Google Channels Jony Ive in Ad Promoting Pixel 5a Headphone Jack

Google today shared a new Pixel 5a ad that's meant to parody some of the product intro videos that former Apple design chief Jony Ive used to make to highlight new iPhone features.


In the video, Google spends a full two minutes describing the design of the Pixel 5a's headphone jack in exaggeratory language, and as noted by CNET, there are even two moments where the video uses Ive's British pronunciation of aluminum. From the video description:

Calling this perfectly-symmetrical, technological marvel, a "headphone jack" may feel like an understatement...but technically, that's what it's called, so... fair enough. Behold! The Headphone Jack, on the Google Pixel 5a with 5G.

Since Jony Ive is no longer Apple's design chief and does not make Apple's product videos, it's not clear why Google has opted to make a video imitating him two years after he left the company. A video promoting the headphone jack is also an unusual choice as fervor over the component has died down now that many high-end smartphones have eliminated it, including Google's own flagship Pixel models.

The $449 Pixel 5a goes on sale today. In addition to a headphone jack, it features a 6.3-inch display with hole punch camera cutout, IP67 water resistance, 5G connectivity, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chip.

Google's Pixel 5a competes with the $699 iPhone 12 mini and the $399 ‌iPhone‌ SE at the current time, but Apple plans to release an upgraded 5G version of the iPhone SE for 2022.

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Top Rated Comments

Attirex Avatar
50 months ago
Ppl: That was really funny.
Ppl: That was stupid.

....aaaaaand that pretty much sums up what will be the 20 pages of this thread. OK, good night!
Score: 45 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gsmornot Avatar
50 months ago
I think it was funny. After years of events I get the context of the video.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wyarp Avatar
50 months ago
"Ive's British pronunciation of aluminum" ... You mean the CORRECT pronunciation of AL-U-MIN-IUM!?
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
florida man Avatar
50 months ago
I’m in the “it was funny” camp.

Apple pioneered the practice of breathless hyperbole narration over close-up device video, which is kind of ridiculous if you take a second to think about it.

If you can’t laugh at this, you’re taking your smartphone to seriously.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mi7chy Avatar
50 months ago

Feels super late and not very relevant. I don't know anyone who uses wired headphones on a smart phone.
Obviously you're not an audio enthusiast. Wired is still best for quality, latency and no downtime from having to recharge wireless earbuds.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JDuggan Avatar
50 months ago
Might've been funny like 8 years ago.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)