In 2016 Apple decided to remove the cable from its EarPods. AirPods were born. Since then, the Cupertino company’s wireless headphones have become a benchmark in the market and best understood with their iPhone. Now, Google has launched the Pixel Buds to the Spanish market, its response to the concept of AirPods and that they arrive to reign in the Android ecosystem.
The Pixel Buds are available in the Spanish Google store at a price of 199 euros, an intermediate height between what is usually found in second-generation AirPods and AirPods Pro. And it is not accidental. In terms of sound quality, the Pixel Buds arrive halfway between the AirPods and the Pro model. We have an insulating pad but without noise cancellation. Still, we can dive into sound comfortably and easily because Pixel Buds are looking for that, uncomplicated technology.
The second generation of the Pixel Buds puts the emphasis on three main pillars: comfort, the experience of use and integration with the Google Assistant that vitaminizes it to such an extent that we can conceive them as a complete hands-free.
Comfort
The first thing that catches the attention of the Pixel Buds is their design. With a matte white finish very much in line with Made by Google products, such as your Pixel phone or Nest smart routers, it makes the product beautiful, pleasant and compact. In fact, they are surprisingly small for the sound quality they have and how comfortable they are.
They barely protrude from the ear, weigh just over 5 grams per earphone and fit surprisingly well to the ear. To do this, they have a pad that enters through the ear canal and a stabilizing arch that adjusts to the shell of the ear. They remain subject, and nothing moves, making them ideal for sports – because they are also resistant to sweat.
Despite being perfectly adjusted in the ear, it does not give the feeling of a plug that does happen with other models with a rubber finish. This is thanks to ventilation that reduces the feeling of having your ears plugged and helps you hear what is happening around you. In the end, you forget you’re wearing them.
The case is small and handy. Of about 65 grams, it occupies little more than that of the AirPods Pro, with which we can put it in the pocket of the coins and forget that it is there. It has wireless charging and a 24-hour autonomy with a single charge. The headphones meanwhile have a range of about 5 hours, it is not excessive but it is not a drama.
Make it simple
If AirPods have succeeded because they are the ones that best integrate with iPhones, Google seeks with Pixel Buds to do the same. They are easy to use, to pair and to start up. It just works and sometimes even reminds of that magic that occurs when products understand each other better than we think.
The pairing process is extremely easy thanks to the Fast Pair system. When you open the lid of the case, a notification will appear on the phone, press and go. No more hassle of going to the BlueTooth menu, searching and pairing. Simply press once on the screen. They have long-range Bluetooth 5.0, allowing us to move around the house in different rooms and not lose the connection.
As simple as pairing is to use them. Simply insert them into the ear for the music to start playing. It does this with good sound quality, deep bass and treble highlights, thanks to custom-designed 12mm dynamic speakers. Of course, if we are food sybarites it will be better to go to the AirPods Pro, the Sony WF-1000XM3 or the EAH-AZ70W of Technics. They sound good, without boast.
Despite other better sound and noise cancellation alternatives, the Pixel Buds isolate well and come with two notable features in the user experience. On the one hand, the Adaptive Sound system adjusts the volume automatically to adapt it to the environment around us without having to do anything; while on the other, it has microphones and sensors to make calls no matter how bustling the cafeteria in which we are. They will hear us loud and clear.
Google Assistant, ally
To control them we will have two ways to do it: through gestures or with the voice. The external part of the Buds is a touch panel and from which we can play the music, move from song, manage the volume or summon the Assistant. However, if we do not have our hands free, we can always make any request thanks to the integration with the Google Assistant.
“Ok Google” will be the magic words to get all the juice out of the Pixel Buds. With them we can ask you to play music, make a call, read the notifications or go a step further with real-time translations.
Thanks to the integration with the Google ecosystem, we will be able to translate a conversation thanks to our mobile phone and our Buds. The system works well which can save us from more than one trouble if we get caught on a trip. It is easy to use and tremendously intuitive.
In addition, the Buds come with other options such as Find My Device that allows us to locate the headphones if we have lost them, as well as notify us in real-time if one has come off our ears. In addition, the company explains that it will update them to add new features.
Do I buy them?
Dozens of headphones have passed the OMICRONO analysis table and the Pixel Buds are really different from many of the alternatives. They provide that special something that makes you not want to take them off. Their sound quality is correct and they are tremendously comfortable.
Although it is compatible with all Bluetooth devices, it really makes sense if we are going to use it on an Android phone. The same thing happens with AirPods with iPhone, although they work, the experience is truly complete with its operating system.
The price of € 199 can be a handicap of more than one user to make the jump when Honor Earbuds can be found at half price and have noise cancellation. However, the Pixel Buds integration with the Google Assistant and their comfort in the ear make them very easy to recommend.