AirDrop comes to Google’s Pixel 10 family (sort of)

In early 2024, Google sort of merged its AirDrop-like “Nearby Share” with Samsung’s own AirDrop clone “Quick Share.” It gives Android phones the ability to directly share photos, videos, links, contacts, and other information over a direct peer-to-peer connection, just like AirDrop does. But it only works with Android phones. Until now.

Google announced that Quick Share will now work with AirDrop and is rolling out the feature to Pixel 10 devices. The post clearly states that Google “looks forward to improving the experience and expanding it to more Android devices.”

Google

Google has an entire page dedicated to the security of this feature, where it clarifies that it is not a hack or a workaround: your data is sent directly peer-to-peer and never passes through a server. This new feature builds on AirDrop’s more open “Everyone for 10 minutes” mode, meaning that if you want to share between your iPhone and a Pixel 10 device, you’ll need to first open Settings > General > Airdrop and select Everyone for 10 minutes.

About this limitation, the page states: “We are happy to be able to work with Apple to enable “Contacts Only” mode in the future. “While I think it would be awesome, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for it to happen. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if Apple found a way to end this current compatibility in a software update until a regulator finally forces it to allow large-scale direct transfers. So enjoy it while it lasts.