Oliver Haslam on January 25, 2020, 8:17 pm

Android Looks Like It’s Getting An AirDrop Feature To Call Its Own

Apple users range from making use to AirDrop multiple times each day to forgetting that it exists in the first place. But Android users will be able to take a similar feature for a spin themselves soon enough, according to a new video shared by XDA Developers.

The video shows something Google has been working on, called Nearby Sharing. The video that was shared shows the feature working on a Google Pixel 2 XL and a Google Pixel 4, although we’re told it’s also bee running on a OnePlus phone, too.

The video appears to show something that is similar to AirDrop, although whether it will be able to work as seamlessly is something we’re going to have to judge at a later date. Nearby Sharing does at least seem to be tied into the quick settings menu, so it’s easily accessed. Just like AirDrop, users can restrict whether anyone can send them anything via the feature, too.

Samsung is already working on something similar called Quick Share, which might once again show us just how fragmented Android can be. None of this will be anywhere near as easy to use and ubiquitous as AirDrop until all Android devices use the same feature.

Hopefully, Nearby Sharing will be able to be exactly that. We don’t know when the feature will be announced, but hopefully we won’t have to wait too long.