Android’s New Trick: Findable Even When Off

The Google Pixel 8 series, unveiled on October 12, 2023, has been lauded extensively for its ability to support the “Find My Device” feature even in a powered-off state, a function that has garnered widespread acclaim from consumers. Recently, in an interview with Android Authority, Google representatives disclosed their initiatives to extend this functionality to other Android devices.

Google personnel articulated, “We are working with other SOCs and OEMs on how we can bring the capability to find devices with dead batteries to additional premium Android devices.” It has been reported that the mechanism behind this technology involves Google equipping the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro with specialized hardware, thereby enabling the internal components to supply power to the Bluetooth chips even when the devices are powered down or the battery is depleted. Google is thus encouraging OEM manufacturers of other Android smartphones to adopt this technology.

Therefore, should other OEM manufacturers heed Google’s advice or find alternative methods to keep the Bluetooth chips operational in the absence of power, the “Find My Device” feature could potentially be implemented in other Android devices as well. However, at present, most Android devices are incapable of establishing Bluetooth connections when powered off, in contrast to the iPhone series which had already introduced the functionality through a processor named the “Always-on Processor (AOP)” prior to the launch of the Pixel 8 series. Furthermore, Mishaal Rahman, an editor at Android Authority, has noted that this feature might also necessitate a system update to enable Google Play services to transmit precomputed Finder Network keys to the Bluetooth chip.