Google Unveils Pixel Buds to Rival Apple AirPods

Google has unveiled Pixel Buds, new wireless headphones that rival Apple's AirPods.

These wireless headphones not only sound great, they are seamless to use and charge, offer help from the Google Assistant, and have a few extra smarts so you can get the answers you need while keeping your eyes up.

The Pixel Buds are connected with a fabric loop. All the audio controls have been placed into a touchpad on the right earbud. Swipe forward or backward to control volume and tap to play or pause music.



The headphones are stored in a pocket-sized charging case that offers up to 24 hours of listening time. Similar to the AirPods, they will be automatically detected when you open the charging case near a Pixel or Android phone running Android 7.0 Nougat or higher.




Touch and hold the right earbud to ask Google Assistant to play music, make a phone call, or get directions. If you have an upcoming meeting or you’re waiting on a text from a friend, the Assistant can alert you to a calendar event or incoming message, and even read it to you if you can’t look at your phone at that moment.

Pixel Buds can translate between languages in real time using Google Translate on Pixel.

It’s like you’ve got your own personal translator with you everywhere you go. Say you’re in Little Italy, and you want to order your pasta like a pro. All you have to do is hold down on the right earbud and say, “Help me speak Italian.” As you talk, your Pixel phone’s speaker will play the translation in Italian out loud. When the waiter responds in Italian, you’ll hear the translation through your Pixel Buds. If you’re more of a sushi or French food fan, no need to worry—it works in 40 languages.



Pixel Buds come in Just Black, Clearly White and Kinda Blue. They’ll be available in November for $159 in the U.S. and are available to pre-order today. They’re also coming to Canada, U.K., Germany, Australia and Singapore in November.

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