quietly and remains hidden in settings.
What changed
Pixel phones now support the LHDC v5 codec for high-resolution wireless audio.
Live updates
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Android 17 Adds LHDC v5 Support for High-Res Wireless Audio on Pixel Phones
confidence 90%Google has introduced native LHDC v5 codec support for Pixel devices via the Android 17 stable release in June 2026. This update enables higher-quality wireless audio for compatible Bluetooth headphones and earbuds. The feature was added quietly and remains hidden in settings.
What's confirmed:
- Android 17 adds native LHDC v5 Bluetooth audio support to Pixel phones.
- The update allows compatible Pixel models to stream higher-resolution wireless audio.
- LHDC v5 support enables high-bitrate audio for compatible earbuds from brands including OnePlus and Nothing.
- The feature was released as part of the Android 17 stable release in June 2026.
Still unconfirmed:
- The LHDC v5 codec brings 96kHz high-resolution audio to hardware.
- The update enables 24-bit/192kHz wireless audio that outperforms LDAC.
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Android 17 Adds LHDC v5 Support for High-Res Wireless Audio
confidence 90%Google released the Android 17 stable update in June 2026. The update introduces native support for the LHDC v5 codec on Pixel phones. This change allows compatible wireless earbuds to stream higher-quality audio.
What's confirmed:
- Android 17 includes native support for the LHDC v5 Bluetooth audio codec on Pixel phones.
- The LHDC v5 update enables high-resolution wireless audio for compatible earbuds.
- The stable release of Android 17 arrived for Pixel phones in June 2026.
Still unconfirmed:
- The LHDC v5 codec provides 96kHz high-resolution audio.
- Compatible earbuds from brands such as OnePlus and Nothing can utilize this feature.