Android Auto Wireless to run on all Android P devices

Android Auto Wireless was made public back at CES. Then the previous month, tech giant Google made the announcement that both generations of the Pixels and the Nexus 6P/5X could now project to a compatible head unit wirelessly. News comes now from Kenwood that all devices running Android 9.0 P and later will be able to wirelessly project Auto. The news release reads

The only devices that currently support wireless Android Auto are four versions of the Google Pixel—the first-generation Pixel and Pixel XL and the second-generation Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL—and the legacy Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. They must be upgraded to Android OS 8.0 or higher (via an over-the-air upgrade). For other device manufacturers, wireless Android Auto will be implemented with the adoption of Android OS 9.0 or higher.”

The Android Auto Wireless is not really practical for the user in the long term plan because it drains the battery pretty fast. However, no denying that it adds more convenience so its availability on any device running P can be a super big deal.

The press release was further modified too:

In our press release below, we indicated that future smartphones would require Android 9.0 OS to be compatible with KENWOOD multimedia receivers that feature Wireless Android Auto™. Google has informed us that, in addition to 9.0 devices, the company is working with several smartphone manufacturers to bring wireless compatibility to devices with Android 8.0 OS. According to Google, this compatibility will be available on select non-Google smartphones soon.

In short, Android Auto Wireless will come to some more Android phones with 8.0 Oreo. It’s unclear which manufacturers Google is working with right now, more will be updated soon.

Read: Google Pixel 3 is all about the notch and sleek design

Image via BGR