The Pixel Buds Pro 2 improve on the key shortcomings of the predecessors, making them one of the best second-gen products. The new Google earbuds are similar-looking but smaller, lighter, and more comfortable – in fact, these are some of the most comfortable earbuds I’ve worn to date. But the upgrades come at a $30 price increase. Are these worth the $229 / €249 / INR 22,900 price tag? The short answer is, yes. The long one is below.
Designed For All-Day Comfort
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are 27% smaller and 1.5 grams lighter than the first-gen Pixel Buds Pro. I haven’t been this impressed by the comfort factor of a pair of earbuds in a long time. They are small and light enough to wear for long durations.
I’ve worn them for hours at a stretch without feeling fatigue or discomfort. The default ear tips formed a tight seal in my ears, but if they don’t for you, you can choose from the included sizes of ear tips that should fit most people just fine.
The buds put even if you’re jogging or headbanging to heavy metal music. They are IP54-rated, so you don’t need to worry about sweat damaging your earbuds. These earbuds are also great for side sleepers. Unlike the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and AirPods Pro 2, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 stay in your ears when you rest on your side.
Like the Pixel Buds Pro, Google offers a full suite of controls on the Pixel Buds Pro 2. For context, non-stem earbuds usually make you compromise on at least one control—playback, volume, ANC, or voice assistant. You get all of these simultaneously on the Pixel Buds Pro 2.
You can single, double, or triple tap to control music playback, tap and hold for ANC control, and swipe forward or backward for volume control. The last one took a bit of getting used to, and it’s not as intuitive as swipes on stem-design earbuds, but I like having the ability to control volume without touching my phone. You can assign Gemini and ANC to specific sides if you need touch control for both.
The earbuds reside in a familiar flat, egg-shaped case that fits in your pocket. Though, it feels a little on the bigger side. The matte finish looks and feels lovely, but I fear it’ll pick up stains over time.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2’s case features a Bluetooth pairing button on the back, a USB-C port alongside a small speaker at the bottom, and a notification light on the front. The speaker notifies you when it’s charging, when Conversation Awareness mode kicks in, and when locating the case if you misplace it.
Pairing them with my Google Pixel 9 Pro XL was easy-peasy, lemon-squeezy. You don’t need an app for Google phones—just open the case, and the Buds will pop up on the screen.
The same goes for other Android phones, but you’ll need the Pixel Buds app to adjust the controls and update the firmware. There’s no iOS support for the app, so while you can pair them with an iPhone via Bluetooth, the experience won’t be the same as on Android.
Upgraded Sound And ANC Performance
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 feature new dynamic drivers, Google’s upgraded Tensor A1 chip, and updated algorithms that combine to offer excellent sound performance. They don’t support LDAC or AptX codecs, as Google sticks with AAC and SBC. But I’ve loved listening to acoustic, rock and pop music on these.
The first thing you’ll notice when you listen to the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is the detail and clarity. These sound more natural than before, with more depth and detail in the tunes. The bass isn’t boomy but not loose either—it’s powerful without being uncomfortable. While I adjusted the equalizer to sound more thumpy when listening to rock music, the solid bass performance is good for most genres.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer great stereo separation, meaning you can distinctly hear each instrument, even in complex tracks. The improved treble enhances energetic tracks, providing a delightful listening experience. Vocals are clear as well.
Thanks to the tight in-ear seal, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer solid passive noise cancellation. Activate ANC, and you’re well-isolated from ambient noise—I’d rate it on par with the AirPods Pro 2 and better than the Sony XM5s. I also found the transparency mode impressive because it doesn’t sound tinny. The buds let in outside sound that feels natural. You can hear the fan running or the dog barking without it feeling artificial.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are rated to last up to eight hours with ANC on, 12 hours with ANC off, and up to 48 hours with the case. I used them for five hours straight with ANC on, and they didn’t falter on battery life. You can expect them to last through long flights and a couple of workdays.
A Robust Set Of Features With Work-In-Progress Gemini Live
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 have a new feature called Gemini Live. It’s esseantially a conversational, hands-free Google Assistant. You can talk to the voice assistant, interrupt, and change your query like you’re having a conversation. It can be triggered by saying, “Ok Google, let’s talk.” The wake command works effortlessly, even during music sessions.
However, it remains buggy for now. For instance, I asked the assistant to change its voice from male to female, which it confirmed it did but continued to use the default voice.
When I asked about tax rates in Miami, it finished with something like, “Oh, I’m not a financial advisor, so don’t come to me for financial advice,” which I appreciate. Google makes it clear that Gemini Live isn’t here for advice, just general queries.
However, Gemini Live needs to learn when to offer a mathematical explanation and when to give a direct answer. If I ask, “How much would a $1,000 watch cost with a 30% discount?” I want the answer, not the explanation of how to do the math with multiplication and division. It did the latter in most cases. I’m hopeful Gemini Live will improve and I look forward to using it in the future.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 also offer a Conversation Detect feature that pauses your music when the buds detect your voice, like the Sony XM5s. The case makes a “ting” sound when it’s triggered. You can toggle the sound and the feature on or off in the Pixel Buds app or through the Settings menu on Google phones.
Voice calls are also great on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, and I found them second only to the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. My voice was clear, and the buds muffled wind noise on the busy streets of Delhi. Notably, call performance is better on a Pixel phone than on any other Android device.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Review: Verdict
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a fantastic pair of earbuds and my favorite Google hardware this year. They are the most comfortable earbuds I’ve worn in a long time. I would pick these over the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, Sony XM5s, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra in terms of comfort.
If you’re a Samsung user, I’d still recommend the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro for better call performance and built-in wake words. But if you have a Google phone or any other Android device, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will serve you well.
Alongside being comfortable, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 sound great, offer excellent noise cancellation and transparency modes, and have a robust feature set with strong battery life and good call performance.
The extra $30 over the previous generation is absolutely worth it. If you’re in the market for earbuds under $250 / INR 25,000, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are an easy recommendation.
Pros:
- Excellent comfort
- Great sound
- Powerful ANC
- Natural-sounding transparency mode
- Good battery life
Cons:
- Case is on the bigger side
