BMW has announced that the new Digital Key Plus, first introduced to the BMW iX in February 2021, will now be available for smartphones running Android operating systems.

The move means that customers with compatible devices from Samsung or Google can now lock and unlock their BMW or start the engine without getting their phone out of their pocket.

With Digital Key Plus, the car will also react automatically when a user is approaching or walking away from the vehicle, just as it would with a classic vehicle key. This means the vehicle will play the same welcome animation via its lights, and activate the light carpet, if it is appropriately equipped.

BMW's Digital Key Plus is currently compatible with the Samsung Galaxy S23+ / Ultra and Google Pixel 7 Pro smartphones, as well as a few older models with suitable hardware. The Android compatibility is available in Digital Key Plus-capable vehicles produced from November 2022, although remote software upgrades will expand this capability to vehicles before November 2022. The technology further makes use of ultra-wideband technology to minimise the possibility of relay attacks where the radio signal is jammed or intercepted.