Google Cracked the Code to Apple’s AirDrop
A surprising announcement came from Google today, as they announced that Pixel 10 users can now send and receive files from iPhones, iPads, and Macs through full AirDrop compatibility, using their own version called Quick Share. This fits into a bigger pattern, with Google slowly cracking the code on long-standing ecosystem divides, similar to how they now have Emoji reactions to messages in Android Messages.
For Quick Share to work, Apple users will have to temporarily set their device to be discoverable to everyone, and then Pixel users can send things through Quick Share, with the approval prompt on the Apple device looking like any other AirDrop request. It is two-way, which means Apple devices can AirDrop to Pixel 10s as long as the Pixel is discoverable or in receiving mode. It is also secure with peer-to-peer transfers, no cloud routing, and integrated third-party testing.
This is a great win for the Android world, with AirDrop being one of Apple’s strong ecosystem advantages, and Google solving the compatibility gap itself shows a shift similar to RCS adoption. Hopefully, this will encourage Apple to collaborate more, so we see more cross-platform
The rollout is starting on Pixel 10 devices for now, with Google promising expansion to more Android phones at a later date. Maybe what Google did here will make it easier for people to switch to Android. Because when I have thought about switching, AirDrop is always something I think about, because most of my family owns Apple devices.
Does this make you hopeful for a future where Apple and Android devices actually work together? Should Apple collaborate with Android? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments!