Google confirms Android Beam won't be available in Android Q

Android Beam was one of the most prominent features when Google released Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich back in 2011. The feature allowed for peer-to-peer file sharing via NFC, but it looks like it won’t be around when Android Q is launched.

The feature isn’t available in the Android Q developer betas, and TechRadar has confirmed with Google representatives that it won’t be coming back. In other words, Android Pie will be the last Android version to offer the sharing feature.

Google does however have a local sharing option in its Files by Google app, using a combination of Bluetooth and local Wi-Fi to enable sharing. This feature, which can reportedly hit speeds of 480Mbps, requires both users to have the app though.

Hopefully Google is baking this sharing technology into Android Q. Otherwise, we’ll need to rely on Bluetooth, Files by Google, or third-party sharing apps if they ditch Android Beam without a native replacement. Several manufacturers have also offered their own local sharing options over the years, such as Samsung’s S-Beam and HUAWEI’s HUAWEI Beam.

What’s your preferred method of peer-to-peer file sharing on Android? Let us know in the comments!

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