At the Made By Google Event, Google launched its first wireless earbuds called Pixel Buds along with Pixel 2, Pixel XL, Pixel Book, Home Mini, Home Max and Google Clips.
Pixel Buds emulates a lot of features from Apple’s Air pods which includes touch controls, battery case, pairing the phone with earbuds. The pixel buds come in a matching charging case with 620mAh battery that can be charged through USB-C port which is used for charging Pixel phones. They can last up to 5 hours on a single charge. Pairing the earbuds is done with a feature called “Fast Pair” using a phone with Android Marshmallow or higher versions just as you would do with Apple AirPods. Tapping the right earbud allows to answer phone calls, control the playback music and change the volume. If you have never bought a pair of earbuds before, it is smart to start with these customer-level options first before heading to the more advanced and costly ones
Unlike the Apple AirPods, Pixel buds are not completely wireless, they are neck buds with a cloth cord connecting both the buds. There’s also a built-in feature to access the Google Assistant. Now accessing messages, setting reminders and also getting directions is easy and can be achieved by tapping the surface which gives access to Google assistant. For example, Google Assistant will read a message after double tapping the right-earbud when you hear a notification. Pixel owners with Pixel Buds have another advantage. Pixel owners will have an exclusive opportunity to get real-time translations with the Pixel Buds and Google Translate. For example, when you hold the earbud and say “Help me speak Spanish” and speak a sentence and then release the finger, the Google Translate on the Pixel will translate it to you. In the same way, when the other person speaks, you will hear in the right ear. Google Translate can translate between 40 different languages.
The earbuds come in three colors Black, Blue and White to match the color of Pixel phones and are compatible with any phone that supports Bluetooth. The pixel buds cost $159 (£159, AU$229) and will be available from November onwards.
Are you impressed with the features that Google is providing in its first Wireless Earphones? Don’t forget to share your views in the comments below!
