Why Google’s AirDrop support on Pixel 10 puts pressure on Apple’s walled garden and high-priced ecosystem

What is AirDrop, anyway?

For years, one of the biggest advantages of owning an Apple device (Apple fanboys swear by it), whether it’s an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, has been how easy it is to transfer files wirelessly between them with just a click of a button. Apple’s AirDrop protocol uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to transmit files through a proprietary, close-range wireless communication process. It can handle text, images, videos, and other types of files, with no size limits. Because AirDrop uses Bluetooth to create a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi network between devices, you don’t need to be connected to a router or even the internet to use it. You do, however, need to have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.

What Google has done by enabling AirDrop interoperability for Pixel 10 phones directly challenges Apple’s walled garden. (Image: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

I use an iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and file transfers between the devices are seamless and secure – because all AirDrop transfers are encrypted. It is hands down one of Apple’s best features, and it’s one of the reasons many Apple users don’t switch to the Android ecosystem. It’s part of how Apple keeps users inside the walled garden it has built, with a series of tightly integrated features. (I will explain what Apple’s “walled garden” means in detail, so keep reading till the end.)

…but Google has an alternative to AirDrop

Google has also created an alternative to AirDrop for its Android devices – arguably the fastest way to share large files such as photos, videos, and documents between supported devices. It’s called Quick Share. Technically, Samsung originally developed Quick Share for its own devices, but later Google and Samsung worked together and merged the then–Nearby Share into Quick Share in 2024. Quick Share comes pre-installed on Android devices and can be used to share files between phones, laptops, tablets, and more. It now also supports Google Chrome and Windows but does not work with the iPhone or other Apple devices.

I tried AirDropping files between a Pixel and an iPhone, and it works like a magic

Apple clearly doesn’t want its AirDrop to work with Google’s Quick Share, and we know why. But Google wanted to change that and came up with its own solution that enables cross-compatibility – without consulting Apple. It currently works with its Pixel 10 devices but other Android smartphone should soon follow. Anyway, I tried the unauthorised Pixel to iPhone filer sharing, and it works like a magic.

To do that, you need the latest Google Pixel 10 device and an iPhone. I use both the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and iPhone Air and as soon as I got the updated my Pixel to the latest software update, my device was ready to transfer files been the current Pixel and the iPhone. In the beginning, I explained how Apple’s AirDrop and Google’s Quick Share worked, so it is easy for you to understand how the two protocols mean and what they used for.

It’s amazing to see how files transferred between my Pixel and iPhone entirely wirelessly. (Screenshot: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

So, I kept the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and iPhone Air side by side. I then accessed the AirDrop menu on my iPhone and turned it on. I did the same on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, enabling Quick Share. Next, I selected a picture I had taken at the Emirates Lounge at Los Angeles Airport and sent it to the iPhone Air using the Quick Share button.

However, a quick reminder: before transferring files, you need to enable ‘Everyone for 10 minutes’ in the Quick Share settings on the Pixel, and on the iPhone, AirDrop should be set to ‘Everyone’ or ‘Everyone for 10 Minutes.’ If it’s set to ‘Contacts Only’- the default setting, it won’t work.

EU ruling requires Apple to no longer keep other companies out of AirDrop. (Image: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Once the settings were correct, I was able to transfer the picture in 5 to 10 seconds without any glitches. Almost immediately after selecting my iPhone from the Quick Share menu, I received an AirDrop pop-up asking me to accept the file from the Pixel. Once I accepted, the file loaded instantly and appeared on my iPhone Air.

It’s amazing to see how files transferred between my Pixel and iPhone entirely wirelessly – without needing a cable, special workaround, or third-party apps. It’s a direct, peer-to-peer connection, and Google notes that your data isn’t routed through a server. In a security blog post, Google explains that the underlying strategy enabling this new synergy between Quick Share and AirDrop relies on the memory-safe Rust programming language. “These overlapping protections on both platforms work in concert with the secure connection to provide comprehensive safety for your data when you share or receive,” writes Dave Kleidermacher, vice president of Google’s Platforms Security and Privacy.

Why is Google doing it now, and not earlier?

The question to ponder is why Google is suddenly enabling unauthorised Pixel-to-iPhone file sharing with Apple’s AirDrop. After all, it could have done this earlier. The answer has to do with recent EU regulations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). From the start, AirDrop relied on Apple’s proprietary AWDL protocol, which prevented other companies from interoperating with it. However, the EU required Apple to adopt standardized wireless protocols, specifically the Wi-Fi Alliance’s Wi-Fi Aware, starting with iOS 26, the latest operating system for the iPhone. This is why Google is now technically able to enable file transfers between Quick Share and AirDrop.

The walled-garden approach, which differs from open platforms like Android, offers several advantages for Apple users. (Image: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

It’s worth noting that Wi-Fi Aware was developed with Apple’s help. It is supported on the iPhone 12 and later, as well as most recent iPads, meaning Quick Share will only work with AirDrop on these devices running iOS/iPadOS 26 or later. Meanwhile, Google has supported Wi-Fi Aware in Android since version 8.0, so any new Android device could gain support via software updates. macOS, however, does not support Wi-Fi Aware in the same way, so Quick Share won’t work with AirDrop on Macs.

The point to note is that the EU ruling requires Apple to no longer keep other companies out of AirDrop by using a functionally similar but private communication protocol instead of the standardised version. No wonder Google has brought AirDrop interoperability to Pixel 10 phones, and it works just as it should.

Will Apple take an action?

tibiliWe don’t yet know how Apple will respond to Google bringing AirDrop compaty to Android – technically, it is limited to the Pixel 10 series. What Google has done by enabling AirDrop interoperability for Pixel 10 phones directly challenges Apple’s walled garden. After all, while Apple’s business thrives on many factors, such as exceptional hardware and software, part of its success can be attributed to its walled garden, or closed-platform approach.

The walled-garden approach, which differs from open platforms like Android, offers several advantages for Apple users. It gives Apple more control over its devices and software, which arguably allows them to function more smoothly. The walled garden also makes it easier for Apple devices to work seamlessly with one another. For example, the Apple Watch is designed to work seamlessly with the iPhone, but not with Android smartphones.

First and foremost, Apple’s walled garden helps lock in users: once you own one Apple device, there is a strong incentive to buy another and to upgrade your existing devices with newer ones. However, recent developments indicate that Apple’s walled garden isn’t as robust as it once was. Regulators, especially in the EU, are forcing Apple to loosen its grip and make its products and services compatible with competitors’ devices. For example, Apple had to bring Rich Communication Services (RCS), an interoperable messaging system, to the iPhone, allowing iPhone users to send messages to Android devices.

For Apple, securing its walled garden is crucial to growing its business, and the company continues to fight to maintain this closed ecosystem. The question is how long Apple will be able to keep its proprietary products, be it iMessage or the Apple Store exclusive to Apple devices in an increasingly regulation-heavy era. Only time will tell.