Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission.Learn more.
Android Q could deliver better audio thanks to these microphone improvements
June 19, 2025
Thesecond Android Q developer previewis now available, and it delivers several more features and tweaks. One of these additions could be a boon for vloggers, journalists, and consumers in general.
Android Q’s latest preview now brings native support for “directional, zoomable microphones” via a MicrophoneDirection API. This means apps can now specify a direction for the microphones to focus when recording audio.
“For example, when the user is taking a ‘selfie’ video, you can request the front-facing microphone for audio recording (if it exists)…” reads an excerpt of aGoogle blog post. Meanwhile,more Google documentationreveals that developers can optimize audio coming from the back of the phone and external microphones too.
This ability should theoretically result in louder, clearer sound when vlogging, filming an interview, or recording a live gig. This wouldn’t be the first time we see the feature either, asLG smartphoneshave offered a microphone directivity feature for several years now. The LG feature allows you to drag a UI element to adjust directivity towards the front or back of the device.
Furthermore, the MicrophoneDirection API will also offer support for zoomable microphones. This will let smartphone users focus on a specific subject or range when recording audio. Again, this seems very similar to HTC’s flagship phones, which offer anAcoustic FocusorSonic Zoomfeature.
Taken together, it’s clear that Android Q should bring a better audio recording experience to smartphones. But I wouldn’t mind a few more LG features coming to Android phones at large, such as wind filter functionality and gain controls.
What would you like to see in Android Q? Give us your answer in the comments!
NEXT:Android Q now lets you choose your own notification swipe directions
Thank you for being part of our community. Read ourComment Policybefore posting.
