Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Review – Google Steps Up Its Audio Game

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are Google’s newest high-end wireless active noise cancelling earbuds, released on September 26, 2024. At $379 AU, it’s priced competitively amongst other flagship Pro earbuds such as the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Airpods Pro 2.

For this price, you’re getting really solid sound quality and active noise cancellation, natural sounding transparency mode, multi-device pairing, excellent battery life, and features like conversation detection, spatial audio with head tracking, Find my Device, and Clear Calling. So without further ado, let’s dive straight into the review!

Packaging and Design

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 packaging includes the charging case which houses the earbuds, along with 3 differently sized rubber ear tips (extra small, small, and large, with the medium tips already attached to the earbuds by default). It does not include a USB-charging cable.

The case has quite a simple yet elegant design, with a rounded, egg-like shape and a matte-white finish. It contrasts nicely with the black horizontal line where the case opens and a matte-black interior. It only features a single “sync” button at the back along with a battery indicator LED light just below the opening at the front, with no branding at all. It’s quite compact as well at ~ 6 cm tall, 4.5 cm long, and 2.5 cm thick. Overall, I’m a fan of the charging case design. It’s pocket friendly, simple, but doesn’t look or feel cheap.

I also like the design of the earbuds themselves. Again, the buds are quite minimalistic in design. In-ear they appear as simple circles with the “G” Google branding carved into the outer shell. They’re quite small and fit securely in my ears with the help of the mini wing-tips. The earbuds are also available in a range of interesting colours; of course you have the classic Porcelain (Beige) and Hazel (Black) options, but you can also choose more vibrant shades like Wintergreen (Mint Green) and Peony (Pink).

Features

Sound Modes

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 offers 3 hearing modes: Noise Cancellation, Off (normal), and Transparency.

Before diving into noise cancellation, it’s worth talking about its passive noise isolation. I found the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to be great in this department. The large ear tips work better for me than the medium ones, but with these, they block out external sounds quite well even without ANC.

Active noise cancellation works quite well, especially with more constant, lower frequency sounds. For instance, while walking down city streets, it effectively blocked out the droning street noise. I was most impressed when I walked under a bridge as a train passed above me — all I could hear was a relatively soft whooshing sound. Once I removed the earbuds, I realised how loud the train had actually been. However, with higher frequency sounds, such as car horns, sirens, certain voices/speech, or clinking of cutlery in cafes, the noise cancellation is not as effective.

In my opinion, Transparency Mode is one of the Pixel Buds Pro 2’s standout features. External sounds are natural and balanced, with my environment not being amplified too much such that I couldn’t hear my music, but being transparent enough to let me hear my surroundings effectively.

Multi-device pairing

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 allows seamless 2-device pairing, so you can for example listen to music on your laptop, but answer phone calls without having to reconnect to your phone. This is an expected feature of earbuds these days, especially at this price point, but it’s reassuring that the Pixel Buds Pro 2 executes it smoothly without any noticeable lag or connection issues.

Furthermore, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 connects to my Pixel 8 smartphone really quickly and seamlessly as soon as I take them out of the case.

Conversation detection

The mics on the earbuds can detect when you’re having a conversation to automatically switch from Noise Cancellation to Transparency mode. I found this feature to be consistent and working just as expected, with no issues.

Spatial audio with head-tracking

Turning spatial audio on makes compatible media more immersive by widening the soundstage. With head tracking enabled, turning your head causes sounds to become louder on the side you’re facing, making the sound feel more three-dimensional.

Find My Device

With Find My Device, you can view the approximate location of your earbuds on a map or make them ring if they’re within bluetooth range.

EQ and Device Adjustments

If you’re using a Pixel phone, there’s no need to download the Pixel Buds app (you won’t even find it in your phone’s app drawer, though it’s preinstalled via the Google Play Store). Instead, you can access the earbud settings directly through Bluetooth settings. For other Android devices, however, you’ll need to download the app.

In the settings menu/app, you have full access to all features mentioned, including adjustments to ANC, EQ, firmware updates, and more.

Touch controls

• Swipe forward and backward to increase and decrease volume, respectively.
• Single tap plays/pauses and answers calls
• Double-tapping goes to the next track or rejects calls
• Triple-tapping goes back to the previous track/restarts a track.
• Press and Hold by default cycles through ANC/transparency modes, but can be customised to also cycle through the “Off” mode, or to activate your digital assistant.

I found the touch controls to be excellent. They give a pleasant, intuitive audible feedback when swiping or tapping. The sensitivity is also well-balanced, so that adjusting the buds in your ear won’t accidentally activate a touch, but when you do want to adjust something, it responds reliably.

Sound Quality

The sound quality is solid and quite clear. While I found other earbuds like the Apple AirPods to sound slightly clearer and cleaner, I still find the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to be impressive, with no noticeable issues in sound quality. Google has also stated that they “re-engineered the entire audio subsystem in-house—from acoustics to the speaker driver”—to enhance sound delivery.

You can also adjust the sound profile to your liking with the full 5-band EQ adjustments offered in the App, along with various EQ presets to choose from. Additionally, call quality is excellent, especially with Clear Calling enabled. You can activate this feature by going to your Pixel phone’s settings, then “Sound and Vibration,” and turning on Clear Calling. According to my friends and family, my voice remains clear even in loud environments.

Battery experience

The battery life is impressive, offering up to 12 hours without ANC (and 48 hours with the charging case) and 8 hours with ANC (and 30 hours with the case). Over the past two weeks of daily use, I’ve had zero issues with the battery. They last long enough for extended Zoom or conference calls, commutes, and media consumption throughout the day without worrying about a charge.

The case also has a long-lasting battery; during these two weeks, I’ve only needed to charge it about once every two days, and I barely see the battery indicator turn yellow. Finally, the case also has wireless charging capabilities, making it even more convenient to keep a full charge. Overall, my battery experience with the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is an A+.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Review Conclusion

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 prove to be a worthy contender in the high-end wireless earbud market. With their sleek design, impressive sound quality, and a host of useful features, they offer excellent value for their A$379 price point. The standout transparency mode, effective noise cancellation, and intuitive touch controls enhance the user experience significantly.

Battery life is a major strength, providing ample power for extended use without frequent charging. The seamless multi-device pairing and quick connection to Pixel phones add convenience for users invested in the Google ecosystem. While the sound quality may not surpass some competitors, the customisable EQ and various sound modes allow users to tailor their listening experience.

Overall, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 strike a balance between aesthetics, functionality, and performance. They’re a solid choice for Android users, especially those with Pixel phones, looking for feature-rich earbuds with excellent battery life and comfortable design.

Disclosure: Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review sample was supplied for reviewing