Bluetooth audio on smartphones and other gadgets still really isn't perfect; the audio quality has gotten much better recently, but it still can't touch the quality of wired headphones, and I feel like we don't even need to mention the potential for connection issues.
Qualcomm originally created AptX as a means to make Bluetooth audio better, and now at IFA 2018 they've announced an even better solution that should make your wireless experience even better in Android Pie. That's important, because even Google hates headphone jacks now.
The new solution is called AptX Adaptive, but what exactly is it? It's a replacement for AptX and AptX HD that notably offers a variable bitrate for audio, which is likely where Qualcomm got the name. If you're in a crowded area with a ton of different competing signals, AptX Adaptive will be able to compress your audio down to stream to your headphones without disconnections or desyncing. On the other side of that, if you're in an area without many other signals, that bitrate will go up to sound better. Quality's important, if you have the bandwidth for it.
The codec does go a step further, though, including doing things like automatically adjusting quality and bitrate based on what you're listening to. It will adapt to TV shows, movies, games, music, etc. to guarantee you'll get a good experience without needing to fiddle with specific settings or anything. On top of that, the codec is more efficient, so even if you may be technically getting a lower bitrate on the music you're streaming, it will sound better than AptX or AptX HD at a higher bitrate.
As we mentioned previously, AptX Adaptive will be baked directly into Android Pie, so newer phones from this point forward (that launch with newer software, at least) should support this. However, be sure to check your headphones and make sure they support AptX before making a new purchase.
For everything else that's going on at IFA 2018 this year, check out our full coverage.
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source: Qualcomm
