Auracast turns any sound source into a miniature radio station: a smartphone, a TV or a venue’s public address system broadcasts over Bluetooth, and any compatible earbuds nearby can tune in without one-to-one pairing. It is a feature of Bluetooth LE Audio, the new generation of Bluetooth audio that also introduces the LC3 codec and native support for hearing aids.
This guide is for anyone who has spotted “LE Audio” or “Auracast” on a pair of earbuds and wondered whether it matters. As of October 2026, audio sharing across multiple earbuds already works on recent Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones. Listening to a bar’s TV or an airport’s announcements through your own earbuds is technically possible, but it depends on the venue installing a transmitter, which remains the exception.
- New codec: LC3 delivers better quality than SBC at up to 50% lower data rates, according to the Bluetooth SIG.
- Multi-Stream Audio: Multiple synchronized audio streams improve stereo imaging and device switching.
- Broadcasting: A single source can reach an unlimited number of receivers, the foundation of Auracast.
What LE Audio Changes Compared to Classic Bluetooth
Three things change: the codec, the number of audio streams and the number of listeners. The Bluetooth SIG, the consortium that manages the standard, summarizes on its LE Audio page that the new architecture improves audio performance, adds hearing aid support and introduces Auracast broadcasting.
LC3, the new codec. According to the SIG, extensive listening tests show that LC3 delivers better quality than SBC, the basic codec of classic Bluetooth, even at a data rate 50% lower. That saving can translate into longer battery life or smaller batteries.
Multi-Stream Audio. It allows several independent, synchronized audio streams to be sent from the phone; according to the SIG, it improves the stereo image of wireless earbuds and switching between devices.
Broadcasting. A source can send one or more audio streams to an unlimited number of receivers. That is the basis of Auracast.
There is fine print. LE Audio is not an update your current earbuds will receive by magic: both the transmitter and the receiver must be compatible. Samsung states in its newsroom that Auracast requires devices with Bluetooth 5.2 or higher that support it. On phones, support usually arrives with a specific OS version, so it is worth keeping software updates in mind.
How Auracast Works in Practice
It works like a short-range radio. The SIG describes three uses on its Auracast website: sharing your audio with other people, providing sound to muted TVs in public spaces and hearing better in the places you visit, such as an assistive listening system.
To join a broadcast, the SIG outlines three routes: searching for it in a list, as you would with Wi-Fi networks; scanning a QR code; or, in the future, tapping your phone, just like paying.
Here is the support status among manufacturers that document it officially:
- Google Pixel: Audio sharing lets several people listen to the same thing, each with their own earbuds. Requires Pixel 8 or later and LE Audio accessories.
- Samsung Galaxy: Audio broadcasting with the Auracast standard, covering media from the phone or your voice via microphone. Requires One UI 6.1.1 or later on specific models and LE Audio receivers.
- Samsung TVs: Selected Neo QLED 8K and Micro LED models from 2023 to 2025 can act as Auracast transmitters.
- Samsung earbuds: Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Buds3 and Buds3 Pro work as Auracast receivers.
On Pixel phones, you can pair a second set of LE Audio earbuds to your own phone, or the other person can join by scanning the QR code shown on your phone with their Android camera. On Galaxy devices, Samsung explains on its Australian support page (menus may vary in other countries) that broadcasts can be password-protected, that there is no listener limit as long as they are within signal range, and that connecting two or more devices is limited to Galaxy equipment.
What about the iPhone? Apple does not document Auracast support as of October 2026: in its official help, hearing aid connectivity is based on its own Made for iPhone (MFi) program, with no mention of Auracast or LE Audio. If you have an iPhone, check compatibility with the manufacturer of your earbuds or hearing aids before buying with this feature in mind.
Hearing Aids: Where Auracast Makes the Most Sense
This is, in my view, the most important part of this technology. The Bluetooth SIG announced on October 22, 2026, that the five major hearing aid manufacturers (Sonova, Demant, GN, WS Audiology and Starkey, which together account for nearly 90% of the global market, according to the SIG) now offer Auracast-compatible hearing aids.
The need is enormous. The World Health Organization forecasts that nearly 2.5 billion people will have some degree of hearing loss by 2050, and that more than 700 million will require rehabilitation.
Until now, assistive listening in theaters or churches relied mainly on magnetic induction loops. On the SIG’s website, an industry expert, the technical director of WiFore, argues that these systems have helped a great deal but carry quality, cost and privacy problems that have limited their installation. Note: this is an expert assessment that the consortium itself includes in its promotional material, not an independent study.
The beauty of Auracast is that the same transmitter serves both a hearing aid and ordinary earbuds. My reading is that this strips assistive listening of its special-device stigma, and that is probably its strongest card. If these features interest you, also review the mobile accessibility features everyone should know about: many are already on your phone without buying anything.
When Will You Be Able to Hear the Bar TV or the Airport?
When the venue installs a transmitter, and not before. The SIG cites announcements in airports and stations, university classes, theater or stadium commentary as use cases, and boasts of real installations: a 21,000-seat stadium in New Zealand, a cinema chain in Japan, clinics and theaters. In the official sources consulted, no Spanish airport with Auracast in service appears, so today it is a possibility, not something to count on when packing your suitcase.
Samsung has tested it in real environments: in May 2025 it organized a visit with GN to St Paul’s Cathedral in London where attendees listened to the guide through their Galaxy Buds3 Pro or their hearing aids.
My position: LE Audio is a clear technical improvement that will arrive on its own, with every phone and earbuds you upgrade. Auracast is another matter. Its success does not depend on Google, Samsung or Apple, but on bars, airports, cinemas and city councils installing a transmitter, just as they once installed Wi-Fi. The technology is already in many people’s pockets; what is missing is infrastructure. And until Apple documents iPhone support, a significant part of the public will keep watching from the outside.