Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro left out of new AirDrop rollout while cheaper 8a model gets support

At Google I/O 2026, the company displayed a list of phones that would support the new “AirDrop via Quick Share” feature. Unfortunately, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro aren’t in the list.

Strangely enough, the cheapest model in the Pixel 8 family (the Pixel 8a) is compatible with the feature. The Galaxy S24 lineup, which came out just a few months after the Pixel 8 lineup, also supports AirDrop with Quick Share.

The list of compatible devices includes various Samsung and Pixel phones, the OnePlus 15, the Oppo Find series, and more.

Posts on Reddit pointed out how users of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro were being treated unfairly, calling the situation “ridiculous.”

All of the phones have the exact same processor, yet the slightly older models aren’t supported, at least not with the upcoming release.

The most likely explanation for this is that the Pixel 8a came out in 2024, while the other two models were 2023 releases. Google probably used the year of launch as the cutoff, instead of the SOC.

Users are also speculating that the phones might get it via a future OTA update, but this isn’t official information, so I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Some people were so annoyed that they called their current devices their “last Pixel phones,” claiming to switch to alternatives like Samsung.

The usefulness of multiple years of software support is certainly worth questioning, if only newer models get the benefits of the updates. Locking out older models from new features isn’t a good look.

Recently, we covered a story that Google might be prepping the Pixel 8 series for AirDrop support. Turns out, only the Pixel 8a is getting support for that. I’d expect other required files, such as Mosey, to be available eventually, along with the AirDrop extension app.

Fortunately, Google is also adding support for AirDrop via QR Code. You can generate a QR Code on an Android phone and then share it with an iOS device. This would work via the cloud, and more information is available on the official Google I/O 2026 blog.

Additionally, some third-party applications, such as WhatsApp, would also have compatibility with the feature, so if you don’t directly get AirDrop, you can use these alternatives. You can also try file-sharing websites, such as LocalSend.

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