After being made available on other Pixel devices such as smartphones, tablets, and nest devices, Google has finally brought the Google Assistant Quick Phrases feature to its Pixel Buds Pro. Launched over a year ago, the Pixel Buds Pro already offered several built-in Google features like Translate, making them quite smart. Now, with Quick Phrases, using voice commands on the Pixel Buds Pro has become even easier. This article will explore the convenience and limitations of this new feature.
The Quick Phrases feature eliminates the need to say “Hey Google” before giving a voice command. Instead, users can simply say the command without any wake-up phrase. This streamlined approach makes it more efficient to interact with the Google Assistant on the Pixel Buds Pro. For example, users can answer or decline incoming calls by simply saying “accept” or “decline” respectively. Similarly, alarms can be snoozed with a simple “snooze” command, and timers can be stopped by saying “stop”. These quick phrases offer a more natural and intuitive way to interact with the device.
Although the Quick Phrases feature may sound exciting, it is important to note its limitations. Currently, Pixel devices only support a limited number of commands with Quick Phrases. While answering, declining, and silencing calls, as well as snoozing and stopping alarms and timers are supported, the range of available commands is quite limited compared to the regular “Hey Google” voice commands. The functionality and versatility of Quick Phrases are restricted to specific tasks and actions, making it more suitable for completing tasks rather than initiating them.
To enable Quick Phrases on your Pixel Buds Pro, the process is simple. Open the Settings app, navigate to the “Quick Phrases” section, and toggle the settings to activate each quick phrase scenario. This allows users to customize their use of Quick Phrases and tailor the feature to their specific needs. Additionally, it is worth checking which devices support each quick phrase scenario in the same section to ensure compatibility.
While the convenience of Quick Phrases is undeniable, there are a few potential downsides to consider. Firstly, there is a risk of accidentally accepting an incoming call if one of the quick phrases is used in conversation, leading to unintended consequences. Additionally, someone else’s voice near the user may trigger the Quick Phrases, causing potential confusion or frustration. Lastly, the Google Assistant may mistakenly be triggered if a word similar to one of the quick phrases is detected, resulting in unintended actions. These downsides highlight the need for caution and awareness when using Quick Phrases.
It is important to note that users need to select only one language in the Google Assistant Settings. Currently, the supported languages for Quick Phrases on Pixel devices are English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. Therefore, users who speak languages other than the supported ones may not be able to take full advantage of this feature. As Google continues to improve and expand its language support, Quick Phrases may become more accessible to a wider range of users.
The introduction of Quick Phrases on the Pixel Buds Pro offers a convenient and efficient way to interact with the Google Assistant without the need for a wake-up phrase. While this feature simplifies certain tasks like managing calls and alarms, it is important to consider its limitations and potential downsides. The restricted range of commands and the risk of accidental triggers require users to exercise caution. Nonetheless, as Google continues to refine and expand Quick Phrases, it holds the potential to enhance user experience and make voice commands even more seamless.
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