The official what’s new in Android 17 post from Google does not mention it, but the latest OS update introduces support for LHDC v5. Keen-eyed Reddit users first identified this feature in Android 17 beta 3, and it is now available in the stable release for Google’s Pixel phones, including those who opted out of the beta program.
To activate LHDC version 5, you may need to access the Developer Settings. Navigate to Settings, then About phone, and tap the Build Number several times. This will prompt a notification and reveal a new option in the settings.
Once in Developer Settings, look for Bluetooth Audio Codec—does it display LHDC v5? If not, select it, and you should see a list of available codecs.
How to Check and Enable LHDC v5 on Pixel Phones Running Android 17
Many Bluetooth headphones already support v5, including the Nothing Ear (2), launched three years ago, and the more recent OnePlus Buds 4. Some smartphones also supported v5, but Pixel devices did not until now. If your headphones come with a companion app, check if it has a Hi-Res Audio option. To fully enjoy this feature, try it with high-quality music from streaming services with Lossless audio (such as Apple Music or Spotify).
LHDC v5 offers a low-latency connection of 80ms (as indicated by the “L” in “LHDC”), with an adaptive bit rate ranging from 128Kbps to 900Kbps, and supports sampling rates up to 96kHz.
Source | Via
