Google’s implementation of Auracast, a Bluetooth audio sharing technology, across its Pixel devices is facing criticism due to inconsistencies and limitations, according to a report. The newly released Pixel Buds 2a lack Bluetooth audio sharing capabilities, highlighting a broader issue with Google’s approach to the feature.
Auracast enables users to either share their device’s audio with multiple nearby devices or join an existing broadcast initiated by another device. This technology utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy for transmission, allowing any Auracast-compatible device to participate in these audio sharing sessions.
In March, Google announced that the Pixel 9 series, running Android 16, would support streaming Auracast broadcasts. The announcement emphasized the use of Auracast with hearing aids but did not mention its broader audio sharing applications. This omission, according to the report, is puzzling for several reasons. Firstly, when Android 16 was initially released for the Pixel 9 series in June, Auracast support was not enabled by default and required users to manually activate it through developer options. Secondly, the Pixel 8 series also supports Auracast, yet this was not highlighted in the initial announcement. Finally, Google’s own Pixel Buds Pro 2 support Auracast, but this was also not mentioned.
The report notes that the initial absence of default Auracast support in Android 16 was later addressed with the release of Android 16 QPR1, which enabled the feature by default. However, the report argues that Google should have communicated this delay more effectively to its users, pointing out the lack of official support pages for the feature.
The Pixel 8 series’ support for Auracast is confirmed, with the report stating that Google specifically enabled the feature on these devices. The author has not encountered any issues using Auracast on a Pixel 8 Pro, although they could not guarantee a flawless experience for all users.
The most perplexing issue involves the Pixel Buds Pro 2. When initially launched, these earbuds supported Auracast. However, the feature now appears to be disabled on newer units. Initially, it was believed that Google had disabled Auracast via a firmware update. However, a Reddit user discovered that Auracast can be re-enabled on the Buds Pro 2 by resetting the paired Pixel phone’s Bluetooth settings. This suggests that the block is implemented on the phone side rather than at the firmware level of the earbuds.
To verify this, the report details a test conducted with a Samsung Galaxy S25, where the Pixel Buds Pro 2 successfully supported Auracast, confirming that the issue is specific to Pixel phones.
The reasons behind the disabling of Auracast on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 when paired with a Pixel phone remain unclear. When questioned about this, a Google spokesperson stated that they “have nothing new to share about Auracast at this time.” This lack of communication has led to speculation that Google may have encountered unresolved issues and opted to disable the feature as a temporary solution.
Furthermore, Google may be intentionally limiting Auracast on its budget A-series phones, potentially to encourage users to purchase more expensive models. Initial reports suggested that A-series phones would not support Auracast, but it was unclear whether this was due to hardware limitations or product segmentation. While the capabilities of the Pixel 8a remain unconfirmed, the report states that Auracast was successfully enabled and used on a rooted Pixel 9a, indicating that its omission on A-series phones is a software-based restriction rather than a hardware limitation.
The report acknowledges that limiting software features to specific models is a common practice for product differentiation. However, Google’s inconsistent approach to Auracast, including the issues with the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and the lack of support on A-series phones, suggests a lack of commitment to promoting the standard. The report contrasts this with Samsung, which has widely adopted Auracast across its phones, tablets, earbuds, and TVs.
Auracast aims to provide a universal solution for audio sharing, addressing the limitations of existing proprietary solutions. However, its adoption is hindered by the lack of widespread support from phone manufacturers like Google. This creates a cycle where headphone makers have little incentive to prioritize Auracast support, and phone makers have little incentive to add it if few audio products support it. The report expresses hope that Google will address these issues and actively promote Auracast in the future.
The inconsistent rollout of Auracast on Pixel devices and the artificial limitations imposed on certain models are seen as detrimental to the adoption of this potentially transformative Bluetooth technology. The report concludes by urging Google to prioritize Auracast and ensure its widespread availability across its product lineup.
