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Apple AirPods vs. Google Pixel Buds
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Not sure I agree with this. The sound quality is similar to their wired buds, which is mediocre at best and the fit is horrible. No noise cancelation. I don’t think Apple gave as much thought to them as they should have to make them what they could be.
Well the concept of the google buds is cool I.e translation. However the auto pairing feature has been a game changer for me. I’ve never really liked Bluetooth headphones until I got the airpods now I exclusively use my airpods.
Seems like a very small segment have problems with the fit, which is unfortunate, but the vast majority are perfectly happy with the fit and sound quality and the real draw of AirPods is their unprecedented convenience.
Noise cancellation isn’t even a possibility with the tiny battery they have to work with.
I chose my Beats X over the AirPods largely because of the connecting cable. I find it convenient to let the earbuds hang from around my neck when not in use, especially when I have to take them out and put them back in often, as is the case at work. I also like having a more functional remote, a sacrifice the AirPods had to make by getting rid of the cable. (Although I don’t know if I like Google's implementation there.)
To each their own.
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Really? I do that all the time with my Beats X. Sometimes for music too. I don’t find it awkward at all.
I have the BeatsX as well. If I need some better isolation I use them. But 9 outta 10 times I reach for The AirPods.
Sony's WF-1000X is a true wireless which has very effective noise cancellation, great audio quality, and works particularly well with Apple devices streaming AAC encoded content. They are lightweight and extremely secure when properly fitted. Switching from one Apple device to another happens exactly as it does with a W1 chip capable set of Beats. The only downside is the battery life is three hours, but the carry case can fast-charge for an additional 1.5 hours in 10 minutes, and can do so multiple times (or two full charges before needing to be recharged itself). Mine have been performing tremendously well, and I think the key is AAC streaming from an iPhone or iPad. Lots of complaints about these from Android users, but my experience with these has been really good.
I still can't get any type of "in ear" headphones to stay "in" my ears.
These work perfect.
I had to laugh when i read your comment, the AirPods do not fall out of my ears (as the EarPods do) HOWEVER the right one has that feeling like it wants to fall out sometimes but i know its not going to.
Easiest way to control AirPods volume, pause/play and what to listen to is from an Apple Watch.
At a mere combined cost of £408 minimum (AirPods + Apple Watch series 1).
After a couple of years I'd probably have to upgrade one or the other of these.
For the same price though, I could buy 51 pairs of EarPods from amazon. I could use a new set every month for 4.25 years.
If you're willing to pay that for not having a cable, go for it. I believe my SE will be my last iPhone.
Seems like a very fair review from an obvious Apple guy, but I find it strange that you didn't go into detail about the Google assistant and siri features. In all the other reviews the built in Google assistant seems to be the feature that everyone universally loves on the Google product.
The Pixel Buds, Google's $159 headphones designed to compete with Apple's AirPods, finally launched this week so we thought we'd pit the two devices against one another to see how they measure up.
While the AirPods are widely loved and have received mostly positive reviews from customers and media sites, things aren't looking quite as rosy for the Pixel Buds. In a lot of ways, the Pixel Buds don't measure up to the AirPods, and in the video below, we compare design, features, sound quality, comfort, and other metrics.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Pixel Buds and AirPods both cost $159 and are Bluetooth earphones designed for the Google and Apple ecosystems, respectively, but when it comes to design, they're quite a bit different. The AirPods are entirely wire-free, but the Pixel Buds have an adjustable cord that connects the two earpieces together. Each is stored in a case that provides extra battery.
Both earphones support touch and tap gestures to do things like activate Siri or Google Assistant and control music playback, but each one has shortcomings. There's no volume control on the AirPods, meaning you need to use Siri or your connected device to adjust volume, and on the Pixel Buds, there's no gesture for switching tasks, so you need to use Google Assistant. By the way, when connected to an iPhone, Google Assistant functionality doesn't work.
AirPods have a nifty feature that stops music playback when an AirPod is removed from the ear, and there's no equivalent feature on the Pixel Buds. The Pixel Buds do have a unique translation feature, but as it turns out, it requires Google Translate on a smartphone and isn't too much different from just using your phone for translation purposes.
The W1 chip built into the AirPods allows them to be swapped seamlessly between Apple devices and is one of the best AirPods features, while the Pixel Buds aren't quite as convenient. On Android devices, you need to put the buds back in their case, hold the pair button, and then re-pair when you want to switch.
At their price point, both the AirPods and the Pixel Buds offer relatively decent sound, but we did feel that the AirPods were better in this regard. The Pixel Buds sounded somewhat muddled, especially when using Spotify.
Given some of the shortcomings of the Pixel Buds, the AirPods seem to have them beat, based on our own experience with the two products and a range of less than enthusiastic Pixel Bud reviews from media sites. And of course, as an Apple-centric site with employees that largely use iOS devices, MacRumors is partial to the AirPods.
We may prefer the AirPods to the Pixel Buds, but as with our comparison between the iPhone X and the Google Pixel 2 XL, choosing between the AirPods and the Pixel Buds largely comes down to the ecosystem you're using. If you have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the AirPods are the obvious choice.
If you don't have an iPhone or another Apple device, you're not going to get the benefits of the W1 chip, so it may be worth considering the Pixel Buds instead. And, of course, there's always the neither option -- there are hundreds of other Bluetooth headphones on the market.
Article Link: Apple AirPods vs. Google Pixel Buds
Cheapness is not my number 1 aim. A great experience is.
I have bought AirPods twice and returned them twice.
- Switching between devices with AirPods encounters lag. There's a delay as it switches.
- AirPods are another thing to charge. AirPods run out of battery. Airpods won't last a full day's listening, no interruptions.
- AirPods are useless for video editing (latency issues) where EarPods do fine.
- AirPods are easy to lose and a real hassle to put into a case every time I take them out (vs swing round my neck)
- AirPods means I have to do all volume controls from my phone, vs useful inline remote on EarPods.
And like it or not, they look a little silly.
You can rationalise it all you want as "they're just EarPods with no cables" - but they still look funny. Over time, that's likely to change, but right now, they look dopey - especially when pointing out of the ears.
I second. Apple AirPods is the best earphones in the market. The convenience of its Wireless technology is absolutely amazing. Best Apple invention ever.
So great you can't adjust the volume without invoking Siri
Listening to music or books is just a small part of all the ways I use my Watch. I have the original version—2.5 years old and still functioning superbly. The Watch is my favorite piece of tech in 33 years of Apple gear.
My studio work flow is not compatible with wired headphones. I’d damage my work, my phone or myself. I enjoy listening to music or to books but I also have to make sure I don’t disturb classes or colleagues around me. For me, Bluetooth headphones or earphones are important. Obviously they aren’t for you.
I think the design of the AirPods is astounding.
You of course are free to purchase or not purchase whatever you wish.
Why do Google and Samsung copy Apple? Rather than make a second-rate clone of the original like Liam Gallagher and the Beatles, try some unique innovation in a completely new direction and you'll be respected for it, such as Microsoft's Surface dial and holo lens. Compete by offering vision, not copycats.
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I didn't think they were doing much let alone still alive. AirPods are the best of the two out right now