If you follow our blog, I do not need to tell you that Google released the first Android 12 series last week (seriously, we posted a lot about it). Although we’re mostly focused on announcing unknown features, we’ll step back today and test one of the officially announced features of the new operating system. One of the coolest sound features in Android 12 is the sound-coupled haptic effect, a feature that effectively promises to vibrate your phone in line with the continuous sound session. Google says it can create more exciting game and sound experiences for developers, and after seeing it in action, we have to agree.
Developer kdrag0n, who recently gave us our first look at Android 12’s background-based theme system, wanted to try out the new audio-linked haptic effect feature, and he set up a quick app to see which Pixel phones support the feature. According to the documentation for the HapticGenerator API, ‘HG’ is an audio-to-processor that generates haptic data based on the audio channels. The generated haptic data is sent along with audio data to the audio HAL, which requires the device to support audio-coupled-haptic playback. “Unfortunately, none of Google’s latest Pixel phones, namely the Pixel 4a 5G or Pixel 5, seem to support HapticGenerator. Google’s 2018 Pixel 3 apparently does not support it either (although we only tested the XL model), but luckily Google’s 2019 Pixel 4 does.
Google’s Pixel 4 supports the audio-linked haptic effect of Android 12. Image Credits: XDA Senior Member cstark27
After the Pixel 4 confirmed it, kdrag0n whipped up another app with the HapticGenerator API. This app generates vibrations based on whatever music is playing on the device, and the result is better than we expected. Here are two videos, both recorded by XDA Senior Member cstark27, that showcase the audio-linked haptic effect:
Daft Punk: Once Again
Daft Punk: Solar Sailer (Remixed by Pretty Lights)
Google has played with audio-linked haptics in the past, but Android 12’s new feature is far more versatile than anything we’ve seen before from the company. With the Pixel 3, Google prepared custom vibration patterns to match every stock ringtone, but of course it is not possible for them to create vibrations for every sound coming from the speakers.
This is why I think the new audio-coupled haptics of Android 12 may be one of the coolest features of the operating system and why it’s a shame that Google’s latest Pixel phones do not support it. Haptic feedback, if done right, can really enhance the smartphone experience. Although I can not see that many people use it for music playback (how many people hold their phone in their hand while playing music?), I can see how it will make games on mobile devices so immersive.