(Illustration: Android, Shutterstock/Sergey Eremin)
There are perfect pairings in this world. Peanut butter and jelly. Charli XCX and Lorde. AirPods and Androids. No, really, hear us out.
If you've been eyeing Apple's wireless earbuds, but don't want to give up your Android device, we've got good news. AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max are not iOS-exclusive devices. They can pair with practically any Bluetooth-enabled device.
To be fair, there are some downsides. By skipping the iPhone and pairing your pods with an Android phone, you won't get all the included features that you would normally have access to. For example, the battery indicator for the AirPods won't display on your phone, and Siri won't be available to answer any of your requests.
However, you can download the MaterialPods app to display battery life on your Android device and launch the Google Assistant after double-tapping an earbud. So there are workarounds—they're just not quite as seamless as the Apple-only experience.
If this still sounds like a good idea to you, here's what to do:
On your Android device, make sure Bluetooth is on and go to Settings > Connected Devices > Bluetooth. Tap Pair New Device. For AirPods and AirPods Pro, make sure the AirPods are in the charging case, open the lid, and press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for about five seconds or until you see the status light flashing white. On your Android device, tap AirPods or AirPods Pro and follow any directions that appear onscreen.
For AirPods Max, press and hold the noise control button for about five seconds or until you see the status light flashing white and AirPods Max shows up under Available Devices. If it does not, select More and then hit Refresh. On your Android device, tap AirPods Max and follow any directions that appear onscreen.
If you don't find your AirPods, check under "Available devices" or tap More and then Refresh.