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Low-energy wireless communication protocols open the door to new possibilities for mobile devices. You’re probably already using Bluetooth and NFC to listen to music or make mobile payments, but they’re not the best fit for every use case. Ultra-wideband (UWB), a relatively new low-energy wireless protocol, uses higher frequencies and covers more bandwidth than alternative protocols. This makes it more accurate, more secure, and more versatile than things like Bluetooth and NFC.
Apple led the UWB push by adding UWB capabilities to the iPhone 11 in 2019, but Android OEMs weren’t far behind, with Google and Samsung rolling out a number of phones with UWB support over the next few years. Released. UWB may not be prevalent in all the best Android smartphones as of 2024, but it should be because the ability to use UWB will make your life easier. Let’s take a look at his five game-changing UWB features. Some of them currently exist, others may be provided in the future.
What is ultra-wideband?
This communications standard has a lot of potential.
1 Safe and fast digital car key
Always lose your keys? UWB turns your phone into your car key
Source: BMW
Smart car keys that allow you to unlock and start your car without manually inserting the key into the ignition are nothing new. However, the next step for a smart car key involves moving the key onto your smartphone. There are several problems with current digital keychains, but the biggest one is that they are less secure. Amplifying the frequency of these key fobs allows someone to get into your car and start it without actually having access to the keys.
This is how UWB support can help. With centimeter-level precision, the car key on your phone can only unlock your car if it is very close. More reliable and secure than alternatives using NFC, Bluetooth, or radio frequencies. Support for cars and phones is obviously limited, but that functionality still exists. Some BMW, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Ram, and Volvo models offer vehicle unlocking using UWB, and more models are on the way. However, as long as you have a supported car and smartphone, unlocking a car is like living in the future.
Bring one of Apple’s best iOS 17 features to Android with UWB
iOS and Android often borrow features from each other, and Apple has included great features in its latest iOS 17 upgrade. It’s called NameDrop, and users can share contact cards with each other by hovering over the top of their iPhones. This is the easiest way to share your contact information with someone you’ve just met. Cards can be customized to the user’s preferences, and users have the final say before sharing anything, preventing unwanted sharing.
This feature uses UWB, so the phones don’t have to be physically on top of each other and won’t work if they’re too far apart. Due to the precise communication protocol, NameDrop only starts when the two iPhones are a few centimeters from each other. Now that Android smartphones have His UWB, there’s no reason why this useful tool can’t also come in future Android versions.
iOS 17 and Android 14: The biggest features compared
Google is working on Android 14 QPR1 and Apple has released iOS 17.1, but which is better?
3 Casting is as easy as a single tap
Google shows how great media casting is with UWB
The UWB-enabled features that Google has already borrowed from Apple will make casting easier. Currently, to cast anything to your speakers, TV, or display, you have to cast manually on your smartphone. However, UWB automates this process, bringing devices together and allowing you to transfer currently playing media from one device to another. Google showed off this feature at his CES 2024, but it is limited to his Pixel smartphones with UWB and his Pixel tablets.
This basically means that only a small percentage of Pixel users will actually be able to use a Pixel. One day, as more smart home devices and smartphones with UWB chips are released, this feature should become as simple on Android as it is on the iPhone and HomePod.
Four Quickshare is powered by UWB
Protocols use Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, WebRTC, and superior UWB.
Google is quickly making Quick Share a true competitor to AirDrop, and UWB will be a big part of that. Previously, Android’s file sharing system was split between Google’s Nearby Share and Samsung’s Quick Share. These two file sharing methods have become one and the name Quick Share has become popular. Quick Share lets you share information between nearby Android devices using a variety of protocols, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, WebRTC, and (you guessed it) UWB. At this point, UWB support for Quick Share doesn’t seem to do much other than provide improved accuracy, reliability, and speed. However, the future looks bright for this kind of file sharing functionality.
Using the same UWB technology as NameDrop, Apple also added new ways to use AirDrop in iOS 17. Open a photo, file, link, or anything else on one iPhone and then share it with another iPhone by bringing the two devices closer together. together. Once again, Google should borrow this feature to power quick sharing on Android. These useful features will allow users to enjoy the benefits of her UWB, and in turn will encourage OEMs to add the chip to their products.
Quick Share: How to use AirDrop Alternatives for Android
Try Google’s AirDrop alternative
Five accurate location tracking
No need to rely on guesswork. UWB tells you exactly where to look.
So far, the best application of UWB is to use it when locating a lost device. Crowdsourcing networks like Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find My Device make it easy to locate lost devices in far-flung locations. But what if it’s nearby, like in your house or car? This is where UWB’s centimeter-level precision makes a big difference.
For example, when you use an NFC-enabled iPhone to find a lost AirTag, the Find My app uses direction and distance to show you the tracker’s location. Follow the onscreen instructions and your iPhone will guide you to the exact location of your AirTag. Compared to trying to play sound on a lost device (which may not be loud enough to hear), the UWB feature makes your life easier.
Google is planning similar functionality for Find My Device using Bluetooth item trackers, but UWB tags will be a game-changer. Some already exist, like the Galaxy SmartTag. However, we are still waiting for them to become more popular in the Android ecosystem. It comes just days after Google’s recent announcement.
Google finally launches ‘Find My Device’ network
The company cited privacy and security concerns as the reason for the delay.
Which Android smartphones currently support UWB?
For UWB to become more popular in the Android ecosystem, both hardware and software must improve. Currently, the list of mobile phones equipped with UWB chips is very limited. Samsung’s slab-style Galaxy phones include these, but only the Plus and Ultra versions of the Galaxy S21 series and above. Some foldable phones also support UWB, such as Google Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 2 and later. Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 8 Pro, and Pixel Tablet also include connectivity options and support most connectivity options within Google’s ecosystem.
Still, this is a limited list, especially considering there are currently no budget, mid-range, or even base flagship models with UWB. If you are lucky enough to have an Android smartphone with UWB, you can easily start using it. However, we hope that Google and other Android OEMs continue to develop for his UWB and include the chip in more devices. Once you start using it, it’s hard to imagine life without it.
How to enable Ultra Wideband (UWB) on your Android smartphone
Manage your car and smart home devices and accurately locate lost items using UWB on Android
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