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The New Era of File Sharing: Complete List of Android Smartphones Supporting AirDrop
Early 2026 marks a massive breakthrough in mobile technology, highlighted by the widespread implementation of Apple’s AirDrop service across numerous Android smartphones. The ecosystem wall is finally coming down, making cross-platform communication easier than ever.
The list of compatible hardware is growing rapidly. Contrary to early rumors, this highly anticipated feature is not strictly limited to the Google Pixel lineup. Let us take a closer look at how this functionality works on Android and explore the official list of supported devices.
What is AirDrop and How Does It Work on Smartphones?
Originally introduced to the Apple ecosystem in 2011, AirDrop is a proprietary service designed for lightning-fast file transfers. It works by creating a direct peer-to-peer connection between devices using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
For over a decade, this seamless sharing protocol was one of the biggest selling points for devices sporting the Apple logo. It allowed users to transfer massive video files, photo albums, and documents in seconds without compressing the data.
Google eventually debuted its own alternative, Quick Share, in 2020. However, the tech landscape is filled with users who own an Android smartphone alongside a MacBook or iPad. For years, this resulted in frustrating ecosystem incompatibilities. Fortunately, recent developments and the newly introduced AirDrop, Galaxy, and Quick Share integration are finally bridging the gap, allowing users to extract the best out of both operating systems.
Which Android Smartphones Support AirDrop?
An increasing number of Android devices are gaining native support for AirDrop. While the current lineup is restricted to recent flagships, device compatibility is expected to skyrocket once the mass update cycle for Android 17 begins.
As of right now, the official list of compatible devices includes the following models:
Google Pixel Series
- Pixel 10
- Pixel 10 Pro
- Pixel 10 Pro XL
- Pixel 10 Pro Fold
- Pixel 10a
- Pixel 9
- Pixel 9 Pro
- Pixel 9 Pro XL
- Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Samsung Galaxy Series
- Galaxy S26
- Galaxy S26+
- Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Galaxy Z Fold 7
- Galaxy Z Flip 7
- Galaxy S25
- Galaxy S25+
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Galaxy Z Fold 6
- Galaxy Z Flip 6
- Galaxy S24
- Galaxy S24+
- Galaxy S24 Ultra
If you have been tracking the leaked list of supported smartphones for Samsung Galaxy, there is an important software caveat to remember. To use the AirDrop feature on Samsung models older than the Galaxy S26 series, the devices must be enrolled in the One UI 8.5 beta program.
This limitation will remain in place until the stable version of the firmware is officially released. Current development roadmaps indicate that the beta testing phase has been extended, and stable rollouts are not expected until at least April 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will AirDrop transfers between Apple and Android devices reduce photo or video quality?
No. One of the primary benefits of this new cross-platform functionality is lossless data transfer. Photos, videos, and documents retain their original resolution, framerates, and metadata, just as they do when sharing between two native iOS devices.
Do I need to download a third-party application to use AirDrop on Android 17?
If your device is on the officially supported list and running Android 17 (or the One UI 8.5 beta for Samsung users), the feature is deeply integrated directly into the operating system. You will find AirDrop located in your native share sheet alongside standard options like Quick Share, requiring absolutely no third-party downloads.
Why are older Samsung Galaxy models required to use the One UI 8.5 beta for support?
Implementing Apple’s sharing protocol requires system-level network and Bluetooth permissions that were completely restructured in the One UI 8.5 update. Older, stable firmware versions simply lack the necessary backend framework to securely facilitate direct peer-to-peer handshakes with Apple hardware.
Source: 9 to 5 Google | Opening photo: JunoNaro / Adobe Stock
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