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

Google's second-gen Buds Pro earbuds Pixel phone users' perfect companion

In-ear wireless earbuds offer many benefits, but they aren’t always comfortable for prolonged use, particularly for those with small ears, myself included. That has been my experience with almost all TWS earbuds I’ve reviewed over the years. LG’s ToneFree earbuds were my top choice for a comfortable fit, although their sound tuning wasn’t on par with Apple or Sony earbuds. After using the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 for nearly 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 pack plenty of “smart” features, including crystal clear transparency mode, conversation detection, and more.

However, the toughest challenge Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds will likely face is to justify their pricing. At Rs 22,999, general customers and audio purists might be drawn towards the likes of Bose and Sony. Should they consider otherwise with Pixel Buds Pro 2? Let’s find out.

Table of Contents

Design

Like the previous-gen Pixel Buds Pro earbuds, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 comes with a fairly big round case. The case’s egg-shaped design continues to stand, featuring an off-white finish, irrespective of the earbuds’ colours. The off-white finish can be tricky to maintain, as I’ve occasionally noticed smudges on it from my bag. However, a thorough wipe with a clean cloth should help. The case has a satin-like smooth 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) – the same as this year’s Pixel 9 series. I reviewed the Porcelain (white) variant that matches my Pixel 9 Pro XL‘s (review) white aesthetics. The earbuds have soft silicone tips and tiny fins for a snug fit. The box includes different-sized silicone ear tips, providing multiple options to users.

Google claims the new Pixel Buds Pro 2 are 27 percent smaller and 24 percent lighter than the original Pixel Buds Pro. While these numbers may seem modest, the smallest changes can make substantial differences in the wireless earbuds universe. As I mentioned, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 offered one of the best snug fits, even while running or chewing food. The lightweight design combined with soft silicone ear tips offers a comfortable wearing experience even for prolonged usage.

The improved design also includes some tiny yet thoughtful changes. If you look at the earbuds closely, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 features an irregular form with several contours, unlike some competitors with a perfect 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 to other areas.

The outer shell of the earbuds, which I jokingly refer to as the Pixel Bud’s belly, has an elevated design. This design lets users adjust the fit by touching the sides rather than the centre, which might inadvertently play or pause music. The elevated design also enhances touch control, making it easier to change music tracks or adjust the volume without disturbing the fit.

The only issue I have with these earbuds is the sub-standard IP rating for protection against dust and water. Despite their high price tag, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are IP54 certified, which promises basic protection against water splashes. Even the case gets IPX4 protection, meaning only protection against water splashes but nothing against dust.

Sound quality and ANC

By default, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer a balanced sound profile with equal emphasis on mids and lows. I mostly listened to music with this profile and thoroughly enjoyed the sound quality, especially the vocals. Google did not incorporate a dual-driver setup that’s available on many earbuds above Rs 12,000. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 were still capable of offering punchy bass without compromising vocals. The “custom-designed” 11mm drivers also provide loud output, though it barely matters to me as I generally set a loudness limit between 70 and 75 dB.


The active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency modes have evidently improved thanks to the addition of the Tensor A1 chip. The microphones on the earbuds appear to be larger, allowing them to capture more ambient sounds. This results in a super-clear transparency mode, which almost feels like you’re not even wearing the earbuds. The combination of larger microphones and Google’s proprietary chip resulted in reliable ANC.

I also did not face connectivity issues with the connected Pixel 9 Pro XL during my week-long usage. With ANC enabled, I even discovered soft music elements in select tracks. Whether it’s the mild guitar riffs in The Stave’s new After School (All Now album) or high-notes in Taylor Swift’s super-hit Lover, you get a balanced output. Even songs like the Instagram hit “Big Dawgs” by Hanumankind, which blends hip-hop and rock elements, sound punchy and rich.

For a pleasant movie-viewing experience, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 supports head tracking and spatial audio for 3D surround sound. The feature works subtly, often indistinguishable, but useful in its own ways. I would have preferred the head tracking to be more prominent, as it is generally more noticeable on 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 adoption.

Lastly, the beamforming mics offer a decent sound quality during calls, but the voice may not be entirely clear if the background is windy. It can drastically improve if Google rolls out iOS-inspired Voice Isolation for calls, which relies on machine learning models. This will surely provide an edge to Pixel Buds users with a Pixel smartphone.

App and other features

Similar to 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 several premium features. Notably, you can control the earbuds with a MacBook using the web app.


As I mentioned, I used the Pixel Buds Pro 2 with a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, which unlocks some exclusive features. For instance:

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

There’s also an auto-switch feature that allows users to seamlessly switch audio between a Pixel phone and a tablet. I couldn’t test this, but the multi-device support worked just fine.


Google is also offering AirPods Pro-inspired conversation detection to switch between ANC and transparency for those surprise interactions with others in your surroundings. It largely works as promised, but the switch isn’t always seamless. Also, the conversation mode only activates when you’re speaking first, and not others. This means if you’re singing while listening to your favourite track, the transparency mode gets activated automatically, which can be slightly annoying.


The remaining features are universal to Android smartphones. These include auto-pause, touch controls, equaliser, ANC and transparency, find device, and hearing wellness. The Pixel Buds app is also straightforward to use, though I feel its interface could’ve been better.

In my experience, I found the app to be slightly text-heavy with very few animations when you switch controls. More engaging elements can improve the overall user experience, which I am sure will work in Google’s favour.

Battery

During my week-long review, I charged the Pixel Buds Pro 2 case only once, and the earbuds still have juice. This is likely due to the chunky case, which houses a larger battery unit. I used the earbuds for nearly an hour each day with ANC enabled, and they performed flawlessly without any issues.


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

The box skips the charger and even the cable. I used a OnePlus 67W charger and the Pixel Buds 2 Pro took nearly an hour to fully charge. Google also offers Qi wireless charging with the case.

I do wish Google displayed the case’s battery life within the Pixel app. Currently, you can only view the case’s battery life when you open the lid.

Verdict

Google Pixel Buds 2 Pro demonstrates what new-gen products should look like. Whether it is music or overall comfort, Google’s new earbuds are an easy recommendation. The recommendation becomes even easier if you’re already using a Pixel smartphone.

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

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

Editor’s rating: 8 / 10

Pros

Cons

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