REVIEW: Google Pixel Buds Pro 2

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 aim to capture the Android crowd with a more secure fit and enhanced noise cancellation. Wireless earbuds have significantly improved in recent years, narrowing the gap between them and their over-ear counterparts in terms of sound and noise-blocking capabilities.

While over-ear headphones are still the go-to for long flights, noise-cancelling earbuds are now reliable companions for commuting or working in noisy spaces. Google’s latest Buds Pro 2 arrive in a competitive market, facing off against top players like Bose, Samsung, and Sennheiser, and obviously Apple’s own AirPods Pro. Let’s see if they measure up.

Design & Build Quality

The standout design tweak in the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is the addition of small fins on each earbud. These “twist-to-adjust stabilisers” are meant to sit snugly in the ear, ensuring the buds stay in place during movement, especially when exercising. This also enhances noise isolation, and Google includes four ear tip sizes in the box, helping you find the right fit.

Although smaller and lighter than their predecessors, the Buds Pro 2’s unique shape makes inserting them slightly less intuitive than other earbuds with stems. It takes a few tries to get them seated properly for optimal sound and noise cancellation. Once adjusted though and sitting comfortably, they sit more discreetly than Apple AirPods.

You also get colour options, from subtle shades like Porcelain to bolder choices like Wintergreen. We reviewed the ‘Hazel’ option which, as you can seen, is a dark, almost black looking shade of green so nice and discreet when in your ears.

The case, although slightly larger than Apple’s, retains USB-C and wireless charging. It’s now compatible with Google’s Find My Device, helping you track it down via a built-in speaker if it goes missing. The ruggedness has also been improved, with the earbuds rated IP54 and the case IPX4 for water and sweat resistance.

Features & Performance

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are powered by Google’s Tensor A1 chip, enhancing noise cancellation and audio processing. Noise reduction has doubled in effectiveness from 2022’s Buds Pro, and dynamic drivers deliver richer sound. The earbuds also support Spatial Audio with head tracking when paired with a Pixel device.

A notable addition is Bluetooth multipoint, allowing you to seamlessly switch between devices without re-pairing. Unfortunately, while responsive and pretty user friendly, the tap and swipe controls aren’t customisable, but you can adjust what the ‘Press and Hold’ option does on both earbuds, letting you choose which earbud you want to launch Google Assistant or the newer Gemini voice assistant or switch ANC/Transparency mode on or off.

One fresh feature is Conversation Detection, which pauses music and activates Transparency mode when you start speaking which is very handy when you don’t want to keep removing the earbuds for brief conversations in the office or ordering a coffee.

Sound & Noise Cancellation

Though not top-tier in sound quality, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 deliver full-bodied audio with a slight emphasis on bass. A 5-band equaliser and several presets are available for customisation also in the Pixel Buds app.

Noise cancellation is solid, and a definite improvement above the previous generation, though still a step behind the likes of Sennheiser’s high-end MOMENTUM Wireless models and even Jabra’s latest Elite 10 Gen 2 earbuds (which have surprisingly great ANC capabilities!).

Adjusting the earbuds for a perfect fit enhances passive noise isolation and ,thankfully, there’s an ‘Eartip seal check’ feature built into the Pixel Buds app to help ensure you’ve a good fit.

The transparency mode in particular is extremely natural and, with the earbuds unobtrusive dimensions and light weight design, leads to almost forgetting the buds are in your ears when the mode is activated and used for extended periods of time. Google definitely needs to be commended for their implementation of this particular feature.

Google has also included ‘Hearing Wellness’ into the app, allowing to check if your listening volume and overall exposure isn’t at high enough levels to cause long term damage which might sound ‘naff’ on first inspection but, when you actually use the feature, you’ll  start to learn to be more conscious of how loud you’re listening to your music/video content and might prefer to knock it down a new levels.

Battery Life

With up to 8 hours of playback with active noise cancellation and an additional 30 hours from the charging case, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer great battery life, making them reliable for extended use, even during long flights. The inclusion of wireless charging support is also nice to have and not always a given at this price point (looking at you, Bose).

Conclusion

Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 have refined fit, better noise cancellation, and solid audio performance, making them a worthy contender in the crowded wireless earbud market. With improved battery life and the added Find My Device functionality, they’re now a strong option not only for Pixel users but for anyone looking for a reliable, feature-packed pair of earbuds.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Pricing & Availability

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are available now in 4 colour options on Google’s Store with a price of €249. They’re also available in Curry’s and on Very.ie.