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We’re looking at Android’s Nearby Share vs Airdrop to see how these file-sharing technologies compare.
Apple’s AirDrop has been about for years and has become, for many, an integral part of how they use their Apple products. It’s a secure and seamless way to transfer files between both your own devices and with those of your friends and family.
It was something that, for years, Android phones basically had no answer for, granting Apple a free win. Sure there were 3rd party options but these were and still are, less integrated and less secure.
This all changed with the introduction of Nearby Share. The tool is the Android-compatible version of AirDrop. They recently levelled it up even further, with the introduction of an App for Windows computers that allows them to make use of the technology too.
Overall both Nearby Share and Airdrop function very similarly but there are some subtle but vital differences that we will get into here.
Both Nearby Share and Airdrop serve the same purpose. They offer a fast and streamlined way to share files between devices that are nearby. These files can be large too, without taking an age to send.
They work by creating private, walled-off, Wi-Fi networks between the devices. This is the secret to how they can transfer these files faster, as you avoid the upload and download time of e-mailing or using sites like WeTranfer.
The overall functionality of both Nearby Share and Airdrop is very similar. To use either you navigate to the photo or file you want to transfer, select Share then tap on Nearby Share for Android devices and Airdrop for Apple. From there, the devices that can receive the files will appear, tap on the one you want to send and off they go.
You have to have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on to use both, but you won’t need a data connection. The process is speedy but you can speed it up even further if you make sure that any videos or photos you are sending are downloaded to your device before sending.
There are a few differences in how the technologies function. Nearby Share, for example, can transfer the data over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, just like Airdrop, but can also switch to NFC transfer when it detects that as the fastest option.
An important difference is, of course, speed. Apple’s Airdrop has the edge here. The transfer time is significantly faster than Nearby Shares, though some of this advantage is negated, as Airdrop needs more time to prepare the files for transfer. However, overall Airdrop is quicker, though Google has been working to increase the speed of Nearby Share.
The difference that has the most significant impact on the user is compatibility. Both technologies are only able to communicate with other devices in their own eco-system. Apple holds two advantages here. Firstly, their devices are generally more widespread, especially in the US. This means that often the person you are trying to send files to will be using an Apple device.
Secondly, Apple offers the full range of devices in a way that Android doesn’t. As a result, it is likely that, if you use an iPhone, you will also have a MacBook, meaning you have an easier way to transfer data between your own devices.
This all changes with the recent beta release of a Nearby Share app that can be used on a Windows PC. This will allow cross-platform transfer and massively improve the compatibility of Nearby Share, meaning that many more people will able to able to transfer information between their personal computers and smartphone.
The actual technologies and their functionality cannot really be differentiated. Both offer a seamless and secure way to transfer files quickly and on both services, this is well integrated. This means that you don’t need to factor them into any decision you’re making between an Android or Apple product such as the OnePlus 11 and iPhone 14.
This actually continues a trend we’re seen recently of competing products actually getting more and more similar, For example it is look possible that the iPhone 15 will have USB-C.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, on the 31st of March Google released the beta version of a Nearby Share app for Windows. This process is often much faster for sending files between your computer and Android phone than using email or other file-uploading services.
With the new app for Windows, you can now use the Nearby Sharing service without having to link it to your Google account, though the process will be slightly faster if you do.
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