One of the really cool features found in Apple’s best Apple Watches (such as the Apple Watch 8) is the Noise app. It’s a nifty tool that uses the smartwatch’s built-in microphone to monitor ambient noise and warn you if the noise might harm your hearing.
This tool is just one of the health features you’ll find on your smartwatch. It’s always a good idea to turn it on if you go to noisy places often. Great to remind you when you need to use your hearing protection.
9to5Google reports that the latest version of the Google Pixel 7’s Android System Intelligence software includes “loud alerts.” The findings suggest that the feature could “alert when hearing-damaging loud sounds are detected” and work very similarly to the Apple Watch feature.
Not much else is known about Pixel tools that appear to be in development. We don’t know when it will be released, but its inclusion in the APK suggests that it may be released soon. It could be released as part of the next Android update or announced at Google I/O 2023 on May 10th.
It sounds neat, but how reliable is it in practice?
How well does this feature work? We can’t complain that our gadgets are getting new and improved features, but are leaked hearing protections as good for Google Pixel phones as they are for Apple Watch?
Apple Watch has a lot of useful tools (Image credit: Shutterstock/DenPhotos)
Certainly there are some big advantages. For one, the functionality is right there on your smartphone, so you don’t have to buy an expensive smartwatch. If you forget to charge it, it’s better to keep the phone on all the time to conserve power.
However, carrying your phone in your pocket can muffle the noise and make it feel quieter than it actually is. If your phone is making noise while using it, this shouldn’t be a problem. If you’re tidying up, your Google Pixel may not properly warn you about the hazards of noise levels.
Smartwatches, on the other hand, are more likely to be more accurate in detecting noise levels because they are always exposed.
Google has likely taken these factors into account, so we’ll have to wait and see how well the feature performs if Google chooses to launch it.
