Smooth and cozy with disappointing sound high quality

I used to be a reasonably large fan of the Pixel Buds (2020). In comparison with Apple’s AirPods, they stayed cosy in my ears no matter what I used to be doing, supplied stable sound high quality for the time, and featured a usually cool-looking design. Following rampant studies about disconnection points, Google unceremoniously discontinued the Pixel Buds (2020), rapidly releasing the Pixel Buds Collection-A. Then, a couple of years later, Google’s Pixel Buds Pro arrived. They acquired comparatively stable critiques, and whereas I attempted them briefly, I did discover myself reaching for my trusty AirPods Pro 2 once more after a couple of weeks, primarily as a result of Apple’s earbuds nonetheless sound higher regardless of being a few years outdated.

Quick-forward to now, and Google has launched the Pixel Buds Professional 2. Do they provide sufficient to drag me away from the AirPods 4 (my present favourite wi-fi earbuds) and the tremendous snug Nothing’s Ear (open)? They provide a number of upgrades over the Pixel Buds Professional, together with eight hours of battery life, a extra snug design, Google’s Tensor AI chip, and improved noise-cancellation.

Whereas these additions are welcome, they do not sound nice and have a flat audio profile with little or no bass and vary. Their audio high quality is not Beats Solo Buds dangerous, however the several-year-old AirPods Professional (2nd gen) blow them away. Even the AirPods 4 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro sound notably higher than the Pixel Buds Professional 2. You may resolve the lackluster audio subject by diving into the Pixel Buds Professional 2’s settings and shifting the profile to “Heavy Bass” or “Balanced,” which you’ll be able to even do via a Chrome-based browser if you’re a MacBook or iPhone user. Sadly, even then, the Pixel Buds Professional 2 do not sound stellar, making them tough to advocate regardless of their different stable options.

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Worth, availability, and specs

Google’s Pixel Buds Professional 2 can be found directly from Google for $229. The wi-fi earbuds work with Android, iOS, Home windows, Mac, and different gadgets, although some options are restricted to Android gadgets, like mechanically pausing no matter you are listening to or watching if you take away the earbuds. The Pixel Buds Professional 2 are IP54 waterproof — which suggests they’ll face up to gentle splashes of water — and their case is available in at IPX4, which makes it immune to sweat and never a lot else. Different options embrace Bluetooth 5.4, LE Audio, Tremendous wideband, and Google’s Tensor AI chip, which powers the Pixel Buds Professional 2’s Gemini integration.

Every bud’s driver is 11mm, and there are three microphones alongside a motion-detecting accelerometer, gyroscope, and capacitive contact sensor. The Pixel Buds Professional 2 help energetic noise cancellation, a Transparency Mode, and Google’s Clear Calling expertise. Battery life is available in at 12 hours with energetic noise cancellation off, a powerful eight hours with ANC on, and 30 hours from the charging case. Google says a five-minute cost offers you an hour and a half of listening time with ANC off.

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Every earbud weighs 0.16oz (4.7g), and the charging case is 2.29oz (65g). Particular person earbuds with a medium ear tip measure 0.9 x 0.9 x 06-inches (22.74 x 23.08 x 17.03mm) and the charging case is 1.9 x 2.4 x 0.98-inches (49.9 x 63 x 25mm). The Pixel Buds Professional 2 can be found in porcelain, hazel (featured on this evaluate), wintergreen (by far the very best shade), and peony.​​​​​​​

What I preferred concerning the Pixel Buds Professional 2

Cool-looking and cozy

Regardless of their sound high quality points, there’s nonetheless quite a bit to love about Google’s Pixel Buds Professional 2. First, they’re among the most snug wi-fi earbuds I’ve ever worn — they’re nonetheless in-ear just like the AirPods Professional 2 however sit additional out of my ears. This virtually fully removes the bizarre strain sensation I expertise with in-ear earbuds that seal off my ear canal. The Pixel Buds Professional 2 in-ear strain aid vents work approach higher than AirPods Professional 2’s.

The Pixel Buds Professional 2 sit securely in my ears with their default ear suggestions, not like the AirPods Professional 2, AirPods 4, and Galaxy Buds 3 Professional, three pairs of earbuds I not too long ago examined. I’ve gone for walks, performed some gardening, and cleaned my home with Google’s earbuds on, and I have never encountered a single unintended drop, because of their delicate wing tip that retains them locked firmly in place. Typically, it even seems like there’s nothing in my ears, and as somebody who usually hates wi-fi earbuds, I actually recognize this. The earbuds are very snug to put on for lengthy durations, which is notable given their wonderful eight-hour battery life, surpassing many equally priced high-end wi-fi earbuds.

Lively noise-cancellation is fairly good with the Pixel Buds Professional 2, nevertheless it’s lower than par with the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional or AirPods Professional 2. Regardless of being in-ear, some sound nonetheless finds its approach via the wi-fi earbuds. Nevertheless, it will get the job performed in the event you solely wish to block out some noise. “Transparency” mode is okay and permits ample noise to return via the earbuds when you’re listening to music or a podcast. Nevertheless, just like each pair of wi-fi earbuds I’ve ever used, I do not discover the function very helpful.

I oddly do not have the choice to allow “Dialog Detection” on my Pixel Buds Professional 2, which is disappointing given how useful I’ve discovered the audio fading function with different earbuds. Nevertheless, it seems to be a somewhat common problem — my guess is it is a bizarre regional software program replace subject — so I’ve reached out to Google for extra data. Different options I get pleasure from embrace elevating and decreasing the quantity immediately on the Pixel Buds Professional 2 with a swipe, which not each pair of wi-fi earbuds presents.

Whereas I haven’t got a lot of a use for hands-free Gemini integration, it is neat to have the ability to ask the AI-powered assistant questions from Pixel Buds Professional 2 and have it reply immediately in my ear, even when it was sort of tough to check given all of the Google gadgets in my dwelling workplace. I do not discover the hands-free Gemini significantly helpful, however others may in the event that they’re well-acquainted with the AI. As a aspect observe, it is odd you might want to guarantee your telephone is unlocked first. It is sensible, given your Android gadget powers the function, nevertheless it nonetheless feels unusual.

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What I did not like concerning the Pixel Buds Professional 2

Sadly, they do not sound nice

One of many weirdest points I’ve encountered with the Pixel Buds Professional 2 is how the audio drops out after they’re related to my iPhone 16. Typically, it really works nice for a bit, however then, randomly, the audio will briefly disappear after which return once more. I have never encountered this drawback with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold or my MacBook Professional, and it additionally would not occur each time I join the earbuds to my iPhone 16, making the predicament much more elusive. Since most iPhone customers most likely aren’t shopping for the Pixel Buds Professional 2, that is most likely a particular “me” drawback, nevertheless it’s nonetheless value mentioning.

The Pixel Buds Professional 2’s mic high quality is lackluster, although I’ve the identical ideas about virtually each pair of wi-fi earbuds I’ve ever used. It isn’t terrible by any means, nevertheless it’s not nice both, and a few even assume the mic is worse than the original Pixel Buds Pro’s. My voice sounds muffled and much away, no matter how I place the earbud in my ear.

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Above all the things else, my principal subject with the Pixel Buds 2 Professional is how they actually do not sound pretty much as good as $229 earbuds ought to — the default sound profile is very flat and lacks bass. Whenever you change to a distinct profile, they sound a bit higher however nonetheless nowhere close to pretty much as good because the AirPods Professional 2, AirPods 4, and even the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional, to call a couple of great-sounding wi-fi earbuds. At this value level and all their different nice options, I anticipated extra from the Pixel Buds Professional 2. In spite of everything, most individuals are doubtless shopping for them to hearken to audio and never for his or her Gemini integration or distinctive design.

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Must you purchase the Pixel Buds Professional 2?

I wished to love Google’s Pixel Buds Professional 2. They’re cool-looking, particularly relating to their colours, and extremely snug because of their distinctive winged design. However with so many great-sounding wi-fi earbuds on the market, they’re robust to advocate except you are a die-hard Pixel smartphone consumer that actually needs to make use of Google’s Gemini voice-activated assistant hands-free. Most individuals can be higher off with the Galaxy Buds Professional 3 or AirPods Professional 2, relying on what your main gadget is.

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