Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 are not only a huge leap forward in terms of design, but also come with a number of new features. Apart from the design and features, these are also the first commercially available earbuds that are specifically designed to let you interact and interact with Google’s new Gemini Live virtual AI assistant. Some of these features, including the ability to talk to Gemini Live, are available on the older Buds Pro. However, Google has put its first audio chip, called Tensor A1, to use in other places. And the differences it brings certainly make the Buds Pro 2 a solid upgrade over the previous model.
Pixel Buds Pro 2 Design: Eggstatic
- Size – 22.74 mm x 23.08 mm x 17.03 mm (bud); 49.9 mm x 63.3 mm x 25.00 mm (case)
- Weight – 4.7 (buds); 65.0 grams (case)
- Water and dust resistance – IP54 (buds); IPX4 (case)
- Color – Peony, porcelain, wintergreen and hazel
The egg-shaped case looks the same as before. The texture of its polycarbonate shell still feels like the surface of an eggshell and it’s equally good at picking up colors from the various surfaces you place it on. In one instance, it even picked up the blue color from my used jeans when I kept it in a small pocket. But there is no need to worry, because a quick wipe with a tissue and some water makes it look as good as new.
Except for the additional speaker cutout, the Buds Pro 2 case (right) is difficult to distinguish from the Buds Pro (left).
There’s a new addition on the outside, and you’ll find it at the bottom of the case. Next to the Type-C charging port, you will find a second cavity which is for the speaker. This speaker produces a sound when you are looking for it through the Find My Device app. The sound is loud enough to be heard in a big house or a quiet park, but not on city streets (especially in Mumbai).
The design of the Buds Pro 2 (right) has changed for the better
As far as the earbuds themselves are concerned, their new design is smaller and lighter than the previous Buds Pro, which now feel overly bulky and heavy. The smaller design doesn’t fall out of my ears (which is useful when I fall asleep wearing them), and they fit much better because they have a smaller footprint. I had no trouble wearing the Buds Pro 2 for hours and almost forgot I was wearing them at times, unlike the Buds Pro, which felt heavy and obstructive.
The stabilizer (winglet) ensures that the Buds Pro 2 stay in your ears even while jogging
The new (twist-to-adjust) winglet or stabilizer adds good support when running or rotating. But you have to make sure to try all the silicone ear tips, because the medium ones left me with terrible ear pain on the first day. It turned out that I had to switch to smaller tips when using the Buds Pro 2. My regular choice for earphones are medium tips.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are inserted into the case the wrong way (top) and the right way (bottom).
One annoying thing about their design is that it’s hard to tell if you’ve placed them in the charging case correctly or not. The awkward design of the case also allows buds to be placed in the wrong cavity. And once you put them in, you’ll soon realize that they’re placed incorrectly when you try to close the case. I faced this dilemma several times and wished that the cavities that hold the buds in the charging case were better designed.
Pixel Buds Pro 2 App and Specifications: Feature-packed!
- Processor – Google Tensor A1
- Driver – Custom 11mm Dynamic Driver
- Companion App – Google Pixel Buds
- Gesture control – yes
The Pixel Buds companion app works great on non-Pixel smartphones too
The Pixel Buds app ensures that the essential features of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are available on non-Pixel smartphones as well. The app basically packages what’s normally available in the Bluetooth settings of Pixel smartphones into a separate app for non-Pixel devices and is quite easy to use. In addition to being able to adjust equalizer, multipoint, and audio switching settings, the app is also required for firmware updates on non-Pixel smartphones.
It’s finally easier to take the Buds Pro 2 out of the charging case as they are raised slightly higher than the Buds Pro
I looked at the app on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (Review) and OnePlus 12 (Review) and wasn’t surprised to find some features missing. Without a Pixel smartphone, users won’t be able to particularly enjoy features like spatial audio and the same applies for head tracking that can be used with the former.
Apart from these two, all other features are accessible on non-Pixel devices by simply installing the app. However, the same can’t be said about using the Pixel Buds Pro 2 with iOS-powered devices, as it only offers the bare minimum (listening to music), so avoid it unless you really have to. It is better.
The Hearing Wellness feature is a nice addition to the Pixel Buds app
It’s good to see a hearing welfare section included in the app. This ensures that you don’t go deaf while increasing the volume by alerting users about it. The section of the app shows the current level (in dB) and also provides exposure reports for the last 24 hours or last 7 days, which is nice.
Like the Buds Pro, the Buds Pro 2 also have touch and gesture controls, which worked perfectly during the review period without any issues. The buds also offer Active In-Ear Pressure Relief, which will automatically adjust the pressure in your ears depending on whether you’re on an airplane or a bus (when using the ANC feature). The Audio Switch feature also works well, provided you are signed in to the same Google account on all your Android devices.
Pixel Buds Pro 2 performance and battery life: Impressive in more ways than one
- ANC – yes
- Bluetooth – v5.4
- Codec Support – SBC, AAC
- Wireless Charging – Yes (Qi-certified)
The weight of the new Tensor A1 chip increases when using active noise cancellation (ANC). I found it to be very effective in blocking unwanted sounds during my daily use. I live right next to a main road in Mumbai, and things can get quite noisy. The ANC system for a pair of TWS earbuds is very capable of cutting out ambient sounds and also makes an effort to cut out high-frequency sounds, which is good. However, it cannot cut out sounds. Overall, the ANC system is significantly improved compared to the Pixel Buds Pro, which also produce a nice hissing sound when the ANC is turned on.
With the Pixel Buds Pro 2, Google claims to have focused on delivering clean sound, and it shows. There are some notable improvements over the older Pixel Buds Pro, but the Buds Pro 2 still can’t produce as detailed a sound as Sony’s WF-1000XM5. They cost more, so it’s worth it. To most general listeners, the audio sounds bright, with an emphasis on highs and some loud but well-controlled bass. Listening to Chris Cain’s Down on the Ground, it’s easy to emphasize the highs where the vocals stood out along with the mids while the bass, while present, doesn’t ruin it by dominating it. This makes it all feel very enjoyable, almost like a live performance (in this case).
The balanced sound profile is a good start, and you can tweak the audio to your liking by selecting a preset profile (there are plenty to choose from) or going with a custom EQ setting in the app. The Transparency mode works beautifully and feels completely natural, making me almost forget I have the earbuds on.
Talking about voice quality, the new Tensor A1 will give callers crystal clear sound, but this only applies to quiet settings. In traffic or noisy/windy settings, the audio sounds slightly distorted in the sense that you will be able to hear the caller, but some words may come out slurred due to heavy processing. What it can achieve while doing all this is suppressing background noise, and it does it quite well.
The Buds Pro 2 easily last a workday with ANC on and without the charging case.
Now that we’re in 2024, it’s easy to conclude that Google was really testing the waters with its Buds Pro TWS when it comes to the Assistant and AI. The Buds Pro introduced several Google Assistant features and added many more over the years through their Pixel Drop updates. It is believed that the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is a product that is specifically designed for AI, just like the Pixel 9 smartphone.
Like its predecessor, saying “Hey, Google” will let you access a number of features using just your voice. Add the Gemini Advanced plan into the mix, and you can also ask more complex questions like bringing up unread emails in your Gmail inbox or even asking which emails you need to reply to.
And really this is just the tip of the iceberg! You can end up having a knowledgeable exchange or a fun conversation (like talking to a friend) with Gemini Live, as happened in the 2013 movie Her. It’s truly both shocking and amazing that we’ve accomplished this much in just over a decade of filming. Release, and all you have to do is say, “Hey Google, let’s talk”, without reaching for the phone in your pocket.
Gemini works beautifully for live conversations… just don’t ask it to do something
Since I had detailed interactions with Gemini Live using both the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the OnePlus 12, I can conclude that these interactions were more responsive on Google’s Pixel. And so, it seems that Pixel smartphones (especially recent ones) are a better match for these “smarter than usual” earbuds.
With no support for higher bit-rate Bluetooth codecs (like the Apple AirPods Pro), the Pixel Buds Pro 2 easily last for about two days of continuous listening with the case on. The Buds Pro 2 can be listened to for an entire workday (8-9 hours) with ANC on or all day (12 hours) with ANC off. As far as charging is concerned, Google claims that with 5 minutes of charging, the buds will remain operational for 1.5 hours. And yes, you can always let the case charge on a wireless charging pad.
Pixel Buds Pro 2: Verdict
Google has finally managed to mold its Buds Pro 2 into a refined and polished product, just as many of us wanted. And now, it’s finally here! Although some features are reserved for Pixel smartphone owners, it’s now finally easier to recommend to non-Pixel users, provided you can swallow its bucks. 22,900 price.
For those who don’t want any AI experience from their earbuds, it’s really better to look at what Sony (for better codec support and more detailed sound) or Bose (for better noise cancellation) has to offer at this price point. But if you own a Pixel smartphone, now’s the time to upgrade and close the AI-happy ecosystem loop, as the new Buds Pro 2 come with fewer compromises than ever.
