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Apple AirPods vs. Google Pixel Buds
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[doublepost=1514506220][/doublepost]Bought pixel bud despite this review. Great. Having access Google assistant without taking my phone out. I can control my digital world control my house lights and temperature, change all my music and all other audio entertainment comprehensively, send email texts without out touching my phone and also accessing the google search engines with contextual conversation is the icing on the cake
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.
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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
The realtime translation looks promising, trialed it with my partner who speaks 2 other languages, it was workable but needs a proper feild test
As far as the cord goes between the buds it is not an issue for me. My preference after having samsung icon x equivalent and constantly dropping out and losing and finding them. I imagine that is a problem airpod user might experience
Bottom line for me comparing the 2 is not productive or relevant. If you are a android and/or pixel/Google user buds greatly enhance your digital world if you are iPhone/apple user airpods has a similar impact.
Comparing the two products is pointless.
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I bought them was pleasantly surprised dispute negative review. I don't think a Mac forum is the best place to have a balanced opinion
You'd think with the android user base being so extensive these would have outsold the Airpods 10x over...
I have two Android phones, a Note 8 and a S8+. I have never enjoyed listening to music on these or any Android phone I have ever owned. I've always used either my iPod Classic or iPhone for music. Even today I use my 7+ for music while out walking every day or while in my car through BT.
AirPods were the only choice I considered about three weeks ago when I bought mine and I have not regretted that. One of the best products Apple has ever made.
You’ll change your mind when your S8+ and Note 8 gets Aptx HD on the Oreo update if you don’t have it already.
https://www.aptx.com
I doubt that. As I said, I have always enjoyed listening to music more on my iPhone/iPod Classic then any other device. I have only my iPhone paired to the BT in my car and I haven't tried to listen to music on my S8+ or Note 8. Last Android device I tried listening to music on was my S7 Edge and gave up very quickly on that.
I don't need anything better then AirPods when I am out walking or while working at my job.
My iPhone also sounds great in my car. If you are concerned about sound quality, why are you using a phone for audio?
Nobody "needs" any of this stuff but if there's something of better quality, especially when it's free, why not take advantage of it? It's obvious you're bound and determined to keep yourself within the Apple eco system. Not sure why you even have an S8+ or Note 8 if you don't use them when they provide a better listening experience. You're not even giving them a chance by listening to them in your car because that opinion that it sounding great in your car will sound mediocre after you hear the higher quality.
Why am I listening to audio from a phone? Is that a serious question? You obviously are not aware of what these smartphones are capable of. Especially with high quality earbuds or headphones. And the Airpods are not high quality when it comes to sound. They actually sound like crap compared to lower priced products out there.
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