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Unfortunately, once again, Samsung’s premium flagships do not support advanced aptX Bluetooth codecs. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra , S24+, and the S24 do not support the aptX Adaptive and HD codecs. AptX Adaptive is an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that is developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps), which means it can adjust the bit rate for different scenarios, such as listening to HD audio or reducing interference from other devices.
Considering that mid-range smartphones from brands like Nokia, Google Pixel, Motorola, and OnePlus, to mention just a few, have had support for the more advanced Bluetooth aptX Adaptive , aptx HD, aptX Lossless Bluetooth, and Bluetooth LE Audio codecs for some years now, you would expect that the best Samsung phones would support those features.
It is even more expected because Samsung (like Apple) have been quick to throw out the 3.5mm headphone jack, forcing users of their flagship devices to depend on Bluetooth for audio instead. But Samsung conveniently continues to leave out these features, year after year. Samsung S22 and S23 models did not have them, and the S24 models do not either. Not even the S24 Ultra does.
Samsung S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra do not support aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX Lossless Bluetooth, and Bluetooth LE Audio codecs.
- No wired headset; no advanced Bluetooth aptX codecs either
- Apple is guilty too
- How to know if your Samsung phone supports Bluetooth aptX codecs
- Look elsewhere for advanced Bluetooth aptX codecs and others
No wired headset; no advanced Bluetooth aptX codecs either
If a phone brand is leaving out support for wired headphones and earphones, why are they not including support for advanced Bluetooth aptX codecs that deliver the same quality of audio that wired headsets provide? Android OS supports these codecs, and as already pointed out, other smartphone brands have them in their phones. Samsung’s refusal to include these codecs is mind-boggling. What Samsung has been known to support is the older “aptX” classic codec.
Instead, premium flagships by Samsung have been known to support SBC (Sub-Band Codec), AAC (Advanced Audio Codec), aptX, LDAC, and the proprietary Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC) which was introduced with the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in August 2022. This limits the range of high-definition wireless headphones that are supported by the Samsung S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra.
aptX codecs are from Qualcomm. Perhaps the reason why Samsung turns a blind eye to the more advanced aptX codecs is that they want to save costs by avoiding licensing fees. Yes, at the end of the day, the almighty dollar is king and dictates what features make it to your $1000 premium flagship smartphone. Odd though that Nokia is able to include these codes in much more affordable devices to the Samsung S24 series.
Apple is guilty too
Apple is another premium smartphone brand that has ditched support for 3.5mm wired headsets yet does not include support for advanced Bluetooth aptX codecs. None of the iPhone 14 and 15 models have them.
How to know if your Samsung phone supports Bluetooth aptX codecs
To confirm the Bluetooth audio codecs supported by your Samsung phone, you have to enable and look in Developer options. Note that Developer Options is hidden by default (as most mobile users are not developers). to tun it on so you can see it, follow these steps:
- Pair your device with a pair of earbuds or headphones that support any of the aptX codecs.
- Go to “Settings”.
- Tap “About device” or “About phone”.
- Tap “Software information”.
- Tap “Build number” seven times.
- Enter your pattern, PIN or password to enable the Developer options menu.
- The “Developer options” menu will now appear in your Settings menu.
Now, go back to Settings; Developer Options will be the last item at the bottom of the screen. To check the list of supported Bluetooth codecs supported on your Samsung, go to Settings > Developer Options > Bluetooth Audio Codec. The list will be displayed. Any item that is greyed out is not supported by phone or headset.
Look elsewhere for advanced Bluetooth aptX codecs and others
In contrast, I have reviewed the Nokia G60 5G that costs less than half the Samsung S24 and that budget smartphone supports both aptX HD and aptX Adaptive. The Samsung S24 does not support these advanced Bluetooth aptX codecs; only the classic aptX, along with SBC, AAC, LDAC, and SSC.
If you are looking for a smartphone that supports aptX HD, aptx Adaptive, aptX Lossless Bluetooth, or Bluetooth LE Audio, look elsewhere; the Samsung Galaxy S24 phones are not for you. Look at mid-range and high-end models from Nokia, Google Pixel, Motorola, Sony, OnePlus, and ASUS.
Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
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“Does the Galaxy S24 Ultra have IR blaster?” is a question I have been asked a few times. Infra-red ports are no longer the rave they used to be years ago on mobile phones, but some manufacturers still use them. And some Samsung fans are bitter about it.
Back in the day, the most advanced mobile phones would have an infra-red port. It was used for data transfer, including internet sharing. Yes; those were the days before Wi-Fi became a thing. To share your phone’s internet, you used an old-school data cable or infra-red.
With the presence of Wi-Fi, the need and demand for infra-red blasters diminished. In recent years, Xiaomi has put an IR blaster in many of its phones. This time, these ports enable the phones to be used as TV controllers. Yes; mobile phones have taken over the roles of everything else; why not add TV controller to it?
It also enables the ability to control the DVD player, air conditioner, and some other household appliances. But a more accurate version of Face ID uses infra-red and, so, we are seeing an upsurge of IR ports in smartphones. So, perhaps, a new IR revolution may yet happen based on this.
I have owned or reviewed a number of phones with an infra-red blaster and enjoyed using the feature. However, I cannot say that I have missed it in all the other phones I have used that did not have it. It has never felt like an essential to me.
- Does Samsung S24 Ultra Have IR Blaster?
- Does Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24+ Have IR Blaster?
- The Last Samsung Phones With IR Blaster
- Your Best Options For Phones With IR Blaster
- Deal-breaker?
Does Samsung S24 Ultra Have IR Blaster?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra was announced in January 2024, and it does not have the feature. Some people think that the phone would be even better if it has one. Unfortunately, it does not. Fans were disappointed that recent Galaxy flagship phones like the S23 Ultra did not have an IR blaster, either. Same thing goes for Galaxy S24 Ultra: it does not have one as well.
Does Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24+ Have IR Blaster?
Samsung S24 and S24+ do not have an IR blaster, as well.
And some Samsung fans are bitter about this omission. Some have based their phone buying decision on this factor and moved on to other smartphone brands. Here is an example of one of such conversations on Samsung’s own community website.
There are scores of other online platforms where fans are griping about the matter. But I doubt that the answer to the simple question, “Does S24 Ultra have IR blaster” will have any impact on Samsung’s sales in any way. Maybe all of 100 people will refuse to buy it for that reason.
The Last Samsung Phones With IR Blaster
The last Samsung models that had an IR blaster were the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy Note 4. Since then, Samsung has ignored infra-red. And it does not look like the S10 range of phones will have this feature.
Your Best Options For Phones With IR Blaster
If you want a smartphone with an infra-red blaster, your best options are in the direction of Xiaomi and Huawei. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and other models in the Note 13 range are extremely popular with young people and both have IR blaster built in. Others include Xiaomi 14 series. Huawei has a number of models with an IR blaster. These include P20 Pro, Mate 10 Pro, and Honor View 10, among others.
Gionee produced a few smartphone models with infra-red blaster. It is unfortunate that the company has declared bankruptcy. Some of their phones are still available in the market though. I have reviewed a few LG smartphones and enjoyed using their IR blaster to control the TV. But it looks like LG might be dropping the feature too.
Deal-breaker?
There is a vocal enough community of smartphone enthusiasts who are put off by the S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra not having an Infra-red blaster. I am not sure that it is a large enough community to make a big dent in the fortunes of these products. But then, I have not conducted any scientific survey to arrive at that conclusion. Still, including an infra-red port cannot cost much if Xiaomi is putting it in their budget phones.
Who knows, part of why Xiaomi and Huawei devices are selling so well (besides pricing) might be that those brands are now on the heels of Samsung? What are the chances that having an IR blaster in key models could be a factor? After all, so many people around the world watch TV, play videos and play music on infra-red controlled home systems.
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Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
