You don’t have to settle for an audio quality downgrade on your phone just because you prefer the convenience of wireless earbuds. Google has quietly added support for LHDC v5 (Low Latency High-Definition Audio Codec) with the release of Android 17.

You will need the right phone, audio equipment, and software to make full use of the upgrade, as well as the patience to dig through settings. However, the effort should be worthwhile if you routinely notice the gap between wired and wireless output.

How do I enable LHDC v5 audio on my Android phone?

It’s buried, but it works

Credit: Cory Gunther / How-To Geek

As Reddit users have noticed, you currently need a Google Pixel phone running Android 17. You’re out of luck if you have a Samsung Galaxy or another third-party Android device, although that might change as Google surfaces the feature. After you pair with an LHDC-compatible device, it’s a matter of enabling Developer Options and toggling the feature on. Here’s how to enable LHDC v5 from start to finish:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap About Phone.
3. Tap Build Number seven times quickly.
4. Enter your password, pattern, or PIN.
5. Return to the main Settings page.
6. Tap System.
7. Tap Developer Options.
8. Tap Bluetooth.
9. Tap Bluetooth Audio Codec.
10. Choose LHDC v5.

Be sure to check the settings for your wireless earbuds or headphones. You’ll also want to verify the media apps you use. Some might automatically take advantage of the higher sound quality, but it’s not guaranteed. Again, that could change as LHDC becomes more widely available.

What is LHDC v5 audio, and will I notice the difference?

Music and movies will sound better with the right devices and apps

Credit: Dibakar Ghosh | How-To Geek

LHDC v5, like LDAC, improves Bluetooth wireless audio quality by compressing data using a variable bitrate that scales from 160Kbps to 1,000Kbps depending on the content it’s processing. This provides a more reliable sound stream despite Bluetooth’s tight and sometimes unreliable bandwidth. You ideally won’t hear drops or stutters on a busy city sidewalk, for instance.

There are different LHDC specs. A basic LHDC-48K delivers modest 16-bit audio at a 48KHz sample rate, but only uses 400Kbps and should perform consistently well. LHDC-96K and LHDC-192K deliver 24-bit audio at their namesake 96KHz and 192KHz sample rates with bandwidth up to 1,000Kbps. There’s also an LHDC-RAW spec with 24-bit sound and a 96KHz sample rate, but its 4,600Kbps requirement rules it out in most cases.

LHDC v5 isn’t lossless, as Bluetooth simply doesn’t have the bandwidth for it. You’ll still need to plug in wired headphones to get studio-grade sound.

Whether you’ll notice the difference depends on your listening hardware and the source material. As you’d expect, you’ll need a good set of wireless earbuds or headphones as well as the music or video app to match. Also, remember that there’s a ceiling — there’s no point to using Spotify Lossless when the sound still has to be compressed.

Your choice of phone also matters. Pixels support LHDC v5 up to 96KHz. Provided Google expands access in Android 17, you might also have to buy from Chinese-origin brands like OnePlus and Xiaomi (the U.K.’s Nothing is also on the list), although they sometimes handle up to 192KHz.

Which earbuds and headphones support LHDC v5 audio?

Your favorite brand might not be included

As with handsets, LHDC v5 support is mainly available through earbuds and headphones from Chinese companies. You can find the full compatibility list here, but it includes some relatively easy-to-find U.S. options such as the OnePlus Buds 3 and Nothing Ear 2. This list might expand if and when Google makes the codec widely available to Android 17 users, so be sure to check back even if you don’t see your favorite hardware right away.

You’ll notice that major brands like Bose, Sony, and Apple’s Beats aren’t compatible as of this writing. Sony’s absence isn’t shocking, given that it created and uses proprietary LDAC technology. It’s also telling that even Google earbuds like the Pixel Buds Pro 2 don’t handle LHDC. Like it or not, you might be stuck with ‘standard’ audio compression until it’s time to replace your buds or cans of choice.