Google announced on Thursday that Android phones will soon support Auracast, a new Bluetooth technology that uses a phone to enable a direct connection from hearing aids to audio broadcasts in noisy environments.
With Auracast, compatible hearing aids and earbuds can receive direct audio streams, such as a PA system at a train station or an audio broadcast at a concert. Google notes that hearing aid presets can be applied to these broadcasts, which means users can personalize streams to their hearing.
At launch, the feature is coming to Samsung Galaxy phones with One UI 7 and Google Pixel 9 phones running the latest Android 16 beta. The feature works with compatible LE Audio hearing aids, including ones from companies like GN Hearing and Starkey.
Google also announced that Pixel 9 devices can now connect to broadcasts through QR codes, which removes the need for people to go into their settings when trying to access a public broadcast.
The latest Android 16 beta also brings a new accessibility feature that will allow users with low vision to outline text in order to make it easier to read. It also includes a Local Network Protection (LNP) feature that Google says will give “users more control over which apps can access devices on their local network.”
Android 16 is expected to launch sometime in June.
