The best answer is that AirPods can technically be used with Android phones. However, the experience with them is much less than using them with an iPhone. You'd be better off buying another pair of wireless headphones to cover all the bases, from missing features to losing important settings.
AirPods are a great way to use your Android phone with all the perks
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
This is a complex question. Let's start with the positives. AirPods Pro or AirPods, both can be used with Android phones as regular Bluetooth headphones. After they are in pairing mode, you can select them from your Bluetooth device list and then you can use them like any other wireless headphones/earbuds. The sound quality and battery life will be the same as an iPhone. This means that the experience will remain almost the same. You can listen to audio wherever you are by simply placing the AirPods into your ears. AirPods 2, 3 and 2 are basic earbuds that fit most people. However, some people find it difficult to get a good fit. AirPods Pro have customizable ear tips that can be adjusted to provide a tight fit and enhanced audio. Spatial Audio by Apple has been translated to Android devices much in the same manner it works on iOS devices using the AirPods 3, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. This beta version of the Apple Music Android app allows you to test the feature. You can now use any of the AirPods to enjoy thousands of tracks from Apple's streaming service, in a 360-degree spatial sound effect. AirPods are so much more than they sound. They are well-known to everyone. They are instantly identifiable as Apple products. People may prefer to have that brand associated with their device, even if they use Android. The AirPod and Android relationship is where it ends.
Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central
AirPods can be used with Android phones, which is fine, but it does not feel as seamless with iOS and Macs. Apple created the AirPods for use with iPhones. This is obvious when you see how much more stripped-down the experience is when they are connected to other Apple devices. First, AirPods don't have the iconic automatic pairing feature. iOS instantly recognizes AirPods when you place them near your iPhone. Android doesn't have this feature, so you will need to pair AirPods manually with your Android device each time you use them. This alone is enough reason to ignore AirPods for Android users. AirPods Pro are not as seamless to switch between Android and iOS devices, nor can they be customized. They're simply dumb Bluetooth earbuds. Comfort and fit are another problem. AirPods are more comfortable if they have an open-fit design than ear tips. The AirPods Pro only use eartips, which is why the bass response is so much better. The regular AirPods aren't as comfortable or "lossy" enough to let too much ambient sound through. AirPods can also charge using Apple's Lightning cable. This is a cable that most Android users probably don't use at all. Although you receive a Lightning cable in your box, it means that you have to use another type of cable for each device. Apple chose to keep Lightning in stock when it launched AirPods 3 - its latest pair of earbuds. AirPods Pro will not have the auto-pause/play feature, which automatically stops and begins music when you take AirPods out of your ears. This is a great feature, but it doesn't work if you have AirPods Pro and an Android phone. AirPods are very popular, but there are many other options.
Source: Ted Kritsonis/Android Central
AirPods are made even worse when you consider that all the top wireless earbuds available for Android users have AirPods as the catalyst for truly wireless buds. Every company has since released their own version of the AirPods form factor. While some have been terrible, many others are excellent. There have been many AirPods clones made cheaply. They are not just cheap ripoffs. The Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro is a great alternative. These AirPods not only sound superior to the regular AirPods but also perform better than the AirPods Pro. Although they don't have any extra durability or water resistance they still sound great and offer excellent app support. They work on both Android and iPhone phones. You can also choose the Jabra Elite7 Pro or Galaxy Buds Pro if you want something more expensive. Both earbuds sound great, offer ANC and reliable battery life and have tons of useful software features via their respective apps for Android and iOS. AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro are great earbuds on their own, but when combined with an iPhone they provide a unique user experience. They're not that special, except for the iPhone-exclusive features. There are many options available. You can get a better pair of earbuds for the same price or even less. If you have Android, it makes sense to choose from any of these alternatives.
