Google’s Pixel earbuds have always felt like a work in progress. The first-gen Pixel Buds was too futuristic for its time, the 2020 edition wasn’t reliable or comfortable, and the 2022 Pixel Buds Pro compromised on the design for better audio. It could never earn the default Android spot like the AirPods command for Apple’s user base. The latest Pixel Buds Pro 2 changes that: it feels like a coming of age for Google’s true-wireless lineup and takes and improves upon the best of its predecessors.
Looking at the Pixel Buds Pro 2, you’d nearly think it’s a new line of products altogether. Google has markedly shrunk its size – about 30 percent smaller and lighter – so that the buds are more comfortable to wear and don’t bulge out as much. They also come with a subtler version of the stabilizer fin, to keep them anchored no matter your fit preferences. The Buds Pro 2 also marks the debut of the Tensor A1 chip, Google’s custom silicon for the Pixel Buds, for an upgraded active noise cancellation performance and a host of accompanying smart features.
Google has packed a lot into the second-gen Pro earbuds but these upgrades come at an elevated cost. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 is $30 more expensive than the prior model. But after spending weeks with them, I found Google’s latest earbuds offer a complete experience rivaled only by Apple’s AirPods, and well worth the $229 price.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 – Design and Controls
For a “Pro,” the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are strikingly compact. Because Google has decided against a stem-equipped form factor, unlike Apple and Samsung, each of its buds is not only 10-15 percent lighter than the competition, but the smaller footprint also ensures they are not a drag on your ears when you use them for longer periods, such as on flights.
Plus, at the other end of the silicon tip lies a little fin stabilizer that anchors itself to the protruding of your ear canal’s opening. You can twist the earbud to adjust how tight you want the stabilizing wing to be. The unique mechanism proved surprisingly handy: when I wanted the earbud to remain snuggly fit, like on runs, I could twist it to the max to prevent it from falling, but during more day-to-day activities like at work, I loosened them up a bit for a comfier, yet stable position.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 ships with four bud sizes and once I found my match (the S), they remained sealed in my ears no matter the activity, from eating to workouts to even playing Nintendo Switch Sports. I also appreciated that the buds don’t stick out as much from my ears. When secured in, they look a bit like an oversized M&M, especially if you get them in the Wintergreen or Peony colors.
The cute aesthetic extends to the charging case, which resembles a smooth pebble any Gentoo penguin would approve. In addition to a status light, it houses a speaker that alerts you when it’s low on battery and can be used to locate it in case you lose it. While the vertically-oriented case is easier to slide into pockets, the one concern I have with it is its poor IP rating. Though the earbuds are water and dust resistant (IP54), the case can only withstand a limited amount of moisture (IPX4).
The only branding you’ll find on the Pixel Buds is the etched “G” on top of each earbud. This also functions as a capacitive touch button, enabling a series of gestures to control the playback, volume, and noise cancellation. You can swipe forwards or backward on the “G,” for example, to raise or lower the volume, tap thrice to switch trackers, press and hold to activate noise cancellation, and more.
I typically prefer stem-based controls because triggering them doesn’t affect the earbuds’ fit, but I had no issues with the ones offered on the Pixel Buds Pro 2. There’s enough room on the capacitive surface that the buds can clearly distinguish each gesture. The controls, in my experience, were accurate and quick, and I liked that I had the option to customize the press and hold action for each bud individually.
Purchasing Guide
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are available from Google, Amazon, and Best Buy for $229.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 – Software
Being a Google product, there’s no shortage of software tricks on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, and to my surprise, the majority of them were helpful and dependable. The Pixel Buds companion app, for instance, can actively run an auditory wellness check throughout your day, and tell you when your audio exposure is over the healthy limit. It can also guide you through a fit exercise to determine whether the bud size you’re using is ideal for maximizing noise cancellation.
By far, my favorite software tool was conversation detection. The earbuds temporarily disable the ANC and switch to the transparency mode as soon as they detect you’re speaking to someone. The mics ensure it’s only triggered when you speak, as opposed to anyone else in public, and it works near-instantly, eliminating the need for me to manually turn off the ANC while talking. Pairing is quick too, at least on Android. All you have to do is flip open the case and a prompt on your phone will help you set them up in seconds.
Apart from that, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 checks close to all the software boxes: they can connect to two devices at once and seamlessly switch between them, support Spatial audio and head tracking for compatible media, and allow you to fine-tune the equalizer.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 also has the ability to let you start conversing with the Gemini assistant with a “Hey Google, let’s talk” command. While that’s nice to have, Gemini itself is far from ready. It can’t, for example, set reminders, text someone, talk about sensitive topics like political news, and the list goes on.
Another downside to the Pixel Buds Pro 2’s software is Google’s refusal to add support for high-quality codecs. Like its predecessors, the Buds Pro 2 is limited to standard AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs. So if you’re someone who subscribes to and prefers high-resolution music, you will have to look elsewhere.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 – Performance
The audio performance of Google’s wireless earbuds has typically erred on the side of restraint, and the Pixel Buds Pro 2, for the most part, are the same. However, the upgrades thanks to the custom Tensor chip and a new “high-frequency chamber” are not all lost. The sound from the Buds Pro 2’s 11mm drivers, this time around, is much cleaner and richer in extracting the most details out of your music.
The low-ends aren’t as dominant as before and the drivers afford the mids and highs sufficient space and air to clearly shine through. It makes up for a wide soundstage that can equally immerse you in a track’s underlying kick drum as the vocals. While listening to complicated pieces like Hans Zimmer’s No Time for Caution, for instance, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 neatly produced the various overlapping instruments without letting any one overpower the output. Even at higher volumes, pop music sounds perky without ever getting muddy. By default, the bass is on the lower end to enable a sound that will appease most people, but you can easily tweak that from the settings.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2’s noise cancellation was impressive too. It comfortably blocked out lower frequencies like the high-intensive clamor of a busy street or a flight. Higher-end noises like honks and sirens still, of course, passed through, but the ANC toned them down enough that they wouldn’t prevent me from understanding the voices on a podcast I’m streaming.
The one aspect where the Pixel Buds Pro 2 can’t quite match its peers, like the AirPods Pro 2 and the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, is the mic quality. In most situations, it does a fine job of picking up your voice without making it sound robotic, and callers usually reported my voice crisp and loud. But it does introduce a few disturbances, such as a running tap, and it can distort a little because its mic is simply nowhere near as close and positioned towards your mouth as a stem-style earbud.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 – Battery Life
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 lasted longer than most ANC earbuds I’ve used, including the AirPods Pro 2. In my testing, which featured an always-on ANC and 30-40% volume levels, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 almost delivered on Google’s 8-hour claim. On average, they lasted seven hours on a single charge with ANC on, and 10-11 hours with ANC off. Together with the charging case’s endurance, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 offers a total listening time of 30 and 48 hours, respectively. You can charge the Pixel Buds Pro 2 via USB-C or wirelessly with any Qi-certified pad.
