The direct answer
Yes, you can use an Android phone with a HomePod, but not through the Bluetooth menu and not through a built-in Android AirPlay button. The practical approach is a sender app that discovers the HomePod or AirPlay room on your local network.
Bridge Audio is built for that exact situation. Open the app, pick the speaker, grant Android's audio capture permission, and start a limited test stream before paying for unlimited playback.
What you need
Your phone and HomePod must be on the same Wi-Fi. If the HomePod is paired with an Apple TV, you may see more than one target for the same room. Bridge Audio shows receiver details so you can choose the endpoint that actually works in your setup.
You do not need an iPhone, Apple Music subscription or Apple ID inside Bridge Audio. The app streams the audio your Android phone is already playing, as long as Android allows that audio to be captured.
How to test it cleanly
Install Bridge Audio from Google Play, keep the phone on the same Wi-Fi as the HomePod, then tap the speaker name. Start with a normal track, podcast or browser video so you can confirm timing and volume before testing other apps.
The free test exists for this reason. Home networks and AirPlay receivers can differ, so the right purchase flow is: discover speaker, start test stream, verify sound, then unlock full playback.
Known limits
Protected playback can block Android audio capture. If an app refuses capture, Bridge Audio cannot bypass that platform restriction.
HomePod is also sensitive to local network quality. If discovery is unreliable, check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi band, disable guest network isolation, and make sure the HomePod is awake in the Home app.