Auracast Explained

April 14, 2026 Kieran Gunessee

Auracast explained: What is it, how does it work, and why does it matter?

Auracast is a new technology created by Bluetooth® (the same people behind the Bluetooth you know and use). While standard Bluetooth is a one-to-one connection, for example a phone to earbuds, Auracast allows a single device to broadcast audio to an unlimited number of nearby listeners at the same time.

Think of it like a radio station - anyone in range with compatible earbuds, headphones, or hearing aids can simply tune in with no pairing needed.

How does Auracast work?

How it works is very simple and can be explained in three steps:

Step 1

The transmitter broadcasts the audio signal.

A TV, PA system, phone, or Auracast transmitter starts an Auracast broadcast, essentially advertising its audio to anything nearby.

Step 2

Your phone finds it.

Your phone scans for nearby broadcasts and shows you a list to choose from, just like picking a Wi-Fi network.

Step 3

Your ears receive it.

Once you select a broadcast, the audio flows directly to your earbuds or hearing aids. Crystal clear, with no connection delay.

You can also join a broadcast by scanning a QR code (like at the entrance to a theatre for example), or in the future, simply tapping an NFC point - like tapping to pay with your phone.

The broadcast range reaches up to 100 metres for mains-powered transmitters in public venues, compared to the roughly 10-metre personal range of traditional Bluetooth.

Who is it for?

The short answer: pretty much everyone. But it can be broken down into two main areas.

1. People with hearing loss

This is where Auracast has the potential to be truly life-changing. For decades, the main solution for hearing aid users in public spaces has been the induction loop, and while loops have helped millions of people, they come with some serious limitations that Auracast addresses head-on.

The goal of Auracast is to replace hearing loops entirely and become the new global standard for listening devices. This process has already started, and an international standard for Auracast venue installations is expected by late 2027.

We are currently in a transition period where Auracast and hearing loops will run side by side. Older hearing aids won't have Auracast built in, but most modern ones do, so while loops aren't going anywhere just yet, it's only a matter of time before Auracast becomes the global standard - just like how WiFi works the same no matter where you are in the world.

2. Everyone else

You don't need a hearing aid to benefit. Anyone with compatible earbuds or headphones can use Auracast. Some real world examples are:

Silent TVs

Airports, gyms, and waiting rooms can broadcast the audio from their muted screens directly to your earbuds.

Tours & guides

Museums and tourist attractions can let visitors follow a guide's commentary straight into their own earphones.

Multi-language support

Conferences can broadcast live translations simultaneously, so attendees pick their preferred language.

Audio sharing

Send audio from your phone or Auracast device to others within range, without the hassle and setup of apps and WiFi.

More Auracast compatible devices are being released all the time, such as the Lithe Audio LBT8 Speaker.

The most common label depicting an assisted hearing device.

Auracast vs. the hearing loop: what's the difference?

If you've ever seen the blue ear symbol on a sign in a public venue, you've encountered an induction loop (sometimes called a hearing loop). It's a technology that's been around since the 1930s, but it's age is starting to show.

Below are some of the problems involved with a hearing loop system, and how Auracast fixes them.

Installation is a major undertaking.

Hearing loop:

Installing a hearing loop means physically running a wire around the entire listening area, which usually means cutting into floors, lifting carpet, or routing cable behind walls. For new buildings this can be planned in advance, but retrofitting an existing venue often requires significant building work.

Auracast:

An Auracast transmitter is a small device that plugs directly into an existing audio system. There's no building work, & and no cutting into floors. Several early venue deployments have reported being fully up and running in under an hour.
If the room changes, so does the hearing loop.

Hearing loop:

A loop is a fixed physical installation. It defines a specific coverage zone and that zone can't easily be changed later. If the layout of the room or listening area changes, the loop will need to be adjusted too.

Auracast:

Because there's no cable embedded in the structure, coverage is entirely flexible. Transmitters can be repositioned, added to cover a new area, or removed, with no disruption to the building whatsoever.
Sound can bleed into adjacent rooms.

Hearing loop:

Because a hearing loop works by generating a magnetic field, that field doesn't stop neatly at the room's boundary, it can leak through walls into adjacent spaces. In a venue with multiple screens, for example, one screen's audio can bleed into the neighbouring area.

Auracast:

Auracast broadcasts can be configured to cover a defined area, and only people who have selected a specific broadcast will hear it. Where privacy is important such as a confidential meeting room or a cinema screen, broadcasts can even be password protected so only authorised devices can tune in.
One room, one audio stream.

Hearing loop:

A hearing loop can only carry one audio signal at a time. There's no option to offer different language tracks, an audio description feed, or any other simultaneous content. Everyone in the loop hears the same thing.

Auracast:

A single Auracast transmitter can broadcast several streams at once. A conference could offer the main audio alongside live translations in multiple languages. A theatre could run a standard feed and a separate audio description track, all from the same device, simultaneously.
You need hearing aids (and the right type).

Hearing loop:

Loops only work for people whose hearing aids have a telecoil fitted. Not all hearing aids include one, and standard earbuds or headphones can't receive a loop signal at all. That means loops serve a subset of people with hearing loss, but not the broader public.

Auracast:

Auracast works with a broad range of devices such as modern hearing aids, cochlear implants, and everyday wireless earbuds or headphones. It's accessible to people at all levels of hearing, making it useful far beyond the traditional assistive listening audience.

Is Auracast available now?

Yes, Auracast is actively being used right now, however, it is a very new technology only released a few years ago. 2025 marked a major turning point, with a surge of compatible devices hitting the market and venues around the world beginning to install the technology, such as the Sydney Opera House, St Paul's Cathedral & Frankfurt Airport.

Compatible hearing aids are already available from brands including ReSound, Jabra, Signia, and Oticon. On the consumer side, Samsung Galaxy earbuds and Sennheiser headphones support it, and LG and Samsung are including Auracast in their 2026 TV ranges. Android 16 has built-in native support, making it seamless for most Android users.

One thing to note regarding iPhones

As of early 2026, Apple has not enabled Auracast on any of its devices, including the iPhone 17, which technically has the Bluetooth hardware capable of supporting it. iOS 26 also launched without it. The good news is that iPhone users with Auracast-enabled hearing aids can still access broadcasts using their hearing aid manufacturer's own app as a workaround.

Summary

Auracast is one of those rare technologies that manages to be both useful for everyday people and important for accessibility. The idea that someone with hearing aids can walk into a cinema, theatre, or airport and immediately receive clear audio directly in their ears without asking for help or carrying special equipment is a meaningful improvement.

And for everyone else, being able to finally hear that gym TV, follow a museum tour properly, or listen to a conference in your own language without headaches, is a great step forward.