How to play PlayStation 4 games on your Android phone

With a little work, it’s possible to play PlayStation 4 games on your Android device

With the Release of the Steam Link beta app from Valve a whole new world of possibilities has opened up in terms of mobile gaming. The Link app allows you to play all of your steam games on any Android device with Lollipop or above and seems to do it really well from the testing I have done.

The Link app does have another trick up its sleeve though. It is really just a sophisticated and smooth running screen mirroring service with wireless input control, which means you can cast anything from your PC to your mobile device including your PlayStation 4! The PS4 allows you to stream your games to your PC and with the Link, it’s easy to stream those to your mobile device.

Download Steam Link (free)

Step-by-step instructions

First, follow the instructions to set up your Stream Link app.
Follow the Instructions by Sony to set up remote play on your computer.
Start the Remote Play app so you see your PS4 screen on your computer.
Start the Stream Link app.
Tap Start Playing. The computer screen will load into Steams big picture mode.
Use Alt-Tab to select your Remote Play screen.
Enjoy PS4 on your mobile device!

More details

Because of the screen mirroring this will work on any system, not just the PlayStation 4, the Xbox will work too, you just need to Alt-tab over to the correct screen. I’ve even used it to do some 3d design work with my wireless mouse outside in the sun!

One small caveat with this particular mobile PS4 setup is the controller. Because the Remote Play app requires you to connect your PS4 Sixaxis directly into your PC, your range may be limited. There is a wireless adapter you can buy for your PS4 remote and it does reportedly work with Remote Play but at the time of writing, I couldn’t confirm that.

One way to get around this is using two controllers, one to plug into the computer so it recognizes it and one connected to the PlayStation that you can use wirelessly, this seems to work perfectly.

See the adapter at Amazon

So is it worth doing?

The necessary hoops to get this to work is excessive — Sony is an Android manufacturer and technically could make the Remote Play app work on any Android device — but if you are willing to take the time, playing your PS4 anywhere in your house is really good fun.

Let us know what you think of this workaround in the comments section.

PlayStation 4

• PS4 vs. PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Which should you buy?
• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

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RED Hydrogen One: Everything you need to know!

Cinema giant RED is making its first smartphone, and it’s anything but conventional.

There are few names in cinematography more recognizable than RED. The California-based company makes high-end cinema cameras that reach upwards of $50,000 and beyond in price, and you’ve almost undoubtedly seen RED footage before in Hollywood productions and even videos from some popular YouTubers.

So you can imagine our excitement when RED announced the Hydrogen One last year, its first-ever smartphone. Initially giving very little information on the phone, details have slowly been trickling out as we get closer to its official launch later this year.

What is the Hydrogen One?

The Hydrogen One is anything but conventional. Its industrial design is unlike any other phone we’ve seen, with the back split up into three sections; kevlar on the top and bottom portions, and a metal panel in the middle that almost looks like a heat sink. There are pins along the bottom section for modular upgrades, and the rubberized sides of the phone are scalloped to presumably make for a comfier grip. Like the rest of RED’s product lineup, the Hydrogen One is by no means cheap — a baseline model will run you $1295, or you can step it up to titanium for $1595.

So what kind of specs do you get for that kind of money? The Hydrogen One was announced nearly a full year ago, so don’t expect the latest Qualcomm chipset — instead, it will ship with the still plenty-capable Snapdragon 835, though we’re not yet sure how much RAM or storage it will offer. We do know that it features a 5.7-inch QHD display in the traditional 16:9 aspect ratio, for which RED has been teasing a new “holographic” technology. Positioned as a media-focused device, the Hydrogen One retains a 3.5mm headphone jack and support for microSD expansion, and contains a large 4500mAh battery to keep things running.

Camera maker RED just announced a $1200 phone — the Hydrogen One

RED Hydrogen One will have a 4500mAh battery and carrier support

About that holographic display

One of the phone’s most teased features for the last year has been its holographic display, which can play back what the company calls “4V” (or 4-view) content. But what does that mean, exactly? RED says that in regular 2D mode, the Hydrogen One will look just like any other phone, but when switching to 4V mode, the display gets a bit dimmer and begins to display a “better than 3D” image without requiring 3D glasses. The few people RED has shown this feature to haven’t been allowed to film it or discuss it in length, but glasses-free 3D, in general, hasn’t been touched on by a phone manufacturer in years, so it’ll be interesting to see where this goes.

This doesn’t mean that 4V mode will magically make everything you do on the Hydrogen One appear in 3D. You’ll need content specifically shot in 4V — RED is already showing the Hydrogen One to content creators and partners to preemptively build the HYDROGEN Network, a central hub for 4V content. You’ll be able to shoot 4V video of your own with the Hydrogen One, and upload footage to your own channel on the HYDROGEN Network for others to watch and even buy.

RED announces exclusive partnership with holographic display maker for Hydrogen One

Most importantly: the cameras

RED has big plans for the cameras on the Hydrogen One. By default, there’s a dual camera assortment on the back (though it’s unspecified whether those cameras will be wide-angle, telephoto, or something else), but RED will make use of the phone’s pogo pin connectors to allow users to attach modules that expand the capabilities of the Hydrogen One’s cameras. You’ll even be able to attach a lens mount for interchangeable lenses and even expand the phone into a full-blown video rig. According to Marques Brownlee, who was the first to go hands-on with a Hydrogen One prototype, RED believes that only its own cinema cameras will be able to outperform this phone.

The dual cameras allow you to shoot 4V content directly on the Hydrogen One without needing any additional camera modules — there are even two cameras on the front to ensure that you can film in either direction. While filming in 4V, the Hydrogen One will also save a 2D version of your video for sharing outside of the HYDROGEN Network, though this does mean that you’ll be eating up a considerable amount of space with each video. You’ll likely want to invest in a high-capacity microSD card or two.

Where can I buy one?

RED is no longer accepting pre-orders, nor has it finalized an official release date, but we know that the Hydrogen One will be available through AT&T and Verizon in the U.S. AT&T is demoing the Hydrogen One at Warner Bros. Studios in Los Angeles on June 2 and 3 as part of AT&T Shape, though you might be better off putting the $100 attendance fee toward your order instead.

In addition to carrier deals, RED will be selling the Hydrogen One unlocked, and founder Jim Jannard has stated that unlocked orders will ship earlier than AT&T or Verizon models.

RED Hydrogen One delayed until August to add even more impressive cameras

AT&T and Verizon will carry the RED Hydrogen One

What are your thoughts?

Would you buy the RED Hydrogen One? Or is it simply too much to ask for from a brand that’s never made a phone before? And what do you think about RED’s 4V content? Let us know in the comments below!

Google Pixel 3: News, Rumors, Release Date, Specs, and more!

Everything we know about what’ll likely be one of the year’s best phones.

Google first introduced its Pixel series in 2016, and since then, has been hard at work to establish itself as a serious player in the smartphone market. Google may be one of the most powerful and iconic companies in the world, but when it comes to hardware, is still very much a newcomer.

We saw vast improvements with the Pixel 2 compared to the original Pixel line, and we’re expecting to get that again with the Pixel 3. Google’s quickly learning what it takes to compete with the likes of Samsung and Apple, and seeing as how the Pixel 2 was one of 2017’s best phones, there’s a lot riding on this year’s entry.

Ladies and gentlemen, here’s everything we know so far about the Google Pixel 3.

May 28, 2018 — The Pixel 3 goes 2:1 and the Pixel 3 XL gets a notch

Here’s an interesting leak that, while not necessarily all-telling, gives us an indication of where Google is taking the series in 2018. Specifically, the larger Pixel 3 XL looks to have a notch while the smaller Pixel 3, though moving to a 2:1 aspect ratio, will lack one. At the same time, we see some sensors that may indicate Google is adding either a second front camera to the phones or, more likely, some sort of dedicated biometric sensor for faster/more reliable face unlock.

The leak comes from Weibo (by way of Slashleaks) and reportedly shows two front glass panels for the new phones. Given that we’re almost in June, this would be the time for accessory makers to begin testing products for the final phone design. It’s also good to see Google maintaining dual front-facing speakers for the lineup.

What do you think of this latest leak?

May 10, 2018 — The Pixel 3 could be joined by second-gen Pixel Buds and a Pixel Watch

Google’s hardware events surround the Pixel phones with a heap of other product announcements, and this year, it’s reported that we’ll see a second-gen version of Pixel Buds and Google’s first Pixel-branded smartwatch.

Specifics on these gadgets are still up in the air, and as excited as I am to see how Google improves its wireless earbud game, I’m beyond ecstatic to see how the company’s first smartwatch turns out.

Wear OS is in an awkward stage right now, but a proper Pixel Watch and new silicon from Qualcomm could bring it back into the limelight. Assuming Google handles this right, the Apple Watch may soon be faced with some of its stiffest competition yet.

When will the Pixel 3 be released?

In 2016 and 2017, Google held its hardware event on October 4. We don’t have a concrete date for this year’s event quite yet, but there’s no reason to believe Google will deter from this pattern.

Another October 4 event isn’t out of the question seeing as how that falls on a Thursday this year, but at the very least, we should be looking at some point in early October.

Pre-orders for the Pixel 3 will likely open shortly after it’s announced that same day with shipments going out at least a couple of weeks later.

How much will the Pixel 3 cost?

Over the past couple years, pricing for Google’s Pixel phones has remained mostly the same. The MSRP for the Pixel and Pixel 2 series is as follows:

• Pixel w/ 32GB — $649
• Pixel w/ 128GB — $749
• Pixel 2 w/ 64GB — $649
• Pixel 2 w/ 128GB — $749
• Pixel XL w/ 32GB — $769
• Pixel XL w/ 128GB — $869
• Pixel 2 XL w/ 64GB —$849
• Pixel 2 XL w/ 128GB — $949

I imagine we’ll see similar numbers with the Pixel 3, but don’t be too surprised if we get a Pixel 3 XL variant that crosses the $1000 threshold.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Pixel 2 FAQ: Everything you need to know!
• Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL review: The new standard
• Google Pixel 2 specs
• Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 2 XL: What’s the difference?
• Join our Pixel 2 forums

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Project Fi

Canadian banks BMO and Simplii Financial warn of large data breaches

Make sure to add two-factor authentication.

Two Canadian banks, including the country’s fourth-largest, are reporting Monday that they have been hacked and customer data accessed.

BMO and CIBC-owned Simplii Financial separately went public with breaches to their systems on May 28, noting that customer information, including bank account specifics and potentially addresses and phone numbers, were stolen.

Here’s what’s known so far:

• The breaches appear to be separate, though it’s possible they were from the same person or group.
• Simplii Financial, which is owned by CIBC, said 40,000 people had their information accessed.
• BMO is not giving a number of affected customers right now. It has over 7 million customers.
• BMO said the breach originated outside Canada, and that the fraudsters themselves tipped off the bank.
• It’s not clear whether money was stolen from customers’ accounts, but both banks are saying any stolen money will be reimbursed.

At this point, it’s not clear how the breach happened — bad password hygiene is always the most obvious culprit — but both companies are encouraging customers to enhance their passwords and, if possible, apply two-factor authentication.

Here’s the full BMO statement:

On Sunday, May 27, fraudsters contacted BMO claiming that they were in possession of certain personal and financial information for a limited number of customers. We believe they originated the attack from outside the country. We took steps immediately when the incident occurred and we are confident that exposures identified related to customer data have been closed off. We have notified and are working with relevant authorities as we continue to assess the situation. We are proactively contacting those customers that may have been impacted and we will support and stand by them. BMO has strong and robust processes in place to protect customer data and we take customer privacy very seriously. Customers are recommended to monitor their accounts and notify BMO with any suspicious activity.

And here’s Simplii:

Two-factor authentication: What you need to know

Pressure washers, smart sprinkler controllers, and more are all on sale today

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

Celebrate Memorial Day with some big discounts on Sun Joe’s electric pressure washers, Rachio’s smart sprinkler controller, and much more! Time’s running out to take advantage of these prices, so hurry!

View the rest of the deals

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

Triple-Lens Camera on 2019 iPhones Said to Enable 3D Sensing and Enhanced Zoom

Apple will launch at least one new iPhone model with a triple-lens rear camera in 2019, according to Taiwanese website Economic Daily News, citing a research note from Deutsche Securities analyst Jialin Lu.

A triple-lens iPhone X mockup by Martin Hajek via iDrop News
Lu believes the triple-lens camera system will enable advanced 3D sensing via stereoscopic vision, with two of the sensors able to capture images of a single object from different angles. A triangulation method would then be used to obtain the distance between the iPhone and the object.

Like the TrueDepth system on the front of the iPhone X, the report suggests that the rear 3D sensing will be used for augmented reality purposes. The prediction lines up with a report from Bloomberg’s Alex Webb, who last year said future iPhones will be equipped with rear-facing 3D sensing capabilities.

At the time, Webb reported that Apple was evaluating a time-of-flight approach that calculates the time it takes for a laser to bounce off surrounding objects to create a 3D image of the environment, but Lu believes that Apple will instead use the triple-lens approach for the rear camera system.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly expressed his profound interest in augmented reality. Last year, Apple released its ARKit platform, enabling developers to create augmented reality apps for iPhones and iPads on iOS 11.

Meanwhile, the third lens would likely have a longer focal length for enhanced zoom capabilities, according to Lu.

The long-focus lens would likely enable 3x optical zoom on an iPhone for the first time, enabling users to magnify the image in the viewfinder by up to three times without a blurry reduction in quality like digital zoom. iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X models feature 2x optical zoom for comparison.

Huawei’s new P20 Pro smartphone became the first with a triple-lens rear camera system, including a 40-megapixel lens, a 20-megapixel monochrome lens, and an eight-megapixel telephoto lens with up to 3x optical zoom.

Yuanta Securities analyst Jeff Pu also expects Apple to release at least one iPhone with a triple-lens rear camera next year.

Tags: udn.com, 2019 iPhones
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How to digitize your handwritten notes using the eBeam Smartpen

There’s something romantic, in an age of keyboards and voice-to-text functions, about the art of writing by hand. A person’s handwriting is almost as unique as a fingerprint, and there is even some evidence to suggest that taking notes by hand helps people retain knowledge better than simply typing it.

In many professional fields, however, you need to be able to share your work with others, and scanning handwritten notes can be a hassle. Thankfully, a company called Luidia has a gadget that can help: The eBeam Smartpen.

Billed as a “smartpen,” the eBeam comprises three main components: The pen itself, a sensor that tracks the pen’s movements, and a case that holds them both. The whole package is remarkably small, but the benefits are huge.

After installing the eBeam app and connecting your phone or another device to the sensor via Bluetooth, place the sensor at the top of your paper, notebook, or what have you. As you write or draw, the sensor will follow the pen’s movements, copying and pasting them into a digital document housed within the app.

Because of  way the eBeam works, you don’t even need a sheet of paper to utilize the device. Simply set the eBeam on a flat surface like a table and replace the pen’s ink cartridge with the included stylus tip. Once done, you can “write” on the flat surface like you would normally, and the device will transmit those movements into the digital document.

When you’re ready to move on to a new page, simply tap the appropriate button on the top of the eBeam. When finished, the app will save all the pages as a single file, which you can then share via email, Facebook, or a slew of other popular services.

If you want people to watch you as you work — if you’re a professor giving a lecture, for instance, or a manager leading a team meeting — the eBeam even allows you stream your writing to other devices, a feature even the best styli don’t offer.

David Cogen — a regular contributor here at Digital Trends — runs TheUnlockr, a popular tech blog that focuses on tech news, tips and tricks, and the latest tech. You can also find him on Twitter discussing the latest tech trends.

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Virgin Galactic ‘neck and neck’ with Blue Origin in space tourism race

Just weeks after Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity spaceplane completed its first powered test flight, Virgin boss Richard Branson says he’s getting ready to don his astronaut garb for its first commercial suborbital space trip.

Branson said in an upcoming BBC interview that Virgin Galactic’s debut mission was “months away, not years away, so it’s close,” adding that there are “exciting times ahead.”

The billionaire entrepreneur founded space tourism company Virgin Galactic in 2004, and is racing against rivals — Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin among them — to become the first to offer a service for moneyed folks in search of a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience. And Branson is determined to be on board when the VSS Unity heads skyward on its debut outing for tourists.

The Brit told the BBC that he’s already undertaking astronaut, fitness, and centrifuge training for his trip to near-space.

While Musk’s SpaceX has been making significant progress with efforts to deploy satellites and send cargo to the International Space Station via the company’s reusable rocket system, Branson believes Virgin Galactic’s immediate competitor in the tourism-related space race is Bezos’ Blue Origin, whose New Shepard rocket has so far completed eight successful test launches since its first one in 2015.

Branson said he believes his team is “neck and neck” with Blue Origin when it comes to getting paying punters into space.

However, acknowledging the disaster that struck Virgin Galactic in 2014 when one of its pilots died in a failed test flight, 67-year-old Branson said, “Ultimately, we have to do it safely. It’s more a race with ourselves to make sure we have the craft that are safe to put people up there.”

After a two-year lay-off following the tragedy, Virgin Galactic took to the skies again in September 2016, performing the first glide test of its new SpaceShipTwo spaceplane, VSS Unity.

It followed up with in April with its first powered test. Taken high above California’s Mojave Desert by the WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft, Unity was released at 46,500 feet. Seconds later, Unity’s rocket motor fired up, sending the aircraft and its two pilots into an 80-degree climb, accelerating to Mach 1.87 during 30 seconds of rocket burn.

That’s pretty much how the first stages of the tourism flights will go, although the rocket will burn for longer to take the spaceplane to around 62 miles above sea level, considered as the boundary of space. After taking in the spectacular views and enjoying several minutes of weightlessness, the passengers will be instructed to return to their seats for the journey back to terra firma.

While both Unity and Blue Origin’s vehicles can carry up to six passengers, the travel experience in each will be very different. Blue Origin’s system involves a rocket launch whereas Virgin Galactic’s jet-powered WhiteKnightTwo takes off from a runway before Unity’s rocket engine fires up. The return journey is also different, with Unity gliding back for a runway landing, and New Shepard’s capsule deploying parachutes for touchdown.

Virgin Galactic is aiming to start its tourism service in the next 12 months. The company has already taken nearly 700 bookings for its suborbital flights, with each ticket costing a hefty $250,000. The company said that the growing list of travelers means anyone booking a ticket today is likely to have to wait until at least 2021 before they’ll be able to enjoy their out-of-this-world experience.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Virgin Galactic completes its first powered flight — what’s next?
• Blue Origin sends New Shepard space capsule to its highest altitude yet
• Blue Origin is working on the BE-4, a rocket engine that can launch 100 missions
• Watch the world’s largest plane barrel down a runway
• SpaceX makes rocket launches look easy, nails 25th Falcon 9 landing

What we want to see from a new iMac in 2018

Daven Mathies/Digital Trends

Apple may have a lot up its sleeve when it comes to iMac 2018 models — and we can’t wait! While the June WWDC event may reveal some details for Apple’s all-in-one computer line, we don’t know much about what will be announced.

We already know that Apple is probably going to launch three new Mac models this year, and one of those may be a brand new iMac line, which gives us plenty to work with. We also know that a redesigned Mac Pro is set for release sometime in 2019. So let’s go through the rumors and spell out what we’d like to see.

More Apple-based chips

Sam Lionheart/iFixit

Apple has been slowly transitioning toward supplying its own chips for a number of devices. The T1 and T2 co-processors in the newer versions of the iPhone and iPad are a great example of these slow efforts, and the iMac Pro had its own co-processor to work with. It’s not that big of a leap to assume that all iMacs will be getting their own Apple co-processors for a performance boost.

The Intel chips inside iMacs are also likely to get an annual update. It would be very fun if new versions of the iMac got access to advanced hexacore processors like the iMac Pro, and a good way to create more iMac purchase options for buyers who really want to customize their machines.

Pro features for standard iMacs

Obviously, if the iMac Pro line survives then it has to have elite features that set it apart. But we would really love to see some of the more universally useful features come to other iMacs in 2018. For example, UHS-II SD card support would be great for content creators, and that advanced cooling technology that the Pro uses would be welcome on all iMac models.

We’d also like to see better universal iMac compatibility with satellite iPads (and other devices) for more complex projects that are currently only supported by the Pro.

No more HDD

This would be an amazing upgrade for the iMacs (the Pro models already use a dual-SSD arrangement for their storage) that could increase speed and quality of life with one simple stroke.

It may seem like an obvious move, but we’re not entirely certain that Apple will embrace it. It depends on how hard Apple wants to push its Fusion Drive technology, or if it’s willing to let the Fusion Drive die off after a day in the sun in favor of a full switch to SSD. So while there’s a chance we’ll see full SSD iMacs for all lines this year, it’s not a guarantee.

A new design surprise

Okay, so maybe the curved concept above isn’t a great idea. However, there is already plenty of discussion out there about an iMac redesign (and a Reddit interview that mentions it, for what that’s worth). The slim, aluminum frame suits the iMac well, but Apple may be ready for a change, and the 2018 model could unveil a very different look. It would be very fun if we saw a more colorful, exuberant version of the iMac, perhaps available in a range of colors or with some new design choices that make for more interesting visuals. If Apple wants to bring its Touch Bar to iMacs, for example, it could pave the way for more interesting design choices.

It’s going to be the 20th anniversary of the iMac this year, and we expect something for it (Apple has done anniversary celebrations before). A new, modernized design would be a great opportunity to mark the date. There are a lot of exciting directions Apple could go here, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with.

The 8k iMac

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Okay, this is particularly far-fetched, but there have been rumors that Apple is planning on an “8k iMac” release for this year. Current iMacs go up to 5k Retina displays, but no further. If Apple really wanted to expand its display options for the iMac, it could potentially push resolutions higher.

That would probably also mean that the iMac displays would get even larger, since an 8k display would require a lot of real estate. That would be a really cool feature to advertise, although we’re a little uneasy just thinking how much it would cost.

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Google Pixel Buds review: Wireless, but still encumbered

Are these Buds for you?

Google’s Pixel Buds headphones were launched alongside the Pixel 2 and a whole bunch of other products back at the end of 2017, and they have easily been the worst-received and least-hyped Google hardware product since. (Though Google Clips may disagree.) With the Pixel 2 lacking a headphone jack it only made sense for Google to make its own Bluetooth headphones — but it also added a bunch of advanced features with full touch controls, instant pairing, voice commands and the promise of seamless Google Translate functionality. The problem is, it didn’t work all that well — but the price was still a steep $159.

I just took a vacation, spending a week in Mexico on beaches and golf courses relaxing and letting technology fall by the wayside. But in all of that time spent doing very little, I wanted to keep up with my podcasts, YouTube channels, and sports highlights, so I needed headphones — and I brought my Pixel Buds along. Here’s what I’ve learned in my months of using them casually since launch, and a solid week using them as my only pair headphones.

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The good parts

Google Pixel Buds What I like

Just as I found in my first week using them, the Pixel Buds nail the basics of being headphones. Despite their unorthodox design, the earbuds are extremely comfortable for long listening sessions. They’re very light, settle in your ears gently and fit well once you get the hang of adjusting the cord mechanism.

Unlike so many other earbuds, the Pixel Buds don’t go in your ear with a rubber tip, but instead rest gently on a couple of points of your ear and have a driver pointed toward your ear canal. This means the Pixel Buds are compatible with far more ear sizes and shapes (particularly if you have mismatched ear sizes), and don’t require a set of removable tips to get a good fit. Even with the cord on my neck, I never had discomfort even after hours of continuous listening.

And the lack of deep in-ear placement has the added benefit of not transferring noise from the cord back into your ears — whether I was walking, jogging or hitting golf balls at the driving range, my movements never brought scratchy interference to the audio. That likely contributes to the fact that I really like how the Pixel Buds sound — at least, as far as Bluetooth headphones go. Sure you get a little more ambient noise mixed in, but the Pixel Buds get plenty loud to help cancel that out. And whether it was listening to podcasts or music, I never had an issue with the audio quality or bass compared to any typical pair of consumer earbuds. Phone calls on the Pixel Buds are great, too, and I never had a complaint from the person on the other end.

The Pixel Buds are extremely comfortable for long listening sessions, and fit a wide variety of ears.

Google’s May update for the Pixel Buds dramatically improved the device switching process, which was previously cumbersome and antithetical to the “just open the case and use them” goal. Now all you have to do to switch connections is initiate the connection from a previously-paired device, and the Pixel Buds will always change to it. Overall I prefer this method of forcing the connection from the sending device’s end over cycling through paired devices with taps and clicks (or an app) on the headphone’s end. Initial pairing is, of course, still an absolute breeze on any Android phone using Fast Pair — and on a computer, it’s the same as any other pair of Bluetooth headphones.

With the Pixel Buds and their case fully charged prior to leaving, I made it through my entire week in Mexico without plugging them in. Just casually using them for an hour or two here and there, swapping between my phone and MacBook, I never had to pause to charge when I’d prefer to be listening. Google rates the Pixel Buds for 5 hours of listening on their own, and I can’t think of many situations where I need to have wireless earbuds in for 5 hours straight — aside from a long plane ride, at which point I upgrade to my Bose QC35s anyway.

The case may seem annoying at first, but the battery life freedom it offers is worth it.

The case is rated for another 4 to 5 charges, which is plenty. Carrying the case is in some ways more cumbersome than just the earbuds, but knowing that every time I take the Pixel Buds out they have a 100% charge vastly outweighs the downsides. With the battery life I’ve experienced, I’m charging the Pixel Buds case once for every 30 hours of listening … every other small pair of earbuds that charges independently won’t get anywhere near that number. (And a little pro tip: you can even charge the Pixel Buds case via USB-C from your phone in a pinch.)

I have some complaints about the Pixel Buds charging case, but they’re outweighed by the positives. The fabric looks great, feels fantastic, and despite my fears hasn’t faded or stained after months of use. The hinge is still taught after hundreds of opens and closes, and the magnet has proven to be strong enough to keep the case closed when tumbling around in a beach bag with a whole bunch of other stuff.

Does not translate

Google Pixel Buds What’s not good

Google’s promise of seamless live translation of multiple languages using the Pixel Buds just never panned out. It didn’t even demo particularly well, and in the real world it effectively doesn’t work at all — both technologically and, more importantly, socially.

When I’m standing at a street vendor in Mexico trying to order a couple tacos and a beer (which I did often, as you’d imagine), the guy behind the counter isn’t going to wait 30-plus seconds for me to fire up my Pixel Buds, ask it to translate, and then stick my phone out so the conversation is heard. Hand gestures and a mix of English and limited Spanish is going to get me much further in that transaction in a fraction of the time — or at the very most I can ask for a moment of their time to use the Google Translate app on my phone.

Even if the translation feature was flawlessly implemented, which it’s extremely far from being, there’s still a social barrier to talking to another person while wearing headphones. For as small as these earbuds are, they’re still plenty noticeable — and the cord dangling on your neck is a dead giveaway that you have a device on you. Having earbuds in is the universal sign for “I don’t want to hear you right now,” and initiating an interaction in which you don’t speak someone else’s language by walking up with headphones in your ears is not a good idea.

But put the admittedly niche translation feature aside — there are many other more practical issues with the Pixel Buds that everyone will have to deal with. The biggest problem is their reliance on touch controls for every interaction. There’s a single tap for play/pause, a double tap for advanced functions, a press-and-hold for Assistant, and a swipe forward/back for volume control … all on a tiny earbud that doesn’t fit firmly in your ear. It’s a recipe for frustration, and even with how long I’ve used the Pixel Buds I haven’t been able to get it to work consistently.

Even after months of use, these touch controls are still a disaster.

The play/pause tap is the easiest of the bunch, but because the earbud is so small it’s impossible to get 100% of the time. If your finger is wet at all, for example if you just set down your condensation-laden cold beer can, you have less than a 50-50 chance of registering the tap. No matter if your finger is dry, forward/back swipes for volume control are often registered as a single tap, pausing your audio, or as a long press, activating Assistant. Any hesitation or missed aim on an intentional long-press is registered as a double tap.

My longest-held frustration with the Pixel Buds’ touch controls was the propensity for accidental touch activation when handling them between the case and my ears, which has just now been rectified. An update in early May lets you manually turn off or on the Pixel Buds with a quick triple-tap of the right earbud, so you can safely dangle the earbuds around your neck or pop them in their case without accidentally turning back on your music. Rumor has it that Google is working on a way for the Pixel Buds to detect when they’re removed from your ear and pause audio, which would be the preferred method to do this considering they’re supposed to be “smart,” but the triple-tap has removed a huge amount of frustration with accidental touches.

The latest software update fixed some of the biggest flaws, but there are hardware issues here that can’t be addressed.

And speaking of those smarts, much like the translation feature, Google Assistant hasn’t been a regular feature put to use with my Pixel Buds. Yes it works for the typical knowledge-style questions — like what the weather is like this afternoon, or what your next appointment is — but isn’t well-suited to headset controls like skipping tracks or playing different media. And for most voice commands, the response I get will be better handled by just taking my phone out of my pocket rather than dealing with long sequences of voice controls, audio feedback and pauses.

A totally unexpected issue I found over time is how the cord connecting the earbuds aged. Because of the little twist and tuck you have to do with the earbuds’ cord to get it placed just so in the charging case, my Pixel Buds cord has developed a curve and kink in the middle of it where you have to pinch to perform the move. This tight bend never flattens out again, and it means that if you twist either of the earbuds in the process of putting them in your ear the cord doesn’t sit on your neck properly and is bothersome. The cord is tough, and in no way fragile, but the downside is that it’s too stiff to be flexible (literally and figuratively) with how you deploy it.

Great ideas, poor execution

Google Pixel Buds Review

The Pixel Buds are frustrating to review because they’re such a typically “Google” product. They have a unique and thoughtful design that’s comfortable, intuitive and has a few “wow” features. But they’re encumbered by the frustration of the core touch interface not being implemented well and major advanced features that hardly work at all.

As a pair of Bluetooth headphones, the Pixel Buds absolutely nail the basics. The sound quality is quite good, they’re comfortable to use for hours at a time, the pairing and connection process is simple, and the charging case frees you from battery anxiety and has unexpectedly even held up to months of use. But Google’s implementation of a touch control system is a disaster, and is even less forgivable when there’s still a cord attached to the earbuds that could easily incorporate in-line button controls. The “smart” parts of these earbuds underwhelm every step of the way, and while some have been fixed in software others remain half-baked or unable to be fixed with just an update.

The Good

• Comfort is truly fantastic
• Sound is above average for earbuds
• Battery life is great with the case
• Pairing and changing devices is a breeze
• Case has held up over several months

The Bad

• Touch controls are a disaster
• Cord gets kinked and twisted
• Assistant commands have limited use
• Live translation is effectively useless
• Expensive considering lackluster features

3
out of 5

If the Pixel Buds were less expensive, perhaps $79, I could look past the cumbersome touch controls, useless translation feature and questionable “smart” functionality. But if you take away all of the advertised advanced features Google advertises with the Pixel Buds, charging $159 for what are then essentially dumb Bluetooth earbuds is a tough ask. The Pixel Buds are extremely comfortable, sound good and have long battery life, but so do lots of other Bluetooth headphones that are $50 or even $100 less.

There are lots of great ideas here. If the execution were better there may be some sort of justification of the higher price, at least when added to the basic things they do really well, but as it stands you just can’t expect people to pay this much for the Pixel Buds.

See at Best Buy
See at Google Store