Google has added LHDC v5 Bluetooth audio support to Pixel phones through the stable Android 17 update, although the company did not mention it in its official list of new features.
LHDC v5 is a high-resolution Bluetooth audio codec that can enable high-quality music and audio playback on your wireless speakers, earbuds, and other Bluetooth devices. It supports up to 24-bit/192kHz audio.
Reddit users first noticed the codec in Android 17 Beta 3 several months ago. It is now available to Pixel owners who installed the stable release without joining the beta programme.
However, since it is part of the base Android 17 update, it should arrive on other Android phones as well.
What LHDC v5 Offers
LHDC stands for Low Latency High-Definition Audio Codec.
The codec can reduce connection latency to 80 milliseconds and uses an adaptive bitrate ranging from 128Kbps to 900Kbps.
It also supports audio sampling rates of up to 96kHz, allowing compatible Pixel phones and headphones to transmit higher-quality audio over Bluetooth.
How to Enable It
As for now, Pixel owners need to go through Developer Options to enable LHDC v5. To enable the menu, open Settings, go to About phone, and repeatedly tap the Build Number. The phone will display a notification once Developer Options become available.
Open Developer Options and find the Bluetooth Audio Codec setting. If LHDC v5 is not already selected, tap the setting and choose it from the available codec list.
The option will only work when the connected headphones or earbuds also support LHDC v5.
Compatible Earbuds
Several Bluetooth earbuds already support the codec. These include the Nothing Ear (2), which launched three years ago, and the newer OnePlus Buds 4 released last year.
Some Android phones also supported LHDC v5 before Android 17, but Google’s Pixel devices did not. However, more Android phones should now get the update, now that it’s officially part of Android 17.
Users should check the companion app for their headphones to see whether it includes a Hi-Res Audio setting. That option may also need to be enabled before the codec works.
High-quality music from a lossless streaming service, such as Apple Music or Spotify, will provide a better way to test the feature.
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