Some news that flew under the radar amid the raft of Pixel-related announcements at Wednesday’s made by Google event; Android is getting a new sharing feature that involves tapping two compatible smartphones together.
Alongside the reveal of the Pixel 11 and Pixel Watch 5, Google revealed the expansion of Quick Share enabling two Pixel phone users to bring their handsets close to each other for a hot second to commence easier transfers of files, photos, videos, contact information and more.
“It’s easy to use, too — especially when you’re swapping contact info. When you’re on your home screen, just bring your compatible Android device and another Android device close together for an instant, two-way exchange,” Google writes in a blog post. “To share photos or videos, open your phone’s Share Sheet and then tap the devices together.”
Google says the feature is coming to Pixel 6 devices (and up) to begin with, but the latest Samsung phones will be next to get in on the act soon. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Fold 8, and Flip 8 will lead the way, while more Android devices from other manufacturers will receive tap to share by the end of the year.
It’s about time Google offered an alternative to the Apple AirDrop feature called NameDrop, which arrived as far back as iOS 17 in 2023. Given iOS and Android are getting some interoperability in this regard, it’s possible that users will be able to tap to share between iPhone and Pixel devices in the not too distant future.
The NFC-enabled feature Quick Share to be turned on and Google shares the following method for sharing content information:
- Overlap the top of both unlocked phones with their screens facing up and visible to you.
- Keep phones together until they glow.
- You can choose which contact information fields in your contact card to share. You can also choose to only receive the other person’s contact card.
- Once you’ve received the other person’s contact card, you can choose to save it to your device’s Contacts app.
- To cancel, move the two devices away from each other.
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