Galaxy phones are first in line for Android AirDrop support
Android AirDrop support is no longer just a Pixel experiment. Google has confirmed that Samsung’s latest Galaxy flagships are among the first non-Pixel devices to gain native AirDrop-style file sharing through Quick Share. Officially supported models include the Galaxy S24 and S25 series, plus Samsung’s newest foldables: Galaxy Z Flip 6 and 7, Z Fold 6 and 7, and the futuristic Galaxy Z TriFold. Some units are already enabled via the stable One UI 8.5 update, with broader rollout happening over the coming weeks. Notably missing are older flagships like the Galaxy S23 family, Z Flip 5, Z Fold 5, and all mid-range Galaxy A, F, M and Tab A devices, along with the Galaxy Tab S line. That absence is not just a software decision: Google’s implementation depends on chipset-level capabilities and networking optimisations that can mimic Apple’s AWDL technology. For now, Galaxy AirDrop compatibility is a premium perk aimed squarely at recent high-end hardware.
How Quick Share now talks to AirDrop
Quick Share AirDrop compatibility is more than a branding tweak; it’s a deep networking upgrade. Apple’s AirDrop relies on AWDL, a proprietary peer-to-peer tech that behaves similarly to Wi‑Fi Direct but is tuned for Apple’s ecosystem. To meet it halfway, Google reverse-engineered AWDL and built a compatible, memory-safe protocol using Rust, allowing Android phones to establish direct, encrypted links with nearby iPhones without sending files through external servers. On supported Galaxy, Pixel and partner devices, this means you can initiate cross-platform file transfers from the system share sheet, then have the receiving iPhone accept the transfer as if it came from another Apple device. Latency is low, transfers are local, and users no longer need to juggle messaging apps, email, or random third-party tools just to move a photo or document between platforms. It effectively brings Android’s Quick Share into the same conversation as AirDrop, instead of competing in parallel.
Beyond Samsung: partner phones and fallback QR sharing
Samsung may be the headline partner, but Google is widening the net. Quick Share’s native AirDrop compatibility is rolling out to additional Android brands this year, including OPPO’s Find X8 line, OnePlus 15, Vivo and select Honor models such as the Magic V6 and Magic 8 Pro. Google also references expanded support for certain Xiaomi phones, though the exact models are yet to be named. Earlier, AirDrop support landed on Google’s own Pixel 10, Pixel 9 series and Pixel 8a, as well as OPPO’s Find X9 and Find N6, and Vivo’s X300 Ultra. For devices that won’t receive full radio-level compatibility, Google is offering a cloud-based alternative inside Quick Share. Users can generate a QR code that an iPhone scans to download shared files via the cloud. While this route lacks the pure device-to-device privacy of native Quick Share AirDrop sessions, it keeps cross-platform file sharing accessible to a broader slice of Android hardware, sidestepping legacy chipset limitations.
Why this closes a major cross-platform sharing gap
Until now, cross-platform file sharing strongly favoured Apple users. If everyone had an iPhone or Mac, AirDrop just worked, while Android owners juggled clunky workarounds like messaging attachments, email or ad-heavy third-party apps. With Android AirDrop support built directly into Quick Share, that imbalance is finally narrowing. A Galaxy S25 can beam photos to an iPhone as seamlessly as two iPhones trading shots, and vice versa, shrinking a longstanding convenience gap that often nudged mixed-platform groups toward Apple defaults. This also has subtle social and productivity benefits. Group projects, family photo exchanges and spontaneous sharing in mixed-device environments become frictionless, reducing the tech friction that often surfaces when one person doesn’t own an iPhone. Coupled with planned integrations between Quick Share and popular apps like WhatsApp, Android is evolving from a second-class citizen in cross-platform file sharing into an equal participant in the ecosystem.
Upgraded iOS-to-Android migration makes switching easier
Google is matching its file-sharing push with a more polished iOS-to-Android migration pipeline. The updated transfer flow now supports a wider set of personal data, including passwords, photos, messages, contacts and favourite apps, as well as homescreen layouts. That means a new Galaxy or other supported Android phone can feel familiar on day one, reducing the friction that often discourages iPhone users from switching platforms. Looking ahead, Google is preparing eSIM transfer support, rolling it out first to select Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models. Combined with Quick Share’s AirDrop compatibility, this creates a more cohesive onboarding story: users can move their credentials, layout, connectivity and media without relying on piecemeal tools. For cross-platform users or those considering a switch, Android’s ecosystem now looks significantly more inviting, with fewer compromises in daily convenience compared to staying fully inside Apple’s walled garden.