Google announced on Thursday that Android phones will soon support Auracast. It announced that it will support Auracast, a new Bluetooth technology that allows you to connect directly to audio broadcasts in noisy environments using your phone.
With Auracast, compatible hearing aids and earphones can receive direct audio streams, such as station PA systems and audio broadcasts at concerts. Google points out that hearing aid presets can be applied to these broadcasts. This means that users can personalize the stream into hearing.
At launch, this feature appeared on Samsung Galaxy phones, with one UI 7 and Google Pixel 9 phone running the latest Android 16 beta. This feature works with compatible LE audio hearing aids, including those from companies such as GN Hearing and Starkey.
Google also announced that Pixel 9 devices can now connect to broadcasts via QR codes.
The latest Android 16 Beta also offers new accessibility features that allow low-Vision users to outline text for easier readability. It also includes the Local Network Protection (LNP) feature Google says that “provides more control to users with apps that allow users to access devices on their local networks.”
Android 16 is scheduled to be released in June.