Google said on the 20th (local time) that it has applied a feature enabling wireless file transfers between iPhones and Android smartphones to the Pixel 10 lineup. This makes direct file transfer between Android phones and iPhones possible for the first time.
Google announced that starting today, Quick Share, Android's wireless file-sharing feature on the Pixel 10 series, is supported to interoperate with AirDrop, the iPhone's wireless file-sharing feature.
AirDrop is a feature that lets users easily share files wirelessly between Apple devices. Using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, users can send photos, videos, and contacts to nearby Apple devices. Until now, AirDrop was available only within Apple's ecosystem, but with Quick Share now officially compatible with AirDrop, file sharing between Android phones and iPhones has become possible.
Quick Share is a file-sharing feature for Galaxy smartphones that Samsung Electronics introduced in 2020 as a "rival to AirDrop." Google announced a similar "Nearby Share" feature the same year, but last year it integrated Quick Share and Nearby Share into "Quick Share" and now supports it across all Android phones.
Google said, "The Quick Share–AirDrop interoperability feature applies only to the Pixel 10 series, but we expect it to expand to other Android devices in the future."
The feature was achieved through reverse engineering without Apple's consent. Tech outlet The Verge assessed Google's new support as a meaningful step that shakes Apple's closed ecosystem.
Google said, "Which device you use shouldn't matter when sharing memories with family and friends," and added, "We developed the compatibility feature in response to feedback that many people want an easier way to share files across devices." Google also said, "This feature includes a security system based on On-device AI that has been verified by security experts."