AirPods 5 on Android: What Works, What Doesn’t, and the Free Fix

Apple’s AirPods 5 have impressed reviewers with their noise cancellation, but they still aren’t built for Android. In a hands-on test published on November 7, Android Authority’s Karandeep Singh found that the earbuds’ noise cancellation and several newer features work with a Pixel phone, while basics like automatic ear detection, battery levels and firmware updates do not. Here’s what works, what doesn’t, and the free workaround that fixes some of it.

Why the AirPods 5 are tempting

The AirPods 5 keep Apple’s open-fit design, with no silicone tips sealing the ear canal, and Apple says their active noise cancellation is up to 50% better than the previous model’s. Singh, who dislikes the pressure of in-ear tips, says they blocked roughly 80% to 85% of the noise around him, and he points to SoundGuys’ more thorough testing, which found they beat both their predecessor and Samsung’s open-design Galaxy Buds 4.

What works on Android

More than you might expect. In Singh’s testing, these features worked normally with his Pixel:

• Active noise cancellation
• Switching between noise cancellation and transparency mode from the stem
• The new volume control slider
• Conversation Awareness, which lowers your music and pauses noise cancellation while you talk

There’s a catch: Singh set the AirPods up with an iPhone before pairing them with his Pixel, and he suspects that’s why those features worked so smoothly.

What doesn’t work

• Automatic ear detection. Music keeps playing when you take an earbud out.
• Battery levels. Android doesn’t show the AirPods’ battery percentage.
• Firmware updates. These need an Apple device. Our guide on how to update AirPods firmware explains the process.
• Finding a lost earbud. You can’t use Google’s Find Hub network to locate them; tracking requires Apple’s Find My.
• Easy device switching. Moving between his Pixel and his Mac meant digging into Bluetooth settings manually each time.

The workaround: LibrePods

Third-party apps can fill some of the gaps. Singh tried several and settled on LibrePods, which he describes as the cleanest-looking option. It immediately turned on in-ear detection and showed the earbuds’ battery level. The app also offers extra AirPods 5 features, like head gestures to answer or decline calls and a customizable long-press for your voice assistant, for a small fee on the Play Store (₹650 in India). The same app is free if you install it from GitHub. It still can’t update the AirPods’ firmware.

Should Android users buy the AirPods 5?

Singh’s advice is to buy them only if you also own at least one Apple device, like a Mac or an iPad, that can handle setup, firmware updates and Find My. If you use only Android and Windows, he recommends skipping them, since the noise cancellation isn’t worth the hoops. Open-fit alternatives with better Android support include the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 and the Anker Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro. And if you already own AirPods, here’s why their battery can drain fast and how to fix it.

Source: Android Authority