Google takes another stab at headphones with new, totally wireless Pixel Buds
Google's new Pixel Buds true wireless earphones. [credit: Google ]
Google on Tuesday announced the latest generation of its Pixel Buds wireless headphones. The new pair comes in the "true wireless" form factor popularized by Apple's AirPods, with two small earbuds that connect to a source device without any cables running between them.
The new earbuds are a successor to the Pixel Buds Google released in 2017, which had a more traditional wireless headphone design and received generally middling feedback at launch. These new earbuds keep the same name and sport a similarly rounded shape but have a slightly redesigned "arc" that keeps them in place and eartips that appear to create a tighter seal. There's a vent on the bottom of each earbud designed to let in external noise and avoid blocking out the outside world completely, though.
Google says the new Pixel Buds will get five hours of battery life on a charge, with up to 24 hours added through its charging case. That's about in line with the AirPods, but a good way behind class leaders like Beats' Powerbeats Pro earphones, which get closer to 10-11 hours on their own. The company also touts "long-range Bluetooth connectivity" that grants the earbuds enough range to work "three rooms away indoors or a football field-distance away outdoors," though Google didn't go into any specifics regarding how it has achieved that. (We'd guess it's using Class 1 Bluetooth.) Google says the new Pixel Buds are sweat- and water-resistant as well, though it didn't provide a specific IPX rating.
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