Bluetooth codecs explained: AAC, aptX and LDAC
Short answer
A codec compresses music for Bluetooth. iPhones use AAC, which sounds very good. Android phones can also use aptX (Snapdragon phones) or LDAC (most Android phones) for slightly higher quality, if the headphones support it too. For most people the difference is small.
The common codecs
- SBC: the basic codec every device supports
- AAC: used by Apple devices, very good on iPhone
- aptX and aptX Adaptive: on many Snapdragon Android phones, low latency
- LDAC: Sony's high-bitrate codec, on most Android phones
Does it really matter?
The fit, the tuning and noise cancelling of your headphones affect the sound much more than the codec. Higher-quality codecs mainly help with very good headphones in a quiet room. For calls and video, low latency matters more.
What about lossless?
Real lossless audio over Bluetooth is still rare. Some phones and headphones support aptX Lossless, and some speakers and headphones play lossless over a USB-C cable.
| Phone | Best common codec |
|---|---|
| iPhone | AAC |
| Samsung Galaxy | LDAC, or Samsung Seamless on Galaxy Buds |
| Google Pixel | LDAC, AAC |
| Phones with Snapdragon | aptX Adaptive, LDAC (depends on model) |
Questions and answers
Does the iPhone support LDAC or aptX?
No. iPhones use AAC, which sounds very good with AirPods and most other headphones.
Does LDAC drain the battery faster?
Somewhat. At its highest quality LDAC uses more data and energy, and the connection can drop in busy places.