Google Pixel 6 series gets Adaptive Sound to improve its mediocre speakers

By Jay Bonggolto
published

Google Pixel 6 Hero In Hand
Google Pixel 6 Hero In Hand (Image credit: Alex Dobie / Android Central)

What you need to know

  • The Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro have received an update that includes the Adaptive Sound feature.
  • The feature allows Pixel smartphones to adjust the audio equalizer based on their surroundings.
  • Adaptive Sound is apparently being rolled out as a server-side update, so it won't be available to everyone right away.

Google appears to have quietly pushed the Adaptive Sound feature to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro to adjust the phones' audio quality depending on the environment.

Adaptive Sound first became available on some of Google's best Android phones release last year, including the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G as part of a feature drop that was rolled out late last year. The Pixel 6 series didn't have the feature at launch, but Mishaal Rahman has discovered it on his Pixel 6.

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For the uninitiated, the feature uses the phone's microphones to adjust its audio equalizer settings depending on the surroundings. It works by assessing "the acoustics near you." The goal is to provide improved audio quality to Pixel owners, a handy experience especially if your device has a mediocre-sounding speaker.

Seeing as the feature uses your phone's mic, Google makes sure the process occurs on-device to protect your privacy. Audio files will also be removed after they're recorded and Google says it won't store conversations on its servers.

However, there are a few caveats, the most notable of which is that Adaptive Sound can be hardly noticeable at higher volumes. Adaptive Sound is also turned off by default, so you'll have to manually enable it by heading over to your phone's settings and then toggle the "Adaptive Sound" option under the sound section. Click here for our complete guide.

The feature appears to be rolling out as a server-side update, so you may not notice it on your device right away. Nonetheless, it's a welcome expansion after Google limited it to the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G.

Google Pixel 6 Pro Cloudy White Render

Google Pixel 6 Pro

Google went all out for the Pixel 6 Pro, offering a full-fledged flagship phone at an affordable price. Using its own in-house silicon and a slew of AI-powered features, the Pixel 6 Pro rockets to the top of this year's must-buy smartphone list.

Jay Bonggolto
Jay Bonggolto
News Writer & Reviewer

Jay Bonggolto always keeps a nose for news. He has been writing about consumer tech and apps for as long as he can remember, and he has used a variety of Android phones since falling in love with Jelly Bean. Send him a direct message via Twitter or LinkedIn.

6 Comments
  • In what world are these speakers mediocre?
  • In what world are speakers smaller than 3/4 of an inch any good, even for talk?
  • They seem to be working just fine on my Pixel 6. That's what world, Smart guy!🙄
  • In the real world. They definitely are medicore
  • Gets adaptive sound? I had that on my phone since I got it on Nov 4th.
  • If you're comparing the pixel 6 speakers to speakers on other devices then the pixel speakers are just fine. They're on par. The only speakers that are better are the iPhone 13 speakers. The issue is not that the pixel speakers are or are not mediocre. The issue is really that every article that's coming out about the pixel always has to headline some negative comment before it can talk about what's good or it won't talk about what's good at all. It's just annoying and it's tiresome. Adaptive sound in and of itself is a great feature and it works quite well. Why can't the writer of the article just say that rather than preface it with the mediocre speakers that need adaptive sound help? Give me a break. The speakers are just fine. They're better than average, in fact they're above average. By the way, I typed all of this out by just talking to my phone by just talking to my Pixel 6. This new voice transcribe feature is amazing! 🙂