How to enable UWB on Android (and why you should) - ZDNet

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UWB stands for Ultra Wide Band and is utilized arsenic a short-range wireless connection protocol that's utilized to way the determination of objects. UWB works by calculating locations wrong little than fractional an inch by measuring however agelong it takes abbreviated vigor pulses to question betwixt 1 instrumentality and another. UWB was primitively designed arsenic a means to transportation information but its quality to way precise precise positioning has made it rather utile for modern devices.

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One of the astir wide usages of UWB is Apple AirTags but the exertion is gaining steam. Another breathtaking usage of UWB is unlocking cars and astute homes.

Both iOS and Android devices are susceptible of utilizing UWB. However, the database of phones that enactment with UWB is amazingly abbreviated and consists of the pursuing phones:

Apple iPhone 11, 12, 13, and 14
Google Pixel 6 Pro and 7 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Note20, Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Fold 4
Xiaomi MIX4

If you hap to person 1 of the supra phones, you tin usage UWB to unlock your car and bash different nifty things. Of course, not each car works with UWB. For instance, my Mini Cooper is excessively aged and isn't supported. My wife's car, connected the different hand, does work. The bully quality is that UWB is catching connected and you should expect much cars and much devices to enactment the technology. And due to the fact that UWB is truthful close astatine pinpointing locations, you tin beryllium definite it volition find adjacent much usage cases successful the adjacent future.

For example, eventually, cars volition beryllium capable to admit your instrumentality arsenic you get adjacent capable to your telephone and automatically unlock it for you. I would ideate that diagnostic volition enactment a damper connected a batch of thriller movies and TV bid wherever the atrocious feline abducts oregon assaults idiosyncratic struggling to get their car unlocked.

The scope of UWB looks thing similar this:

Range: 30-600 feet (10-200 meters)
Accuracy: 0.1−0.5 m (0.33−1.64 feet)

Not lone does UWB person a bully scope connected it, it's precise accurate.

Although a tiny percent of Android phones enactment UWB, you'll privation to cognize however to alteration it (should your car enactment the feature). Let maine amusement you however it's done.

Requirements

To alteration UWB, you'll request an Android instrumentality that supports the protocol. I'll show this connected my Pixel 7 Pro moving Android 13.

How to alteration UWB connected Android

The archetypal happening to bash is unfastened the Settings app. To bash this, unfastened your app drawer and past find and pat the Settings launcher.

From wrong the Settings app, pat Connected Devices, and past Tap Connection Preferences.

The Connection Preferences listing connected a Pixel 7 Pro with Android 13.

At the bottommost of the Connection Preferences page, you'll spot the UWB entry. Tap the ON/OFF slider until it's successful the ON presumption to alteration the feature.

The UWB toggle power successful Android 13.

At this point, UWB is present enabled. If your car supports the protocol, you should beryllium capable to past acceptable it up to automatically unlock arsenic you travel adjacent the car. One happening to support successful mind, however, is that you astir apt person to instal an app for your car oregon acceptable this diagnostic up done your auto's system. The process for this volition alteration from car to car, truthful marque definite to cheque the manufacturer's instructions connected linking your telephone and car together.

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