Support for aptX in Xiaomi smartphones: list and setup

The quality of wireless sound has long ceased to be a secondary characteristic for owners of Xiaomi and Redmi. TWS-headphones or Bluetooth headsets, support for advanced codecs such as aptX or aptX HD, It becomes a critical factor when choosing a new device. SBC, The default one on all phones is often unable to convey the depth and detail of a musical composition, especially if you have expensive acoustics.

Xiaomi in its flagship and mid-budget models is actively implementing chipsets Qualcomm Snapdragon, which historically is a platform for implementing aptX technologies. However, not all devices, even with powerful hardware, have activated support for these codecs at the level of the software shell MIUI or HyperOS. In this material, we will analyze which models support high bitrates, how to check the current codec and whether it is possible to activate hidden functions to improve sound.

It is important to understand that to work aptX HD or aptX Adaptive requires not only a support smartphone, but also compatible headphones. If one of the devices does not have the appropriate certificate, the system will automatically switch to the basic SBC or AAC, which will significantly reduce the quality of audio streaming. Below we will discuss the technical side of the issue and provide current lists of devices.

Qualcomm aptX technologies and their differences

Before we get to specific phone models, we need to understand the terminology. aptX is a family of proprietary audio codecs developed by CSR (later acquired by Qualcomm). They allow you to transfer audio with less loss and less latency compared to the standard SBC. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, there are three main variations of this technology, each of which has its own features and requirements for hardware.

The basic version of aptX provides a bitrate of up to 352 kbit/s at 16-bit sound. This is already a noticeable step forward compared to AAC, especially in high-dynamic genres such as rock or electronic music. However, for audiophiles who own Hi-Res headphones, the more interesting version is aptX HD. This codec is capable of transmitting 24-bit sound at a bitrate of up to 576 kbit/s, which allows you to save the microparts and airiness of recordings that are usually compressed and lost in standard transmission.

The most modern version is aptX Adaptive. It's a smart codec that dynamically changes bitrate depending on the signal reception conditions and the type of content. If you watch a video, it minimizes latency if you listen to music in a quiet environment - maximizes quality. Xiaomi smartphones with Snapdragon 865 processors and later are most often equipped with this module, providing the best user experience without the need for manual tuning.

⚠️ Note: Snapdragon does not guarantee software-level support for aptX. In some regional firmware (e.g. China), codecs may be cropped or require additional activation via the engineering menu.

Also worth mentioning is Sony's LDAC codec, which often comes bundled with aptX in Xiaomi flagships.It provides an even higher bitrate (up to 990 kbps), but requires a very stable signal.If the distance between the phone and the headphones increases, the system will forcefully switch to aptX or AAC to avoid interruptions.

Full list of Xiaomi smartphones with support for aptX and aptX HD

You can tell if your particular device supports high codecs by using the model of the installed processor and the series of devices. Generally, all the flagship Mi (now Xiaomi Number Series) and Mix lineups built on the basis of Qualcomm chips are fully supported. MediaTek (Helio, Dimensity) devices can also support aptX, but the implementation depends on the specific chip manufacturer and the license that Xiaomi received for this model.

Below is a table with the most popular models, where the stable operation of advanced codecs is confirmed. Note that in the budget segment (Redmi Note, Poco M), support is often limited to the basic aptX or not at all, giving way to AAC.

The Black Shark series, a subsidiary brand closely linked to Xiaomi’s ecosystem, features hardware-based support for aptX Low Latency to minimize game delays. If you’re a gamer looking for a wireless solution, the Black Shark 4/5 will be a great choice thanks to its streamlined soundtrack.

Owners of devices released before 2018 (e.g. Mi 6, Redmi Note 4) are likely limited to an SBC or AAC codec. Although the chipset could technically support aptX, the manufacturer could not pay for the license or add the necessary drivers to the firmware.

How to check the active codec on Xiaomi

Many users don't even know what mode their sound is in right now. The standard MIUI settings menu often hides this information by showing simply "Connected." To access the technical data, we'll need a developer menu. It's a secure procedure that doesn't require superuser rights (Root), but requires careful attention when changing settings.

To start, you need to activate hidden mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and find the MIUI Version (or OS Version) bar. Click on it quickly 7-10 times in a row until the notification “You became a developer” appears. Then a new Developer Item will appear in the main settings menu, in the “Additional” section.

Inside the developer menu, scroll down to the Web or Bluetooth section. We're interested in the Bluetooth Codec. When you click on it, you'll see a list of available codecs. If you have aptX, aptX HD or LDAC on the list, your smartphone supports them. If you have SBC selected, but there are other options on the list, you can forcefully switch to them.

An important nuance to note is that if only SBC and AAC are displayed in the list of available codecs, this means that either your smartphone does not physically support other formats, or the drivers are not loaded. In the latter case (rarely, but it happens on custom firmware), stockware reflashing can help.

⚠️ Attention: Forced inclusion of aptX HD On a device that does not have enough processing power or antenna, it can cause permanent connection breaks and audio artifacts. If the music stutters, return the settings to System Selection mode».

Activation of hidden codecs through the engineering menu

In some cases, especially on the global firmware of Chinese versions of smartphones, support for aptX can be software blocked despite the availability of hardware. For enthusiasts, there is a way to check and activate these features through Qualcomm’s engineering menu.

To enter the engineering menu, a special code is used in the Phone app. Enter the combination ##3646633##. If the code does not work, you may need the Mobile Uncle Tools app (available on the Play Market), which has an Engineer Mode login button. Inside the interface, go to the Hardware Testing → Audio → Audio Debug tab.

You can find Bluetooth Audio settings here. However, be very careful: changing the settings in this menu can lead to the complete disappearance of sound in the system. Before any manipulation, you should back up the current settings (if such a feature is available in your version of the menu) or remember the original values of the parameters.

A safer way to activate is to use Root-enabled terminal applications, such as Bluetooth Codec Changer, which allow you to switch an active codec without deep interference with system files, running on top of the standard Android interface.

Sound problems and their solution

Even with full aptX support, users can experience problems such as quiet sound, cracking, video desynchronization, or spontaneous switching to low quality. Most often, the problem is not with the smartphone, but with interference or energy saving settings. MIUI is known for its aggressive optimization that can “strangle” the background processes of Bluetooth.

The first thing to do is to eliminate interference. Wi-Fi (especially at 2.4 GHz) and Bluetooth are in the same band. If you're listening to high-bitrate music, try switching your router to 5 GHz or moving away from the Wi-Fi signal source. Also check if the phone is wearing a thick case with metal elements that can shield the antenna.

The second step is to set up energy saving. Go to Settings → Battery → Problem Search (or similar section in your OS version). Make sure that there is no background limit for Bluetooth system services. Network settings sometimes help reset: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth.

If the problem only manifests itself in specific applications (for example, YouTube or Spotify), check their quality settings. In Spotify, select “Very High” in Settings → Audio Quality and turn on the “Wi-Fi Playback” switch (although this is about cache, but it affects buffering). For YouTube Premium, the sound quality also depends on the quality of the video stream.

Quality Comparison: Is Sheepskin Worth Dressing?

Many users are wondering: is it really true that you hear the difference between AAC and aptX HD on a mobile device? The answer depends on the class of your headphones and your hearing. On budget “plugs” for 1000 rubles, you will not hear the difference exactly, since their speakers are physically unable to reproduce the frequency range and that gives high-bitret codec.

A noticeable difference appears on headphones class Hi-Res (usually costing from 5-7 thousand rubles and above). In genres with a complex instrumental structure (jazz, classics, progressive rock) codec aptX HD or LDAC allows you to hear the "air" between instruments, clearer attack and attenuation of notes. Bass becomes more collected, and high frequencies stop "cutting" the ear, becoming softer and more detailed.

Also, latency is a critical parameter in games and video. AptX is a regular latency of about 150-200 ms, which can already be noticeable when shooting shooters. aptX Low Latency and Adaptive reduce this figure to 40-80 ms, making the sound almost synchronous with the picture. For gamers on Xiaomi, this is the only way to play comfortably without wires.

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