One of the most eagerly anticipated features in the technology industry is almost here. Yes, I’m referring to AirDrop-style file sharing for a wider range of Android smartphones, which extends the feature beyond Google’s Pixel lineup. This comes after the company announced that Quick Share will soon enable more Android devices to initiate direct wireless transfers with Apple products such as iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks.
The confirmation came during a recent press briefing in which Eric Kay, Google’s vice president of engineering for Android, stated that the company is working closely with its hardware partners to increase cross-platform compatibility. According to Kay, Google has already validated the technology on the Pixel and is now ready to roll it out to other devices.
The Pixel 10 series phones are currently the only Android devices that can use Quick Share to communicate directly with Apple’s AirDrop. While Google has not revealed which manufacturers will be the first to receive the update, companies such as Nothing and chipmaker Qualcomm have previously hinted that more widespread support is in the works.
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Along with file sharing, Google is said to provide a more seamless experience to users transitioning from iPhones to Android devices. Kay stated that the company is working to resolve issues such as missing data, broken message histories, and incomplete transfers during the switching process.
According to reports, Google and Apple’s collaboration has been in the news since early 2024, with early signs appearing late last year, when cross-platform transfer testing was discovered in experimental Android builds for Pixel devices. Google expects to make more announcements about Quick Share expansion and improved iPhone-to-Android switching tools in the coming months.