Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google is rolling out spatial audio with head-tracking support to all Pixel Buds Pro devices.
- The feature is compatible with Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 phones.
- Spatial audio with head tracking is not available on the Pixel Buds A-Series or Pixel A-Series phones.
If you’re an audiophile who owns a pair of Pixel Buds Pro, we have some good news. Google is rolling out spatial audio with head-tracking support today.
In a blog post, Google announced that it has started pushing out an update that will give the Pixel Buds Pro spatial audio with head-tracking support. The feature will work on the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro. Google says that the feature will be a part of the latest firmware version 4.30 and all Pixel Buds Pro devices should be updated automatically over the next week.
With spatial audio, the Pixel Buds Pro should deliver richer sound with improved depth. And with head tracking, sounds should move around along with you and reposition as you turn your head.
According to the tech giant, the best way to take advantage of the feature is to use apps that support spatial audio and offer 5.1 and higher surround sound. This would include apps like Netflix, HBO Max, YouTube, Disney Plus, and more.
To turn on spatial audio on your Pixel phone, you just need to head over to your phone’s settings. From there you’ll need to tap on Sounds & vibrations and find Spatial Audio. Once you’re there, you should see a toggle for spatial audio. To enable head tracking, you have to go to your phone’s Settings>Connected devices>Pixel Buds Pro>Settings>Head tracking.
Unfortunately, it looks like the owners of the Pixel Buds A-Series and Pixel A-Series phones are out of luck. Google says spatial audio is not supported on these devices.
Automatic updates are usually enabled by default when the Pixel Buds are paired with a Pixel phone. So once you pair them, your earbuds should receive the update. But if you have automatic updates turned off, you can follow this help page.
