Google Presents Spatial Audio Features To Pixel Anyar Phones

Google again includes support for the spatial audio feature for all of its Pixel phones. (photo: dock. google)

JAKARTA - The spatial audio feature has recently become popular, and now Google has included support for all of its Pixel phones.

Previously, Google had provided Pixel phone users with access to spatial audio since September last year. Now, the company has finally launched the feature with the rest of the January 2024 update for Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro phones running Android 13.

The function of the spatial audio feature itself is to simulate an environment that makes users feel as if they are surrounded by speakers in the real world, such as the sound effect of surrounds in theaters.

Launching Android Police, Thursday, January 5, spatial audio became popular on mobile devices after Apple presented the feature to the AirPods Pro.

Then, Google began introducing code for the feature with Android 13 beta released in September 2022 but disabled it after the beta's stable release. Now, the spatial audio feature is officially enabled.

With spatial audio, Google says, users can use it to watch movies from streaming platforms, such as Netflix, YouTube, Google TV, and HBOMax which have 5.1 or higher audio tracks.

However, users must wear headphones or earbuds in order to have an immersive experience. Technically, there are two types of spatial audio support that eventually come to Pixel phones. What is launched now as part of the January update is the one that is less advanced than both because it does not automatically adjust when the user moves the head.

So, if a user watches a surround sound video and turns his head to the left, it will sound as if the middle channel speaker is also moving to the left. However, that won't happen with the upcoming head tracking spatial audio feature, and exclusive to the Pixel Buds Pro.

The feature will arrive via firmware updates in the coming weeks. Once the feature arrives, users will be able to move their heads and it will sound as if the virtual speakers around them stay in place.