The Google Pixel 8 already provides some substantial enhancements over its predecessor, however now the most recent Google-made smartphone is about to get lossless audio. Sadly, it should solely be lossless USB audio, so your trusty Pixel Buds Professional received’t be capable of reap the benefits of it.
The characteristic will seem on each the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional, permitting customers to take heed to music in uncompressed readability. Google’s vice chairman of engineering, Dave Burke, confirmed the news in an AMA (ask me something) on Reddit, and he says that it is going to be obtainable in a future replace to the Pixel. It’ll additionally develop into obtainable on different Android smartphones, too, ought to these producers allow it.
Whereas there isn’t any mounted launch date of when to count on lossless audio on the Pixel 8, it is going to be made obtainable as a part of Android 14, which is why we’ll additionally see assist prolonged past the Pixel sequence to different telephones working that working system. As I famous above, it will all be based mostly on USB connections.
Which means you’ll want to make use of a wired headset with a purpose to reap the benefits of the lossless audio characteristic on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional. That isn’t precisely nice information, as most individuals depend on the comfort of wi-fi earbuds to take heed to music from their telephones. Not solely are they extra handy, however they’re additionally much less susceptible to getting caught on issues as a result of they don’t have any wires.
The brand new characteristic will reportedly work by bypassing the audio mixer within the cellphone, which is what often processes it and compresses it. When utilized, it’ll present what Burke calls “bit good audio,” which implies it is possible for you to to listen to the total readability of the sound with none outdoors compression – because it was meant.
Lossless audio has been an enormous contender within the music recreation for just a few years now, with companies like Tidal providing it for a premium month-to-month subscription. Now, although, you’ll quickly be capable of reap the benefits of lossless audio on the Pixel 8, as long as you employ a wired headset.
