The new Google Pixel Buds may seem like a workout from Samsung and Apple, but they actually bring something new to the table: the Google Assistant that is always listening.
This may seem like a small feature, but so far Android devices haven’t had a complete solution similar to Apple AirPods. Sure, there were some pretty amazing real wireless headphones like Sony WF-1000XM3 that cater to this crowd, but it’s still totally and completely out of sync with your Android device.
The new Google Pixel Buds are. Not only do they sync with your Pixel phone when you open the nearby state in the same way that AirPods sync with iOS devices, but if you enable the Google Assistant, you’ll be able to talk to it at any time saying word alert, again , like AirPods.
But unlike its competitors competing with Cupertino, Google’s Buds offers live language translation as long as you have an internet connection, changing the rules of the game for all of us in a monolingual way.
However, although Google Pixel Buds seems to offer the best compatibility with Android devices, it does not offer any kind of active noise cancellation, average on-board battery life of about three hours and costs more than other similar headphones from Sony and Samsung.
Worse yet, they also have the weakest sound quality of real wireless headphones we’ve tested so far in 2020, they’re warm and heavy three, and for people who are sensitive to crashes and hats, they’ll take you after average listening time.
All in all, the new Google Pixel Buds is a pretty mixed bag, but hey, it’s a great update compared to the Google Pixel Buds 2017 and a good companion for your Pixel 3 or Pixel 3a or Google Pixel 4 smartphone.
Price and release date
Google Pixel Buds launched on Monday, April 27, 2020 and is available in four colors: Oh So Orange, Clearly White, Quite Mint, and Almost Black. Google Pixel Buds costs $ 179 (for reference, up to approximately £ 140 / A $ 270), but we are still waiting for the official global price.
This means that (at least in the US), Pixel Buds are more expensive than Apple AirPods with the standard charging case. However, it’s still $ 20 cheaper than comparable AirPods headphones with Apple’s wireless charging case.
How does the $ 179 card price compare to other true wireless headphones? Not very well, unfortunately.
For $ 50 less, you can get a Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus that has a 12-hour built-in battery and a 12-hour charging case, or a Sony WF-XB700 that has a massive response. If you’re ready to spend an additional $ 50, get the Sony WF-1000XM3 that has active noise cancellation, a handy feature for commuters and frequent flyers that you won’t find in Pixel Buds.
Design
The most striking feature of Google Pixel Buds, and what sets it apart from the original Pixel Buds that it is likely to replace in the future, is that it is completely wireless. This time there are no wires going through the cocoons, and this really breaks free.
Because of this, the case has also been completely redesigned and is now more suitable for both your hand and your pocket. The new egg box can be moved up and down with a satisfying click and the entire package contains just a USB Type-C port for charging. Even better, the case itself supports wireless charging, and the bright LED lamp on the case lets you know it’s charged.
Inside the box, Google has multiple headphone sets and a decent long charging cable, both of which are appreciated. In fact, you probably need additional headphones, as the media that comes on the buttons may work a bit and take the headphones out of your ear.
As you can see, these are some dangerously small buds and they can only stay in your ears with the help of a small spike-shaped protrusion found inside the outer ear. How uncomfortable you are, you probably have a point of discussion, but we don’t find it more comfortable or more likely to stay in our ears. People with a different ear shape might be more successful in this area than we are, but we hope Google will use a flap design (like Powerbeats Pro) to keep buds in place instead of beating.
Feature
The only feature missing from the design is active noise cancellation. There are a number of other headphones around the $ 200 mark, and they’re missing a lot from Google Pixel Buds. In fact, due to its design, there is no great negative noise reduction here either.
However, to make up for their lack of noise reduction skills, Pixel Buds can automatically adjust their volume based on the amount of noise the microphones capture, which, while not completely noise-canceling or anything like that, is better. nothing, and automatically stop from your ear.
We haven’t found an automatic volume setting to benefit you, but auto play / pause is definitely a great help in conserving battery life and smart inclusion.
Characteristics
Although it doesn’t always fit very well, you need to hand it over to Google to create many features in these earphones for Android users. Automatic calls once you take your device out of the box are very magical, and the Google Assistant, which always listens, allows you to control your entire home wherever you are.
One of the elegant features of Pixel Buds is the ability to integrate directly with Google Translate to provide real-time translations. The way it works: once you say “OK Google, be my Spanish translator”, the Android phone automatically opens the Google Translate app and starts working. Press and hold the left earbud to say something in its original language, and then repeat it in the translated language from your phone’s speakers. Press and hold the translation button on your phone while the other person is speaking and you will hear the translation directly on the headphones.
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When you get the hang of a conversation, the solution is magical, allowing you to speak to an extended family, friends, and strangers with whom you have had difficulty communicating before. The only problem is that you will need to speak separately and unless you download a language pack (approximately 45MB each) you will need to be connected to Wi-Fi in order to work.
Another hidden trick that Google Pixel Buds can do is read the notifications from your phone, and if you choose to do so, respond directly with dictation. These features aren’t as polished as we’d like, and you can often get confused if you have email and social media notifications turned on, but they’re incredibly practical and can pave the way for better implementation on the go.
performance
How does it look? Not surprisingly, unfortunately. Immediately, without music, you may hear a little less whistling, and you’ll notice that some songs have an incredibly weak bass response.
Instead, what you’ll notice is that Google Buds Buds really does focus on storylines and trilogies. They make hard rock songs like The Best from Awolnation Cycle with energy and left-to-right separation, which is great, but the music never looks the way the low end is supposed to be missed.
Sound fanatics describe sound quality as brilliant, a term often associated with fraternity (exaggerated tonal cruelty) and overwork. There’s no way to customize this sound yet, so you’re basically stuck with the sound quality Google offers … and it’s not perfect.
Similarly, the audio quality of the video is part of a mix: We haven’t had a problem listening to YouTube videos with Pixel Buds, but we switched to a heavy-motion movie on Netflix and suddenly lost the bottom half of the track. Audio.
