Google has quietly introduced native support for the LHDC v5 Bluetooth codec in the Android 17 update, enabling higher-bitrate wireless audio streaming for compatible Pixel smartphone users.
Key Points
- Android 17 now includes native support for the Low Latency High-Definition Audio Codec (LHDC) v5.
- Pixel users can access higher-bitrate audio with compatible hardware from brands like Nothing and OnePlus.
- Enabling the feature requires selecting LHDC v5 within the Android Developer Options menu.
- Users may need to activate Hi-Res Audio settings inside their specific earbud companion applications.
- The update allows Pixel devices to utilize high-quality audio sources, such as 24-bit/96kHz streams from Apple Music.