In Google's Oct. 4 event that unveiled devices such as the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, wireless earphones named the Pixel Buds stole the show.
Geared as a competitor to the Apple AirPods, the Pixel Buds has one defining feature that elevates it from the competition, and that is the ability to translate conversations in real time.
Pixel Buds: The Real-Time Translator
Google unveiled the Pixel Buds near the end of its presentation for the Pixel 2 event, but the device is arguably the one that has the best chance at changing the world.
The Pixel Buds, which will be sold at $159 starting November, will allow its wearers to understand up to 40 different languages. In an onstage demo of the feature, two Pixel Buds users were able to hold a conversation despite one talking in English and the other in Swedish. The Pixel Buds, using the existing Google Translate system, translated the words in real time for the wearers, with only a delay of one or two seconds after each sentence. The Pixel Buds are also capable of translating the sentences that the user speaks into another language, with the translation to come out of the paired Pixel 2.
It was later confirmed that the demo was done entirely using online resources, which meant that users will not have to download anything before accessing the feature. They will, however, need to pair the Pixel Buds to the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL, as if there needs to be more reasons for Android enthusiasts to pick up either device.
What Else Does The Pixel Buds Offer?
Activating the real-time translation feature of the Pixel Buds is done simply by touching and holding the right earbuds. Touch controls also enable several other functions of the earbuds, including pausing music playback and calling up Google Assistant.
The Pixel Buds do not take on the same form as Apple's AirPods, as there is a wire that connects the left and right earbuds. Google's wireless earbuds, however, also come in a rechargeable case that allows the Pixel Buds to have a total battery life of up to 24 hours, with 5 hours of operation in between each charge.
Apple's AirPods and Google's Pixel Buds have the same price, so choosing between the two wireless earbuds will likely come down to the preference between iOS and Android. The game-changing ability for real-time translation, however, has near limitless applications in the real world, so the AirPods should watch out for the pending arrival of the Pixel Buds.
