FCC listings always prove a great way to learn more about upcoming devices, including those that simply pop up out of the blue, like these Google-made Bluetooth headphones. The FCC listing not only comes with tons of pictures of both the inside and outside of the new device, but also the full user manual, rich with information. These new headphones bear the model number GID5B, and feature Bluetooth, active noise cancellation, and a wired mode that allows them to be used with a 3.5mm headphone jack. The user manual notes that the headphones have not only been put through the FCC for approval, but that they conform to EU directive requirements, which likely means that these will see international release.
The headphones here are a hefty pair of cans with contouring ear pads. The charging port is a Micro USB affair, bucking Google’s recent love of USB Type C ports. The included wire for 3.5mm audio output has controls on it, which Google warns in the user manual may not be fully compatible with all devices. The headphones have a standard 3.5mm jack for wired audio output, so users can sub in any aux cable they may want to use. The manual gives no indication of whether headphones can be used across simultaneous audio streams, whether over Bluetooth, or Bluetooth and a wired connection. Likewise, it’s unknown if the microphone used for active noise cancellation can also be used to input voice commands for Google Assistant or make phone calls.
In the box, you’ll find the headphones themselves, a carrying pouch for them, Google’s quick start guide, the aforementioned 3.5mm aux cable, and a plain-Jane Micro USB charging cable, which plugs into any USB Type A slot. Data sync over USB is not mentioned in the user manual, though users will be able to somehow change the Bluetooth ID of the headphones when they’re paired to an Android device. These headphones use a 40mm dynamic driver, offer 32 ohms of resistance, have a frequency range between 12Hz and 20KHz, sport a sensitivity of around 100 decibels with a 3 or 4 decibel margin of error, and are powered by a 600mAh battery. The FCC documentation does not mention release date or price, but these look ready for primetime and are packed with premium features, so expect them to launch fairly soon, likely with a somewhat high price tag.
