Google Pixel USB-C Earphone Review: Everything is Ok Google

At Google's big hardware event this month, one of the newest members of the Pixel Buds family of headphones, the Pixel USB-C headphones, was also mentioned. Delivered in the box with the new Pixel 3 or available for $ 30 purchase, they are neither glamorous nor complicated. Just connect them to the nearest USB-C port and play. Basic.

But the fact that I take the time to examine them separately from our Pixel 3 test should tell you something. These basic buds are very good. Superior to the average design and engineering disposable headphones, the Pixel USB-C earphones solve a problem that the technology industry has imposed on us: the extinction of the headphone jack.

Once upon a time lately, we all had with us a pair of reliable wired headphones, stored in a jacket pocket or at the bottom of our bags next to charging cables and a lip balm . We could plug these headsets into our phones, laptops, desktops or media players, and this universality was good and desirable and enjoyable. But then Apple and others understood that the 3.5mm analog audio jack took up too much valuable space in our phones. pouffe went the headphone jack.

The obvious replacement of our cheap and reliable analog headphones was to be a pair of USB-C the headphones, considering that the USB-C is becoming truly universal on the same set of devices where the 3.5 mm port was ubiquitous. But until now, this product did not exist. Last year, my colleague, Helen Havlak, described the difficulties of trying to get a decent pair of USB-C buds at a reasonable price. Essential tried to answer and failed. Libratone has built what is probably the best USB-C headphones, but they cost $ 149.

And now, Google launches with a pair of $ 30 buttons that improve everything. Pixel USB-C headsets meet all the essential criteria: they have great sound, they are comfortable to wear, compatible with most modern and affordable devices.

There is not much to say about the design of these pixel buttons. A white utility wire runs from the USB-C jack, which is about the size you find on your phone's charging cable, to a pair of pebble-shaped, shiny inside and matte buttons outside. Along the way, you'll also find a three-button remote that contains the microphone and gives you access to Google Assistant by pressing and holding the middle button. I would have perhaps preferred a black or colored option to white, simply because it's easier to keep clean. It's no more of a problem than Apple's EarPods or AirPods, although they have at least one case that offers some protection.

Regarding the shape, I doubt that anyone has problems with the Pixel USB-C buttons. Their adjustable cable loop acts as a stabilizer that keeps the heads in place and I find that it works very well for me, thus eliminating any risk of falling headphones if I rush to catch a bus. I think, however, that these loops will be polarized. You can see them as an ingenious design element, but if you're like me, you could also get lost trying to adjust them. just right. For others, the meaning of the loops inside the ear can be irritating. The headphones are very light and they would disappear from your consciousness if it was not for their thread – both in the way it touches your concha and the way it hangs from your connected device. But then, maybe you like sons.

The sound of the Pixel USB-C headphones is what really intrigued me. It is surprisingly clean and smooth. There is no noticeable distortion, and I can adjust them to their maximum volume without being attacked by excessively hot highs or a weird frequency response. The tonal balance that Google has found with these buttons is good and faithful to the music played. Voices, in particular, are clear and natural, with perhaps a little note of added warmth, making listening to podcasts or conference calls more enjoyable. For the price of $ 30, these Pixel Buds produce a satisfactory sound.

I would not be critical if I did not criticize, however, and the only major disadvantage of Pixel USB-C earpieces is their lack of good ear-sealing – which leads to poor, rather low-sounding acoustic insulation of the ear. # 39; other. The bass is light; you're not going to have serious bass in these ear buds, but it's still there, and the sound is well integrated. The best analogy I can offer you is that it gives an image desaturated – but always clean and clear – of the music. I think this is an acceptable compromise and I would prefer this setting to that advocated by most other companies, which is to artificially exaggerate the bass and introduce a ton of distortion.

The sound insulation between you and your external environment is minimal with these pixel buttons, as was the case with the original wireless pixel buttons. Apple's AirPods have even more to offer, because Google's buds are a bit firmer in the ear. The AirPods are totally useless for me on the London Tube, while the Pixel USB-C headset can do decent work by transmitting stronger, more punchy music on the train. With Google and Apple, you'll enjoy the ability to interact with your surroundings without having to take out your headphones and you will not like the impossibility of completely disconnecting from the world around you.

Google loves talking about its Google Assistant support and its real-time translation feature with the Pixel Buds range, but these are things that virtually any new pair of headphones is about to get anyway . The assistant is present, but this is not a compelling reason to buy Pixel USB-C headphones. The most compelling thing that differentiates these EarPod headphones from Apple's Lightning connector and its identical price is that the Pixel headsets connect to the USB-C ports. And these explode in number. You can even invade the Apple ecosystem with these buds, which work seamlessly via USB-C ports on MacBook and iMac.

I tested Pixel USB-C headphones with a variety of recent Android smartphones, including Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 and Huawei's Mate 20 Pro, and each worked perfectly with the heads. The same goes for laptops; Chromebooks, Windows machines and MacBooks have all recognized them. USB-C is not out of its fragmented state of compatibility yet. However, I can say that if you buy these USB-C headphones with the intention of using them with relatively new devices, you can rest assured that they will work well together.

If you're not up to the Apple ecosystem and Lightning is the most common port on your devices, it's hard to think for many reasons. do not own a pair of these Pixel USB-C earphones. The Pixel USB-C buttons are exceptional in their particular combination of cost, compatibility, sound and comfort. They sound much better than their price suggests, and they bring the comfort we had with analog headphones in our modern digital era.

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