Future Android phones running Android 14 and later could work together to make devices easier to find, even when the devices are turned off. Current iPhone 14 and older iPhones dating back to the iPhone 11 can already perform the same function, but Google is baking the feature into an upcoming Android upgrade and hoping for wider support from phone makers.
There are a number of ways a phone can remain findable even when the device is technically powered off. Google’s model, according to tipsters who leaked the news to 91Mobiles, will keep sending power to the phone’s Bluetooth module after you’ve shut down. The Bluetooth feature can broadcast a variety of data to nearby devices, including location data and personal identifiers.
Finding a way to find a phone
Google could presumably also use the UWB feature for location even when the phone is turned off, as it is designed to draw minimal power for battery-enabled tags. The 91Mobiles leak suggests that Google will brand this feature Pixel Power-Off Finder, which is quite a mouthful. Whatever it’s called, it will be nice to have this working.
The best way for phones to be discoverable using Bluetooth is when devices can talk to each other, which is why Google is encouraging phone makers to adopt a power-off Bluetooth module in upcoming devices. The code for this leak was apparently spotted in an early build of Android 14 that is being sent to manufacturers for future development. It’s therefore not clear if any current devices on the market can support this feature, including Google’s own Pixel 7 family.
Both Apple and Samsung offer extended warranty plans (at least in the US) that include accidental theft and loss protection. For the iPhone, at least, you need to make sure the Find My iPhone feature has been turned on, or else your lost iPhone will not qualify for a claim.
The fine print for Samsung’s similar warranty doesn’t seem to have any such requirement, though that will likely change if Samsung and other manufacturers adopt Google’s new power-off plan.
