The use of wireless headphones from Apple on smartphones with the Android operating system has long ceased to be a rarity. Device owners Honor often purchase more affordable analogues, such as Chinese copies of AirPods, to enjoy wireless sound without overpaying for the brand. However, the initial setup process may differ from connecting to an iPhone, raising questions among users.
The main difficulty is that pairing protocol budget replicas may behave differently than original products. Honor smartphones running EMUI or MagicOS have their own features for managing Bluetooth devices that require a careful approach. In this material, we will analyze all the nuances of a successful connection.
You should not expect the full functionality available in the Apple ecosystem, but the basic functions of audio playback and call management will work reliably. The correct sequence of actions will help you avoid common mistakes and save time. Next, we will consider a step-by-step algorithm of actions.
Preparing headphones and smartphone for pairing
Before starting the procedure, make sure that both devices are ready for use. Charge the non-original case AirPods and your phone Honor to a level of at least 50-60%. This will eliminate situations where the device suddenly turns off while updating drivers or setting up profiles.
You must activate the Bluetooth module on your smartphone. To do this, lower the notification shade and click on the corresponding icon or go to the menu Settings → Bluetooth. Make sure that the slider is activated and the phone has started searching for available devices around.
⚠️ Attention: If you have previously tried to connect these headphones to other devices, it is better to reset the case. This will clear the headset memory of old profiles and prevent conflicts when connecting to Honor.
It is important to keep the headphones in close proximity to the phone. The optimal distance for the first pairing is no more than 10-15 centimeters. The presence of other active Bluetooth devices nearby can create interference, so it is recommended to turn off wireless mice or keyboards during setup.
Activating pairing mode on the replica AirPods
The most critical stage is switching the headset to visibility mode. Unlike the originals, where the indication may be more obvious, on non-original models the behavior of the LED indicator is often non-standard. Remove both headphones from the charging case.
There is a control button on the back or inside of the case (between the headphone compartments). You need to press and hold it for 3-5 seconds. The indicator should start flashing white or green, which signals the transition to mode Pairing Mode.
If the indicator does not light up, try first removing the headphones, then pressing the button. On some Chinese models, the button responds only to a short press and not to holding.
In some replica models, the pairing mode is activated automatically immediately after removing the headphones from the case, if they were not previously paired with the phone. If the indicator lights up steadily or flashes red quickly, it means that the detection mode is not active, and the procedure with the button must be repeated.
Connection process through Honor settings
After activating the visibility mode on the headset, refer to the smartphone screen Honor. Your model name should appear in the list of available devices. It may appear as "AirPods","i12 TWS","SuperPods" or another name depending on the manufacturer of the copy.
Click on the device name in the list. The system may ask you to confirm pairing. At this moment, encryption keys are exchanged and basic profiles are installed A2DP and HFP. The process takes from 5 to 15 seconds.
☑️ Connection checklist
If the connection is successful, the headphone icon will appear in the status bar, and the voice assistant can report the connection. In the Bluetooth settings, the device will receive the "Connected" status for both profiles: media audio and phone calls.
Setting up audio and microphone profiles
After a successful connection, it is important to check which profiles are activated. Go to the Bluetooth settings, click on the gear or arrow next to the name of your AirPods. Make sure that the "Media" and "Call" switches are active.
On non-original models, a problem is often encountered when music plays, but the microphone does not work, or vice versa. To fix this, some versions of Android Honor require you to manually select the audio output device in the volume mixer. Press the volume buttons and select the headphone icon.
| Option | Apple originals | Chinese replicas |
|---|---|---|
| Audio codec | AAC, SBC | SBC (most often) |
| Charge indication | Accurate (%) | Approximate |
| Sound delay | Minimal | Possible desynchronization |
| Auto-pause | Yes (sensors) | Rarely (depending on the model) |
It is worth noting that SBC codec, used by most budget copies, provides acceptable quality, but may be inferior in detailing of high frequencies. For calls this is not critical, but audiophiles may notice the difference when listening to complex songs.
Solution: if Honor does not see the headphones
Sometimes the smartphone Honor simply does not detect the headset, despite all efforts. First of all, try to forget the device in the Bluetooth settings, if it is there, and restart the phone. This resets the system's Bluetooth stack cache.
The second step is a complete reset of the headphones themselves. This is usually done by holding the button on the case for a long time (10-15 seconds) until the indicator flashes red or orange several times. After that, repeat the pairing procedure again.
Secret method for older versions of Android
On some versions of EMUI, clearing Bluetooth application data helps. Go to Settings → Applications → Show system processes → Bluetooth → Storage → Clear data. After this, the phone needs to be restarted.
Also make sure that the headphones are not automatically connected to another phone that is nearby. Replicas often try to reestablish connection with the last known device, ignoring new pairing requests.
Features of touch controls
Touch controls on non-original AirPods are often configured by default and may not match the original gestures. Typically, one tap is responsible for pausing, a double tap is for switching tracks, and a triple tap is for going back. To change these settings on Android, you will need third-party applications.
Utilities like AndPods or Material Pods, which allow you to emulate a pop-up window and customize gestures. However, support for specific Chinese models in these applications is not guaranteed and depends on the chip installed in the headphones.
⚠️ Attention: Settings interfaces and menu item names may differ depending on the version of the MagicOS or EMUI shell on your Honor. If you do not find the option, use the search in settings.
Often users encounter a situation where the volume on the headphones is not synchronized with the volume of the phone. In this case, enabling the "Absolute volume" option in the developer menu helps, but this requires caution.
Optimizing power consumption and stability
Honor's power saving systems can aggressively shut down background processes, which sometimes leads to a loss of connection with the headphones. To avoid this, find in the settings the application through which you listen to music and allow it to run in the background.
It is also worth disabling battery saving for Bluetooth services, if such an option is available in your firmware version. This will ensure a more stable connection without jerks and stuttering sound when the screen is unlocked.
The stability of non-original headphones depends 80% on the quality of the Bluetooth module in the smartphone and the distance to the signal source.
Regular cleaning of the contacts on the headphones themselves and in the case with an alcohol wipe will help avoid charging problems that indirectly affect operation of the Bluetooth antenna due to low battery charge.
Use of third-party software to expand functions
For Android owners who want to gain more control over their gadgets, there are specialized applications. They allow you to see the actual battery charge of each earphone separately, which the standard Honor interface does not always show correctly.
Applications like Assistant Trigger can add features that are not present out of the box, for example, automatically playing music when you remove the headphones from the case. This makes the device feel more premium.
However, it is worth remembering that installing third-party software requires access to a number of permissions, including geolocation and phone access. Weigh the risks before installing unknown utilities from unverified sources.
Why do headphones quickly discharge on Honor?
This may be due to incorrect operation of the proximity sensors in the replicas or constant search for the network if the connection is unstable. Also check if the maximum volume is constantly on.
Is it possible to update the firmware of Chinese AirPods via Android?
In 99% of cases, no. The official update is only available through iOS devices. Attempts to flash them through Android may result in the headset being completely inoperable.
Does Siri or Google Assistant work?
Google Assistant usually works with a triple tap (if reassigned), but calling Siri on non-originals is often impossible, since they do not have access to Apple servers to activate the voice assistant.
How to reset headphones to factory settings?
Place the headphones in the case, open the lid and hold the button on the back panel for about 15-20 seconds until the indicator flashes amber (orange) several times.