Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, the most comfortable wireless earbuds I’ve used: review

HIGHLIGHT

In-ear wireless earbuds offer many benefits, but they aren’t always comfortable for long-term use, especially for people with smaller ears, myself included. This has been my experience with all the TWS earbuds I’ve reviewed over the past few years. LG’s ToneFree earbuds were my first choice for a comfortable fit, though their sound tuning wasn’t up to par with Apple or Sony earbuds. After using the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 for about a week, I can confidently say that these are among the best-sounding and most comfortable in-ear earbuds on the market. These earbuds also have several “smart” features including a crystal-clear transparency mode, conversation detection, and more.

However, the toughest challenge the Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds will face will be justifying their price. At Rs 22,999, the general consumer and audio enthusiasts may be tempted to switch to brands like Bose and Sony. Should they consider something else with the Pixel Buds Pro 2? Let’s find out.

Table of Contents

• Design
• Sound quality and ANC
• Apps and other features
• Battery
• Verdict

Design

Like the previous-generation Pixel Buds Pro earbuds, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 comes with a fairly large round case. The egg-shaped design of the case remains, with an off-white finish irrespective of the color of the earbuds. The off-white finish can be difficult to maintain, as I have sometimes noticed stains on it from my bag. However, a good wipe-down with a clean cloth should help, the case has a satin-like smooth that is smooth and shiny texture and the matte finish hides scratches.

The earbuds are available in different shades. Google offers options including Hazel (black), Wintergreen (green), and Peony (pink) – similar to this year’s Pixel 9 series. I reviewed the Porcelain (White) variant which matches the white aesthetics of my Pixel 9 Pro XL (Review). The earbuds have soft silicone tips and tiny wings for a comfortable fit. Different sizes of silicone ear tips are included in the box, giving users multiple options.

Google claims that the new Pixel Buds Pro 2 is 27 percent smaller and 24 percent lighter than the original Pixel Buds Pro. While these numbers might seem minuscule, the smallest changes can make a huge difference in the world of wireless earbuds. As I mentioned, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 offered the best comfortable fit even while running or chewing food. The lightweight design along with the soft silicone ear tips offer a comfortable wearing experience even after prolonged use.

The improved design also includes some small but thoughtful changes. If you take a closer look at the earbuds, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 have an irregular shape with multiple contours, while some competitors have a perfectly round or oval design. This allows the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to sit comfortably in the concha region of the ear (the bowl-shaped part of the outer ear) without causing discomfort in other areas.

The outer shell of the earbuds, which I jokingly call the belly of the Pixel Bud, has an elevated design. This design lets users adjust the fit by touching the edges rather than the middle, which can lead to inadvertently playing or pausing music. The elevated design also enhances touch controls, making it easier to change music tracks or adjust the volume without disturbing the fit.

My only problem with these earbuds is the shoddy IP rating for dust and water protection. Despite their high price tag, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are IP54 certified, which promises basic protection against water spraying. The case even gets IPX4 protection, which means protection only against water splashes but nothing against dust.

Sound quality and ANC

By default, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer a balanced sound profile with equal emphasis on the mids and lows. I mostly listened to music with this profile and thoroughly enjoyed especially the vocals and sound quality. Google hasn’t included the dual-driver setup that is available on many earbuds priced above Rs 12,000. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 was still able to deliver punchy bass without compromising on vocals. The “custom-designed” 11mm drivers also offer louder output, though that doesn’t matter to me as I usually set the loudness limit between 70 and 75 dB.

The addition of the Tensor A1 chip has improved the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency modes a lot. The microphones on the earbuds appear larger, allowing them to capture more ambient sounds. This results in a super-clear transparency mode that almost sounds like you’re not wearing earbuds at all. The combination of the larger microphones and Google’s proprietary chip resulted in reliable ANC.

I also didn’t face connectivity issues with the connected Pixel 9 Pro XL during my week of use. With ANC enabled, I also detected soft musical elements in select tracks. Whether it’s the light guitar riffs in The Stave’s new After School (All Now album) or the high-notes in Taylor Swift’s super-hit Lover, you get a balanced output. Even songs like Hanumankind’s Instagram hit “Big Dogs”, which blends hip-hop and rock elements, sound loud and rich.

For an enjoyable movie-watching experience the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, supports head tracking and spatial audio for 3D surround sound. The feature works subtly, often indistinguishable, but is useful in its way. I wished the head tracking was more prominent, as it is usually more noticeable on the high-end Galaxy Buds when used with Samsung Galaxy tablets and smartphones. While spatial sound works with select apps, Google needs to collaborate with more partners for its wider use.

Finally, the beamforming mics offer a decent sound quality during calls, but voices may not be completely clear if the background is windy. This could improve substantially if Google rolls out the iOS-inspired voice isolation for calls, which relies on machine learning models. This will provide an edge to Pixel Buds users with Pixel smartphones.

App and other features

Like the older Pixel Buds, the new Pixel Buds Pro 2 can be managed by the dedicated Pixel Buds app for Android. Using the Buds Pro 2 with an iPhone via Bluetooth is pointless as you won’t get app support and many premium features. Notably, you can control the earbuds from a MacBook using a web app.

As I referential, I used the Google Pixel Buds Pro2 with a Pixel 9 Pro XL, which unlocks some exclusive features. For example:

Spatial sound support is limited to Pixel phones (except the A-series). The Pixel Buds Pro 2 can also launch the Gemini Live feature, although it didn’t work during my review. However, I was able to launch the Gemini Assistant via voice command and a long press.

There is also an auto-switch feature that allows users to seamlessly switch audio between Pixel phones and tablets. I couldn’t test it, but the multi-device support worked fine.

Google is also offering AirPods Pro-inspired conversation detection to switch between ANC and transparency for amazing conversations with people around you. It works largely as promised, but the switch isn’t always seamless. Also, conversation mode only activates when you’re speaking first, and not second. This means if you’re singing while listening to your favorite track, transparency mode activates automatically, which can be a bit annoying.

The remaining features are universal to Android smartphones. These include auto-pause, touch controls, equalizer, ANC and transparency, device finding, and hearing wellness. The Pixel Buds app is also easy to use, although its interface could have been better.

In my experience, I found the app to be a bit text-heavy with very few animations when you change controls. More engaging elements could improve the overall user experience, which I’m sure would work in Google’s favor.

Battery

During my week-long review, I charged the Pixel Buds Pro 2 case only once, and the earbuds still had a battery left. This is probably because of the chunky case that houses the large battery unit. I used the earbuds for about an hour every day with ANC enabled, and they performed well without any issues.

Google promises 12 hours of playback with ANC, which seems about right, as I already use these earbuds for about 6-7 hours (ANC enabled) without interruption. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 promises 48 hours of playback with the case with ANC enabled.

There is also no charger or cable in the box. I used the OnePlus 67W charger and the Pixel Buds 2 Pro took about an hour to fully charge. google also offers Qi wireless charging.

I wish Google would show the battery life of the case in the Pixel app, Currently. You can only see the battery life when you open the lid.

Verdict

The Google Pixel Buds 2 Pro represents what a new generation of products should look like. Whether it’s music or overall comfort, Google’s new earbuds are an easy recommendation. If you’re already using a Pixel smartphone, the recommendation becomes even easier.

Read More Google Pixel 9 Pro pre-orders in India start: offers, how to book, delivery date

Having said that, Google should at least consider improving its durability with more reliable water and dust protection. Hopefully, some changes to the app’s interface will appeal to users. If you’re using an iPhone, it’s best to consider the AirPods or Sony earbuds, which offer great app support.

Other Android users may want to consider the Pixel Buds Pro 2 if they prioritize strong ANC, good microphones, and balanced sound quality.

Editor’s Rating: 8/10

• Pros
• Lightweight design
• Balanced sound
• Crystal clear transparency mode
• Feature-rich
• Cons
• Average dust and water protection
• The Pixel Buds app needs improvement