BMW drivers can start unlocking their cars with Android phones

Last year BMW debuted Digital Key Plus for the iPhone, a feature that gives BMW drivers the ability to lock and unlock their car and remotely start it from their iPhone or Apple Watch. When it launched, there was a promise of bringing it to Android phones, and today that promise became a reality for some devices.

The technology uses ultra-wideband technology (UWB) to enable secure communication between the phone and the car. Today’s update brings the feature to select Samsung and Google Pixel devices running Android 13 or later with support for ultra-wideband. Specifically, the feature will work on the Galaxy S23+, S23 Ultra, S22+, S22 Ultra, S21+, S21 Ultra, Z Fold 4, Z Fold 3, Note 20 Ultra (in markets with Samsung Wallet), and Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro.

Beyond phone limitations, it also only works on vehicles produced in November 2022 and beyond, with a future software update scheduled to bring compatibility to some older models.