Lack of APTx Adaptive Support on S24 Ultra

[SzymonSebMalecki]

Can someone explain to me why Snapdragon Powered S24 Ultra with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU still doesn't support APTx Adaptive? Every single time my phone receives a new update, I keep checking if I can finally see it (I owned Bose QuietComfort Ultras for a couple of months they just received 1.6.7 update today no change whatsoever). The best I can do on my brand new flagship phone is AAC!! Why?? One of primary reasons why I upgraded from S22 Ultra with Exynos 2200 series for the latest Snapdragon CPU, hoping that I can finally use my BT5.3 QuietComfort Ultras without having to use my Creative BT-5 APTX-Adaptive dongle which seems to be the only way for me. I can't see a single reason why there is no support added for Snapdragon Variants if it's a software thing. Do you really want people rooting their few weeks old phones for this or trying to install it from dodgy websites? You can really fix it with a single update or Beta Labs functionality for people eager to try it Samsung!! I had the phone since day one, and it was by far the biggest dissapppointments of starting to use my new Ultra phone this year. This is a link to Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SOC Product Specification: https://www.qualcomm.com/products/mobile/snapdragon/smartphones/snapdragon-8-series-mobile-platforms... can someone from Samsung Software team explain it to us customers? It's a listed Codec in Snapdragon product brief. I kept leaving messages on Your Facebook ADs in the UK multiple times asking. I even tried asking that at the Samsung Experience Store whilst awaiting the delivery of my brand new phone, and your employees clearly keep it a secret. I think that more Tech youtubers should start discussing this and spread the awareness.

[slaav]

Yes, this is a real drawback of this phone. The real scandal is that you can't really learn about it from any specifications. What's even worse, there is no review mentioning the lack of such features. You are buying a flagship assuming all those codecs are something obvious. The S24U is my first Samsung since the original Galaxy. I think it will unfortunately be my last.

[sebio]

I've bought xiomi 13t for my wife today for 500$. There is every codecs you want, aptx adaptive no problem. Shame on you samsung. This is my last device from you.

[SzymonSebMalecki]

I just found out Googling that there already seems to be some sort of petition on change.org: https://www.change.org/p/samsung-aptx-bluetooth-audio-codecs-on-samsung-galaxy-s-devices we are not only ones who are not happy about not having access to all the latest Audio Codecs on our flagship phones. Let's sign it and show our support against this.

[Obsydian]

Out of interest what streaming services are you using or ripped content and what quality and bitrate?

[SzymonSebMalecki]

I have been using Tidal for the past couple of years. I can confirm that the phone has support for 24bit Lossless Flac with 24bit 48khz up to 98khz, but it's beside the point if we end up getting stucked between SBC or AAC which are both Lossy Codecs. Not to mention that there is support for LDAC -> Good for users of premium Sony headphones, but no support for LHDC. The same is true for support for the old version of APTx (not even APTx or APTx Adaptive). Most of the latest headphones with APTx support are not backwards compatible with APTx HD or even older APTx that is there. So most people with the latest premium APTx Adaptive earbuds or headphones can only take advantage of Lossy Audio Codecs through FLAC, which is Lossless. It's totally besides the point of phone calling itself flagship if it can't provide what Chinese brands like Xiaomi or more known Japanese Sony or newly founded Nothing phone or RedMagic or Asus ROG Gaming ones which is on similar level in terms of specs and pricing offer to us out of the box. I'm not even surprised that a lot of people support this argument, and prior to me posting, there were other people making posts about the Codec limitations on S Series.

[Obsydian]

Unless your using USB Audio Player Pro a USB DAC and decent IEM, it's not worth it.

[Obsydian]

I had subs for a few years with Tidal Hifi Plus and Qobuz Sublime and Albums ripped from my Music server as WAV.

I have golden ears and could not tell the difference.

[SzymonSebMalecki]

Okay, but we are talking about Lossless audio streaming over Gen 5 Bluetooth, which has been on the rise ever since Sony introduced LDAC, and Qualcomm started the new audio streaming revolution with APTx range of codecs. I see your point, but not having a headphone jack on our phones with more and more people getting used to using BT for audio streaming with all sorts of streaming services adapting to changing market trends does mean there are more expectations of being able to access all the latest audio Streaming Codecs. Therefore, a rise of new audio standards encourages this, and it starts to be one of the things people start to look more often on their premium flagship phones. S-series Smarphones shouldn't be an exception. There are already over 200 variants of smartphones listed on Qualcomm's website which support APTx Adaptive, it doesn't take more than couple of minutes to realise it and the list can be filtered by the phone manufacturer. It is becoming a new standard, and a lot of people want it, not to feel disadvantaged.

[Obsydian]

I know, sorry not trying to off topic, just saying BT Headphones and Mobiles are never going to be Audiophile quality.

As an example I used to use and still have an Audioquest Cobalt USB DAC, USB Audio Player Pro APP and Sony IEM, doing a full MQA unfold (mute point as MQA is dead now).

Back to back vs Qobuz APP into Buds2 Pro was slightly worse, but the convenience and functionality superior.

I to await AptX and tweak the developer settings to the max (I could with my Sony XM4 sporting LDAC, but for sure it will be marginal at best.

To pay £1800 and just get SBC is a poor show.

[Obsydian]

The old ripped HiRes albums left on my mobile, as mentioned yes better but needs a USB DAC and wired quality IEMs to benefit.