The upcoming NameDrop alternative for Android has just received a new animation.

      What happened? A few weeks back, we learned that Android is developing its own version of Apple’s NameDrop feature, which allows two phones to exchange contact details by bringing them close together. Recent leaks from Android Authority indicate that the feature now includes an animated interface designed to assist both users during the contact exchange.

      The custom animation appears around the edge of the phones when they are brought together.

      However, the actual contact transfer is not yet functional, which is why no pop-ups occur after the animation.

      Android Authority

      This is significant because iPhone users have had this contact sharing method known as NameDrop, which enables the instant swapping of information by bringing two iPhones close together. This simplicity and convenience appear to be what Android is trying to replicate.

      Android Authority managed to activate the new animation between a POCO F6 and a Pixel using the latest Google Play Services update (v25.49.31 beta).

      Although the code indicates that NFC will be utilized to detect when the phones come into contact, it remains unconfirmed whether NFC will handle the entire transfer or if it will merely serve as a short-range trigger before transferring the task to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

      The feature requires the NFC antennas of both phones to align properly; however, unlike iPhones, which have their antennas located at the top, Android devices place theirs in varying positions. This could complicate the act of tapping two Android phones together in practical use.

      At present, the animation only appears when the phones are tapped together, and no contact card is actually transferred, indicating that Google is still refining this feature and is not yet ready to release it publicly.

      Why should you care? Up until now, sharing contact information on Android often involved scanning a QR code, manually entering a number, or navigating through sharing menus. This NameDrop-style approach would allow for a much smoother exchange of details, particularly in social situations where you would prefer to just tap phones and move on. Google is also exploring new tools to enhance privacy while sharing contact information on Android, indicating that it is re-evaluating the way people exchange information across devices.