Putting your music and all the power of Google in reach at all times, and even offering instant vocal translations straight into your ear like a real-life Babel fish, the newly-unveiled Pixel Buds promise to be the ultimate travel companion.

Unveiled at the Made By Google event overnight in San Francisco, the $249 earbuds don't yet have an Australian release date but are expected to be available by the end of the year. They're part of a slew of new Google-made hardware including the Pixel 2 smartphones, a Pixelbook laptop, new Google Home speakers and the Clips camera.

The Pixel Buds work as standard Bluetooth 4.0 earbuds with any device, supporting AAC and A2DP along with hands-free calling. They feature two built-in microphones and touching the right earbud allows wearers with Android handsets to speak to Google Assistant on their phone, without needing to preface every request with "Okay, Google".

Unlike Apple's AirPods, the Pixel Buds are linked with a cable, which makes them harder to lose and lets users wear them around their neck when not listening to music.