Android 17 brings native support for LHDC v5 Codec

Android 17 has silently added native support for the Low Latency High-Definition Audio Codec (LHDC v5). This expands high-bitrate options beyond Sony’s LDAC on Google Pixels, allowing users to stream 96kHz high-resolution audio to compatible hardware.

LHDC 5.0 can theoretically top out at 24-bit/192kHz with a maximum data bitrate of 1Mbps, compared to AAC’s 16-bit/44.1kHz with a bitrate of 256kbps. However, audio sources with higher quality than LHDC will be dynamically compressed and downsampled to fit within Bluetooth’s bandwidth constraints.

On Oplus earbuds & with Android 17, you can switch to 96kHz sample rate for Bluetooth Audio and subsequently turn on Hi-Res mode in the HeyMelody app (the companion app for OnePlus earbuds). However, you’d still need a high-quality source, like Hi-Res Lossless in Apple Music.

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