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Android Phones Gain Native AirDrop Support as Quick Share Expands

The change lets select Android flagships exchange files directly with iPhones over a secure peer-to-peer channel.

Overview

  • This week Xiaomi rolled HyperOS 3 with Quick ShareAirDrop support shown on the Xiaomi 17T Pro while Google published an expanded device list that already covers Pixel models and many Samsung flagships.
  • Google and partners say transfers use a secure peer-to-peer channel that requires recipient consent and that iPhone users set AirDrop visibility to “Everyone for 10 minutes.”
  • Native handoffs depend on specific wireless support at the chipset level so many older or budget phones cannot do direct AirDrop transfers and will instead use a QR-based cloud fallback.
  • Rollout is staged and delivered via Google Play System updates or OEM firmware, with additional models (for example Motorola, OPPO and HONOR flagships) listed as coming in the months ahead.
  • For users this removes a long-standing friction between Android and iPhone sharing, cuts the need for third-party apps, and pressures more handset makers to add compatibility through 2026.