Phone by Google is testing a mysterious “Adaptive playback” feature (v197)

Around Thursday, October 23, 2025, the v197 update for the “Phone by Google” app, the default phone application primarily for Google Pixel devices, began rolling out.

Upon analyzing the in-app code of the “Phone by Google” app v197 update, I can confirm the inclusion of a mysterious new setting called “Adaptive playback,” which I will introduce here.

<public type="string" name="adaptive_playback_settings_title" id="0x7f140132" />

<string name="adaptive_playback_settings_title">Adaptive playback</string>

Details about this mysterious new “Adaptive playback” setting included in the “Phone by Google” app v197 are unknown, and the setting has not yet appeared on the surface even after the update. Will there be some kind of announcement from Google in the future?

Additionally, the “Phone by Google” app v197 update adds descriptions for “Fast Pair” device scan settings and settings related to the “HFP Client” profile for connecting with hands-free devices like Bluetooth headsets and earphones. This might imply that some changes or enhancements to Bluetooth device connectivity are being introduced.

• “Fast Pair” device scan settings

<public type="string" name="fast_pair_scan_preference_title" id="0x7f1405ae" />
<public type="string" name="fast_pair_scan_summary_title" id="0x7f1405af" />
<public type="string" name="main_switch_title_fast_pair" id="0x7f14081c" />

<string name="fast_pair_scan_preference_title">Scan for devices</string>
<string name="fast_pair_scan_summary_title">Scan for nearby devices that support Fast Pair and link them to your Google Account</string>
<string name="main_switch_title_fast_pair">Fast Pair</string>

• “HFP Client” settings

<public type="string" name="hfp_client_preference_title" id="0x7f140685" />
<public type="string" name="hfp_client_summary_title" id="0x7f140686" />
<public type="string" name="main_switch_title_hfp" id="0x7f14081d" />

<string name="hfp_client_preference_title">HFP Client</string>
<string name="hfp_client_summary_title">Use this device to handle calls from connected Bluetooth devices that support HFP</string>
<string name="main_switch_title_hfp">HFP Client</string>

“Phone by Google” App Link