Are Android and Apple Getting Closer? Pixel 10 Now Supports Airdrop-Like Transfers
In a surprising move signaling potential increased interoperability, Google’s new Pixel 10 smartphones now support direct wireless file transfers to Apple devices, effectively mimicking Apple’s Airdrop functionality. the feature, first reported by The Verge, allows seamless data exchange with iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
The process utilizes Google’s “Quick Share” feature on the Pixel 10 to initiate transfers to Apple devices. Conversely, Pixel 10 users can receive files via standard Airdrop requests. While currently limited to the Pixel 10 series, Google spokesperson Alex Moriconi has indicated plans to expand support to additional devices in the future.
To initiate a transfer from a Pixel 10, Apple users must temporarily set their Airdrop settings to “visible to everyone.” Once activated, the Apple device will appear within the Pixel’s Quick Share menu, allowing the transfer to begin.A standard Airdrop request will then appear on the Apple device,requiring user confirmation.
Transfers can also be initiated to a Pixel 10; the Pixel simply needs to be in reception mode,allowing Apple users to send files via Airdrop as usual.
Google highlights the security of the connection, detailing in a security blog post that the transfer is direct, peer-to-peer, and doesn’t rely on external servers. The company also assures users that transferred content is not stored and no additional data is transmitted during the process.
Despite this step forward, Google clarifies that the functionality will initially remain exclusive to its own devices and won’t be broadly implemented across the Android ecosystem. This advancement arrives alongside other gradual cross-platform advancements, such as the ongoing discussions surrounding the adoption of RCS messaging on iPhones, which would improve messaging experiences between Android and Apple users.