![01.00 – [Beats App for Android Hero]](https://harrypayne.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/01.00-Beats-App-for-Android-Hero.png "01.00 – [Beats App for Android Hero]")
Beats App for Android
Role
Design Manager
Project Deliverables
Design Strategy
Design Specification
Digital Prototypes
Design System
Year
2017 – 2024
Key Features
Google Assistant integration, One-Touch Pairing, Locate My Beats, Customizable Controls, Noise Control Modes, Battery Status, Firmware Updates, Widgets
Metrics
↳ 10M+ Downloads on the Google Play Store
↳ $2M+ Saved on Apple Support Calls
The Objective
Following Apple’s acquisition of Beats, Beats Bluetooth products were integrated into iOS — giving them access to prox pairing, silent software updates and other setup features. This left 50% of Beats’ user base who used the Android platform without proper support for their products.
The Approach
Our approach to the Beats app for Android was rooted in creating an Android-first experience that feels native to the platform, while staying true to Beats’ expressive, culturally driven brand. We leaned into familiar Android interaction paradigms like gesture navigation, dynamic theming, and fluid motion, ensuring the app felt intuitive from first launch. Performance was treated as a core UX value — optimized for a range of devices, from mid-tier phones to flagships. We embraced platform-exclusive features like Fast Pair and Google Assistant to deepen utility without adding friction.
![01.01 — [Studio Pro] 1170×570](https://harrypayne.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/01.01-—-Studio-Pro-1170x570-2.jpg "01.01 — [Studio Pro] 1170×570")
Challenges
At one point, we built a responsive “connect” notification (similar to Fast Pair today) that relied on displaying content over other apps — until Android policies changed, forcing us to rethink how users connected their product to the app entirely.
![01.07 — [Widgets] 570×570](https://harrypayne.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/01.07-—-Widgets-570x570-1.jpg "01.07 — [Widgets] 570×570")
Results
With 10M+ downloads on the Google Play store, and $2M saved on support calls containing the keyword "connection", the Beats app continues to celebrate Android’s diversity, elevates everyday audio interaction, and delivers the kind of design fluency Android users rarely get from Apple-owned brands.
![01.10 — [Connect Guide] 1170×570](https://harrypayne.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/01.10-—-Connect-Guide-1170x570-1.jpg "01.10 — [Connect Guide] 1170×570")
![01.08 — [Connecting] 570×570](https://harrypayne.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/01.08-—-Connecting-570x570-1.png)
![01.06 — [SW Update] 570×570](https://harrypayne.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/01.06-—-SW-Update-570x570-1.png)
![01.05 — [Find My] 570×570](https://harrypayne.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/01.05-—-Find-My-570x570-1.png "01.05 — [Find My] 570×570")
“I like setting up my headphones with the (brand) app, I get a better connection, and it keeps my headphones running smoothly.”
— Participant 12, New York
