Google’s unique Pixel Buds Professional did not garner a lot of a following for just a few causes. Their design was a bit bizarre and clunky, they did not have any noteworthy options, and so they did not have the hype, advertising and marketing, or legacy of different well-liked manufacturers’ earphones — like Apple and Samsung.
However the Pixel Buds Professional 2 are actually right here to attempt to set up that Google earbuds are right here to remain. They usually include upgrades in design and luxury, in addition to Gemini integration the place you’ll be able to freely discuss and converse with Google’s AI. You recognize, in case individuals get boring.
Google Pixel Buds 2 Professional in a nutshell:
- New design for excessive consolation
- 11 mm driver
- Faucet and swipe controls
- Primary EQ and in-app controls
- Bluetooth Tremendous Wideband for higher name high quality
- 4 coloration choices
- IP54 safety on buds
Google Pixel Buds 2 Professional specs
| Colour choices | Porcelain, Hazel, Wintergreen, Peony |
|---|---|
| Audio | LE Audio, AAC |
| Noise cancelation | Adaptive ANC, Transparency mode |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4, multi-device, Google Quick Pair |
| Battery life | ANC On: 8 hours from buds, +22 hours from case ANC Off: 12 hours from buds, +36 hours from case |
| Ingress safety | IP54 on buds IPX4 on case |
Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 design and colours
Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 – an precise improve (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)
The Pixel Buds Professional 2 seem like a minified model of the unique Pixel Buds. The in-ear hook has additionally been changed by a smaller and extra discreen nub, which rests in opposition to your ear and locks the Pixel Buds Professional 2 gently in place.
Google says which you can put on the Pixel Buds Professional 2 in two methods — twist them to lock them in for sports activities, or untwist them for all-day consolation. This specific reviewer has a tough time conserving earbuds in his ears, which is why I solely saved them in “locked in” mode. Even then, the Pixel Buds Professional 2 felt extraordinarily comfy, gentle, and barely there, with no ear fatigue.
In line with Google, these have been designed to suit each ear. The producer has used 45 million knowledge factors from completely different ear sizes and shapes. And sure, we are able to inform — these simply match and really feel “proper”. They do not transfer round even when speaking, which once more, will not be the kind of earbud stability I personally get to expertise usually, because of my ears being choosy.
Take a look at me! (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)
The controls are accomplished through contact panels on the buds. Sure, we sometimes hate that since you at all times unintentionally contact the capacitive space if you go to regulate a bud. However, since these hardly want adjusting, I did not discover it as annoying as traditional. Nevertheless, you will get a painful sound if you happen to jab a bit too exhausting whereas attempting to skip a track — frequent challenge with contact controls on in-ear buds, a bit extra prevalent right here.
What I did discover odd is the amount management. As a substitute of swiping up or down for quantity adjustment, you swipe ahead for quantity up, backwards for quantity down. No thought why, but it surely’s positively one thing to get used to. Faucet as soon as to play and pause, twice for ahead, 3 times to again. The faucet and maintain gesture will be personalized for every earbud — both to activate Transparency Mode or the Gemini assistant. And sure, you’ll be able to set this per-bud, so you’ll be able to have each options.
4 tip sizes complete, no cable within the field (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)
These are available Porcelain, Hazel, Wintergreen, and Peony. The primary two are slight spins on the basic “white” and “black” coloration choices. The latter two are, in typical Google trend, recent and vibrant colours, with one being a teal-ish inexperienced, the opposite is a popping, enjoyable pink. We want extra earbuds on the market have been enjoyable!
The case itself is only a bit on the cumbersome aspect. It additionally feels hefty, however reassuringly so, as we really feel prefer it’s properly put-together and durable. The buds have IP54 certification, which means safety in opposition to mud and water splashes. The case is IPX4, so solely splash safety right here — do not drop it within the sand!
Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 sound high quality
The Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 sound nice. They do not over-emphasize bass, which is at all times a nice shock, they’ve a barely scooped character however nonetheless sufficient particulars within the mids to allow you to take pleasure in each instrument, and silky clean highs with no peaks or screeching.
The app seems to be good (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)
The easiest way I can describe them as is “well mannered” — nothing is overdone. In fact, some would possibly say that lacks character or risk-taking, as audiophiles usually prefer to experiment with and luxuriate in completely different headphones’ and earphones for his or her particular sound signatures. However, assuming you aren’t so adventurous, and also you simply wish to attain for a pair of buds that you realize will sound good it doesn’t matter what you throw at them — the Pixel Buds Professional 2 are that set of earbuds.
Whereas Google would not appear to immediately promote it, I do really feel just like the Pixel Buds Professional 2 are actively adjusting their EQ primarily based on the music that is being performed, and my ear form. Listening to various items I like and know by coronary heart, I may decide up on slight changes to the frequencies because the track was going. Both that, or the sound was so clear that I may truly hear the digital file’s compression points.
The equalizer is fairly generic (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)
The latter can also be a chance, particularly for the reason that Pixel Buds Professional 2 do not help any fancy codecs like LDAC.
Additionally, a bizarre factor right here, the Pixel Buds Professional 2 sound completely terrible if you happen to disable ANC or Transparency mode. It might be a bug for now, however if you happen to flip off ANC fully, the sound from these turns into a flat, flubby, mono-like mess. We have encountered this challenge with less expensive earphones earlier than, but it surely’s fairly bizarre to see in premium buds. We consider that turning ANC off disables any and all audio enhancements that the Tensor A1 chip is offering, for some motive.
There are just a few pre-set sound profiles if you wish to strive them, however we discovered the default one to be the very best as-is. It’s also possible to fine-tune the sound somewhat bit throughout the app, however the EQ is something however elaborate. You might be given management through 5 sliders which might be merely referred to as “treble, mid, bass…”, so not a lot person company there. The Nothing Ear, for instance, wins right here with a way more elaborate Superior Equalizer.
Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 noise cancelation and transparency
Google talks up the ANC of the Pixel Buds Professional 2 rather a lot. We discovered it to be… high-quality. It is a bit higher than lower-tier earphones in the marketplace, it is not so good as on the AirPods Professional 2. Nevertheless it does sufficient to filter out decrease hums and drums. Increased-pitched clicks and clacks can nonetheless come by, however are rapidly drowned out if you happen to play music at low volumes.
The transparency mode is superb, although — virtually lifelike. As is typical, the mids do get extra emphasised, so speach sounds even clearer. Although it should additionally amplify the sound of laptop computer followers, for instance.
Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 connectivity
Join simply, final without end (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)
This consists of Home windows or Mac computer systems, iPads or iPhones, something with Bluetooth 4.0 or above! And the Pixel Buds Professional 2 will intelligently determine the most recent sound supply and swap to that. So, in case you are for instance listening to music out of your laptop computer, an incoming name out of your telephone will instantly get the Pixel Buds Professional 2 to modify to that.
Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 Professional battery life
The sunshine is fairly discreet (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)
These have a really spectacular battery life for such small buds — as much as 8 hours from the buds with ANC on is one thing that not quite a lot of rivals can promise! And sure, we typically didn’t really feel the necessity to pop the Pixel Buds Professional 2 of their case mid-workday, which was nice. The charging case itself offers you one other 22 hours of use earlier than it itself must be topped up (through USB-C cable or on a Qi pad).
With ANC off, the producer says, you stand up to 12 hours from the buds. Nevertheless, as we identified, these sound fairly tough if you happen to disable ANC, so this level is moot.
Google Pixel Buds Professional 2, do you have to purchase them?
Cool little buds! (Picture credit score – PhoneArena)
As talked about, these are your quickest and best method to get earbuds that can very most likely suit your ears good and really most likely sound good. They do not take dangers, they attempt to conform and are good at it. Contemplating they value $229, that is a great factor.
So sure, we are able to completely advocate the Google Pixel Buds Professional 2.
In opposition to the competitors:
Out of all these, the Pixel Buds Professional 2 and the Apple AirPods Professional 2 are the “set it and overlook it” buds for those who do not wish to take care of fine-tuning and simply need good sound.