Pixel Buds Pro 2 is the second generation of in-ear headphones “for demanding customers”. Googleand also the first one to go on sale in Poland. The manufacturer set itself the goal of fixing the problems that the first model struggled with (including headphones falling out of the ears and mediocre ANC) and it must be admitted that it fulfilled this task exemplarily.
The new Pixel Buds are 27 percent smaller, and at the same time by as much as 24%. lighter than its predecessors. The weight of a single “flea” is only 4.7 gramson the other hand, the case in which we store and charge the headphones weighs 55.6 grams.
Google's headphones meet the certification requirements IP54. This means that they are resistant to water (protection against water splashes from any direction) and dust to a limited extent. The case, in turn, received the standard IPX4 – it is resistant to rain and water spraying, but it is better not to bury it in sand. The case also has a loudspeaker that makes it easier to find the headphones (function Find mine devicese).
The heart of Pixel Buds Pro 2 is its proprietary system Tensor A1which first came to Google's headphones. The company emphasizes that it affects not only the improvement of sound quality, but also the operation of functions active noise reduction (ANC) and transparent mode (Transparency Mode).
Buds Pro 2 are equipped with a new 11 mm transducer with a high-frequency chamberwhich is intended to additionally improve the sound quality in the high band, in which the previous model performed quite mediocrely.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 – what did I like the most?
Google has redesigned the shape of the headphones, thanks to which they fit much better in the ears and do not fall out even during sudden head movements. These are some of the most comfortable “flea pads” I have ever used. In this respect, they beat Apple AirPods Pro 2, Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro, and even my favorite model of TWS headphones – Jabra Elite 10.
The new Pixel Buds play great. The sound is balanced in each band, and the stage is wide enough. Google has worked on it middle and high toneswhich sound better thanks to the use new one chambers in the transducer. The bass is a bit off here, but you can work on it in software thanks to the equalizer built into the application Pixel Buds.
The above-mentioned application is definitely worth installing on your smartphone, because – apart from the mentioned equalizer – it gives us access to a number of other functions, including those related to hearing protection (Hearing Wellness. It is worth adding that it is only available for smartphones with Android. iPhone users will have to treat themselves with taste, although I don't suspect them of wanting to buy Google headphones (at the same time price will buy the still excellent AirPods Pro 2).
The first Pixel Buds Pro offered an average active noise reduction mode at best. ANC in the new model it's a completely different story. Headphones come with a set three microphones, which are very good at muffling ambient sounds. It may not be at the level of Sony WF-1000XM5, but Buds Pro 2 is no worse than AirPods Pro 2. The same applies to the transparent mode, which also works much better than in the previous model.
I can also say a lot of good things about it time battery operation. Google ensures that Pixel Buds Pro 2 with ANC mode enabled will last up to 8 hours on a single charge. hours or up to 30 hours when we add the battery built into the case. With active noise reduction turned off, it is 12 and 48 hours, respectively. And it must be admitted that these are not empty promises.
During my tests, with ANC turned on, the headphones worked on a single charge about 7.5 hours, and the included case allowed me to recharge them about 2.5 times. As a result, I could count on approximately 26-27 hours of listening to music, which is an excellent result. We are also pleased with the fact that the case can be charged not only via the USB-C port, but also wirelessly (Qi Charging).
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 – what disappointed me the most
Google boasts that Pixel Buds Pro 2 gives us quick access to the AI ​​assistant – Gemini Live. Just hold your finger on the handset and you can start a conversation with artificial intelligence. Conversation, because unlike the “ordinary” Google Assistant, Gemini Live can conduct an uninterrupted dialogue with us and accompany us, for example, while walking (fortunately, talking to each other has already become socially acceptable). Sounds great? Only on paper.
It turns out that Gemini Live has a lot of limitations. It won't send e-mails for us, won't play music on YouTube Music, won't run the calendar app and won't set the alarm clock. At this point, Gemini Live is basically just a “talking Wikipedia”. I must admit that this is a big disappointment for me. Fortunately, we can turn off Gemini Live in our smartphone settings and return to Google Assistant. He may not be as talkative, but at least he can put on a Keith Jarrett album.
I still can't understand why Google refuses to add high-resolution audio codecs to Pixel Buds Pro 2. Although the headphones support the new one Bluetooth 5.4 standard, however, they only support standard codecs SBC and AAC. It calls for adding aptX or LDAC.
Pixel Buds Pro 2 guarantee low delay, when we use a Google Pixel smartphone. Unfortunately, when we connect the headphones to other devices, e.g. the Nintendo Switch console or a PC, the latency varies.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 – VERDICT
Pixel Buds Pro 2 are undoubtedly the best TWS headphones made by Google. They are comfortable, offer great sound quality and very solid ANC. In addition, there is also a long battery life. Can you ask for anything more? Probably only support for additional audio codecs and the more useful Gemini Live assistant.
These are also not cheap headphones. At the premiere they cost PLN 1,149. Today, for a similar amount, you can get the Sony WF-1000XM5 or… Technics EAH-AZ80and both of these models offer better audio quality than Google's “fleas”. However, it is more than certain that Pixel Buds Pro 2 will soon be heavily discounted, just like it was in the case of Google Pixel series smartphones.