Trying out Google’s translating headphones
Google has set out to make its mark on the headphone world with Pixel Buds — wireless headphones that can control your phone and claim to translate conversations. But how do they stack up? Google sent us a pair to review and find out. The most important thing you should know about Pixel Buds is that their full features only work with Google’s newest smartphone, the Pixel 2. Though they’ll function with other phones, you must have the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL (which, buyer beware, have had some early quality-control issues) to access the Pixel Buds’ marquee feature: real-time translation.
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To be honest, it’s not exactly real-time. You call up the feature by tapping on your right earbud and asking Google Assistant to “help me speak” one of 40 languages. The phone will then open the Google Translate app. From there, the phone will translate what it hears into the language of your choice, and you’ll hear it in your ear. So, if you’re speaking to someone and they say “Où est la bibliothèque?” you will then hear “Where is the library?” in your ear. Then, when it’s your turn to speak, tap and hold the right earbud to have what you say translated and broadcast out of your phone.
And if you don’t have a Pixel? Well, these are far less attractive. Pixel Buds can connect to other Android phones and iPhones but only, essentially, as normal wireless earbuds. On all phones, you can tap your right earbud to call up your virtual assistant — Google Assistant on Android phones, Siri on iPhones. Swipe forward on your earbud to turn up the volume, and back to turn it down. Sound quality is about on par with other Bluetooth headphones I’ve tried, which is to say not mind-blowing but pretty good for listening to music while doing other things. The Pixel Buds don’t skimp on volume; I rarely found cause to crank them above 50 percent.
They are comfortable, with a fabric loop that you can adjust to fit into your ear. I completed a workout without them falling out. Pixel Buds are the same price as Apple’s Air Pods at $159. Like Air Pods, Pixel Buds come with a case that doubles as a quick-charging portable battery, so you can juice them up on the go. The headphones themselves will give you about 5 hours of juice, which you can extend by popping them in the case. I had little trouble getting them to last a full day this way
