Yesterday Google introduced its new flagship Pixel phones, the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL. Like Apple before it, Google did away with the headphone jack on it. Other manufacturers have done away with the jack too as more people opt for wireless headsets. But Google surprised everyone by announcing its own new branded wireless earbuds called Pixel Buds. The buds follow in the footsteps of Apple’s own wireless earbuds, the company’s AirPods. Of course, that means everyone is going to be comparing the two wireless buds deciding which to get. We’ve put together this comparison to help you out in your choice.
Google’s Pixel Buds vs Apple’s AirPods: Specs
Here are the specs for the Google’s Pixel Buds:
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Weight: 14 grams
- Wireless charging: Yes
- Battery: 120 mAh
- Battery Life: 5 hours
- Sensors: Microphone, Accelerometer, Capacitive touchpad
And here are the specs for the Apple AirPods:
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, W1 chip
- Weight: 4 grams
- Wireless charging: Yes
- Battery: 62 mAh
- Battery Life: 5 hours
- Sensors: Dual beam-forming microphones, Dual optical sensors, Motion-detecting accelerometer, Speech-detecting accelerometer
Google’s Pixel Buds vs Apple’s AirPods: Design
Physically speaking, each company’s wireless earbuds look radically different. Apple’s looks like a white abstract flower with a long stem and a fat bud that fits in your ear. Google’s on the other hand looks are more circular and wider. Everything is scrunched together. Google’s Pixel Buds are also tethered together by a length of rope, which is a nice touch as it means it could stop one of the buds from falling to the ground.
Google’s Pixel Buds vs Apple’s AirPods: Controls
Both earbuds have tap controls, but the Pixel Buds offer more. Apple’s AirPods allow you to play and pause music via tap. The Pixel Buds allow you to do that too, but they also have a touch surface that allows you to swipe across them to adjust the volume.
Google’s Pixel Buds vs Apple’s AirPods: AI Assistants & Translation
Of course, both earbuds offer each company’s AI assistants (routed through your smartphone). The AirPods offer Siri and the Pixel Buds offers Google’s Assistant. I think it’s obvious which is superior: Google’s Assistant. However, if you’re a non-English speaker, Siri wins as its available in many more languages.
But one area with the Pixel Buds wins hands down is their ability to translate conversations in real-time. No one has actually tried this feature yet, so we need to wait to see how well it works. But the idea is the wearer will tap and hold on a Pixel Bud and speak and his connected Pixel phone will translate his language into another. The person the wearer is speaking to then, speaks back in the wearer’s Pixel phone and their words are translated back to the Pixel Buds wearer’s native language.
It is without a doubt a terrific feature–but again, we’re waiting to see it in real-world use to tell how good it is.
Google’s Pixel Buds vs Apple’s AirPods: Battery Life
What’s surprising is through the Pixel Buds offer almost double the battery size at 120 mAh versus the AirPod’s 62 mAh battery, they both last the same amount of time on a single charge: about 5 hours. We’re not sure why Apple’s AirPods last the same amount of time on half the battery, but it might have something to do with Apple’s custom W1 wireless chip’s power efficacy. Both buds also feature wireless charging cases.
Google’s Pixel Buds vs Apple’s AirPods: Compatibility
Both devices are purpose-built for the company’s other devices. For example, AirPods are designed to be used (and have all its features available too) iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, and Macs. Google’s Pixel Buds (as the name suggests) are designed to work with the company’s Pixel phone line. However, since both earbuds use Bluetooth, they will work with other phones–just all of the features won’t be available to those phones.
Google’s Pixel Buds vs Apple’s AirPods: Price
Both the Pixel Buds and AirPods cost £159 – making this a very tough call. Then again, if you are an iPhone user or a Pixel user already, your choice is much easier.
by michaelg via Featured Articles
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