Summary of Reddit Comments on "instant translator earbuds"

Google Pixel Translator Earbuds

• The earbuds alone do not translate languages; the mobile device does the translating.
• They need to be tethered to a phone, and the Google Translate service does the translation.
• The earbuds are not standalone translators, they are more like speakers and a mic with the actual translation happening on the paired smartphone.

Pros:

• "pretty incredible. local hospitals pay hundreds... imagine every nurse having a pair of these..."
• Cons:
  • "As much as I'd like this to be the cool new tech it sounds like, I've seen too many bad translations from Google."
  • "for the live demo, they chose their words very carefully... results can go from passable to wtf real quickly..."
  • "I personally don't think it's worth it at $150."

Google Translate App

• The app's translation can be spotty and requires clear and simple speech for accuracy.
• It may struggle with heavy dialects or tonal languages.

Pros:

• "It's fun and sad."
• "Similar outcome, same tech."
• "You can hear people talking in other languages."

Cons:

• "Text to speech, text translation, and speech synthesis aren't good technologies."
• "I have no reason to expect this thing to work smoothly."
• "Google is too confident about its translation engine."

Actual News: $160 Earphones

• The earphones are optional; live translation can be done through any Android phone with Google Translate.
• The only addition the earphones bring seems to be a dedicated button.

Pros:

• "They are really cool and super handy especially for traveling."

Cons:

• "You don't need to buy a pixel or $160 earbuds for real-time translation on Android."
• "If I was translating live, I don't think I'd want headphones on."
• "It only works with the Pixel."

Overall, the Google Pixel Translator Earbuds seem convenient for hands-free translation, but users express concerns about the accuracy of translations and value for the price. The Google Translate App is seen as a viable alternative despite its potential limitations. The addition of $160 earphones is considered unnecessary for real-time translation given the existence of the app on Android phones.