GoKawiilLil Katz / Android Authority
TL;DR Android 17 has silently added native support for the Low Latency High-Definition Audio Codec (LHDC v5)
This expands high-bitrate options beyond Sony’s LDAC on Google Pixels, allowing users to stream 96kHz high-resolution audio to compatible hardware.
Codec creator Savitech confirmed that native integration means future Android 17 devices from Samsung, Xiaomi, and others will also support LHDC seamlessly, marking a big win for compatibility for high-res earbuds and headphones.
Android 17 brings many good changes, but there are also ones that have flown under the radar and haven’t been as heavily advertised. It seems Google has silently added a highly requested audio feature to its latest software update, bringing the Low Latency High-Definition Audio Codec (LHDC) to supported Pixel devices.
Reddit user QuantumCatalyzt noticed that Android 17 on their Pixel 9 Pro enabled LHDC codec support, allowing them to switch on Hi-Res audio on their OnePlus Buds.
Have you noticed any improvements in audio quality after updating to Android 17? 76 votes Yes, significantly. 13 % Possibly, but I'm not sure. 38 % No, not at all. 29 % I haven't updated yet. 20 %
On my Google Pixel 9 Pro XL running the stable Android 17 release, I can confirm that LHDC v5 is now a valid option available in Settings > System > Developer Options > Bluetooth > Bluetooth Audio Codec when I connect my OnePlus Buds Pro 3 (the options will be grayed out until compatible hardware is connected).
With Android 17, I can switch to 96kHz sample rate for Bluetooth Audio and subsequently turn on Hi-Res mode in the HeyMelody app (the companion app for OnePlus earbuds). You’d still need a high-quality source, which, in my case, was Hi-Res Lossless in Apple Music, to experience a wider soundstage right off the bat than previously possible with the AAC default.
Prior to this update, Pixel phones relied heavily on Sony’s LDAC for high-bitrate wireless audio, leaving many users restricted to lower-quality AAC or SBC when pairing their devices with popular LHDC-supported audio gear. The change is a massive win for users who pair their Pixels with earbuds from manufacturers like OnePlus, Nothing, and OPPO, which frequently utilize LHDC to handle high-resolution audio streams.
... continue reading