Apple AirDrop may come to Xiaomi phones

Surprisingly, the European Union is pushing Apple to allow some proprietary iOS features-including AirDrop-to function with Android devices. It means Xiaomi and other Android users could get seamless file-sharing capabilities much like the Apple ecosystem.

EU’s Interoperability Mandate

The EU has been pressing Apple to comply with new rules that would offer better “effective interoperability” between systems. A new document from the European Commission details several major changes that may be in store for iOS. Those include:

Opening Up AirDrop: Currently locked on iOS and macOS, AirDrop could soon extend its functionality to Android, including Xiaomi. The EU wants Apple to give out the protocol specification to outside developers so they can add AirDrop functionality to a device or platform.
Extending AirPlay: While today some TVs and several other non-Apple devices were already supporting AirPlay, the EU wants Apple to permit third-party devices to become AirPlay senders.

How this Affects Xiaomi Users

If Apple complies, Xiaomi devices running Android could potentially gain:

Native File Sharing: Seamless transfer of files between iOS and Xiaomi devices, similar to AirDrop, without relying on third-party applications.
Better Integration with Smart Devices: Better integration to seamlessly stream media across ecosystems using AirPlay.
An Even More Integrated Experience: One could communicate with friends or colleagues using an Apple device even more smoothly while on a Xiaomi.

Apple’s Concerns

In recent months, Apple has raised various red flags over privacy and security, especially when it relates to data shared between iPhones using AirDrop or streamed via AirPlay. This is counterbalanced by responses to the EU in which Apple says that this type of opening of those features to third-party providers-which would include Meta-increases the risk for potential misuse and the circumvention of privacy.

What’s Next?

The EU will take comments on the proposal until January 9, 2025. As Apple did not adapt to those changes, penalties for such failures may become gigantic. For the Xiaomi user in the end, this can be a development that places Apple and Android users a step closer toward interaction that is easier, and consequently, more effectively delivered. Stay tuned, as this could revolutionize how Xiaomi and iOS devices communicate!