Android to finally get fantastic Apple AirDrop alternative

For a long while Apple had something to show off when it came to its media sharing tool AirDrop. The brand had monopoly over its rivals and there hasn’t been a worthy rival for Android handsets. This all has changed if the latest leaks by 9to5Google and XDA Developers are anything to go by. Google is reportedly testing a new Android feature called Fast Share that will allow users to not just wirelessly transfer photos and videos but URL links as well to nearby devices using Bluetooth.

As per screenshots from the two websites, Fast Share gives users the ability to share photos, text, and URLs with nearby devices without the need for an internet connection. What puts it ahead of Apple’s option is that the list of devices that it supports includes iPhones, Chromebooks, and a Google Pixel 3 handset. This shows that Fast Share is a cross-platform tool.

A report by Mashable claims that though the Fast Share Page is visible, it doesn’t appear to be working as of yet. As of now, it’s unclear what Google has planned for this feature.

There have been similar options for Android devices in the past such as Android Beam that made use of NFC to allow users to share files without an internet connection; however, it required you to physically touch two smartphones together. Because of this, it was able to work on only a handful of smartphones. Recently Google announced an AirDrop-like feature with its Files app; however it wasn’t as convenient as Apple’s option as you need to download an app to enable it.

What makes Fast Share an amazing tool is that it is enabled in Android by default. This is similar to Apple’s option and it gives users a way to share data effortlessly.