Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Are Smaller and Improved All Around – but They Cost More

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The new Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are here, and not only are they smaller than their predecessor, but Google says they perform better, with improved sound quality, noise canceling and voice-calling performance. One thing Google didn't improve, though, is the price. 

Available in four color options, they list for $229 or $29 more than the original Pixel Buds Pro. That's been a trend in the true-wireless earbuds market as various companies' flagship buds, like Samsung's new Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, have been going up in price by $20 to $50 as they move to the next generation. They're available for preorder now and ship around Sept. 26.

I got an early look at the new buds just ahead of Google's Pixel 9 launch event, where the company unveiled four new Pixel smartphones and the Pixel 3 Watch. To be clear, this isn't a full review or even a full hands-on first take. I was allowed to try the buds on and photograph them. But the units I tried were unpowered, so I couldn't assess their sound quality or noise-canceling prowess.  

Read more: Best wireless earbuds of 2024

Watch this: Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Hands-On: A Big Upgrade

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Pixel Buds Pro 2 design

I'll get to the changes on the inside in a minute, but the biggest difference between these buds and the original Pixel Buds Pro is their design. The originals fit my ears well, but they didn't quite work for a certain percentage of people, and Google has made them 27% smaller and 24% lighter, which you notice right away. 

They also have a built-in fin, which Google calls a "twist-to-adjust stabilizer." That fin helps lock the buds in your ears, and I was able to get a secure fit when I tried them on and shook my head around. Also, the buds don't stick out of your ears much, which is nice. But, for better or worse, they still look a little like you're wearing Mentos candies in your ears. 

The buds come in four color options to match the new Pixel 8 models and have an IP54 rating, which means they're splashproof and dust-resistant. Their case is also splashproof with an IPX4 rating. They have the same capacitive touch controls as the original Pixel Buds Pro, so there are no changes there. 

Upgraded processing power and acoustic architecture

Equipped with Bluetooth 5.4, Google says the buds have better sound and noise cancellation, along with improved voice-calling performance and noise reduction during calls. Google's new Tensor A1 chip and updated algorithms are behind a lot of that. While these have 11mm drivers like the originals, Google says there's an upgraded acoustic architecture with a new high-frequency chamber for smoother treble. That's an important upgrade.

Spatial audio with head tracking returns, but note that it only works with the Pixel Tablet and the latest Pixel phones starting with the Pixel 6 -- and not Pixel A-Series phones.

You get three microphones in each earbud with some mesh covering that helps cut down on wind noise. To reiterate, I didn't get to hear the improved adaptive noise canceling yet, but Google says it cancels twice as much noise and a wider range of frequencies. At $230, they've got a lot of competition, and I can't wait to find out how the noise canceling compares to Bose, Apple and Sony.

Robust feature set, strong battery life

As you'd expect from earbuds in this price range, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 have ear-detection sensors, which means your music will pause when you take the buds out of your ears and resume playback when you put them back in. There's multipoint Bluetooth pairing and automatic switching between Android devices on your Google account. Also, the buds support the new Find My Device network and have a little speaker on the bottom of their charging case next to the USB-C port that emits a ringtone to help you find the case if it's hiding somewhere.

Like the previous model, the case has wireless charging, and the rated battery life for these buds is quite good -- Google says you can get up to 12 hours with noise canceling off at moderate levels and up to 8 hours with noise canceling on.   

A key feature worth mentioning is Conversation Detect, which Google says uses AI to tell when you start speaking and will pause the audio and switch the buds to transparency mode so you can have a conversation. Your music and noise canceling will then kick back on when the conversation ends. Sony was the first to have this feature, and Apple's AirPods Pro 2 and Samsung's Galaxy Buds Pro 2 and 3 also have a variation of it.

Like their predecessor, these have hands-free Google Assistant, which you can access by saying "Hey, Google" or "OK, Google" without touching your buds. The buds can also be used to access its new Gemini Live AI feature by saying "Let's talk" after saying the assistant wake command. But I'll wait for my full review to get into that feature, which may also be coming to other Pixel Buds. 

Once again, Google has stuck with AAC and SBC has the two audio codecs supported. Some folks were disappointed that the original Pixel Buds Pro didn't support LDAC or AptX. Honestly, the lack of additional codec support shouldn't be a dealbreaker. It's hard to tell the difference between AAC and AptX (or LDAC) even if you have a music streaming service like Qobuz or Tidal that offers high-resolution audio. But, that's just my opinion.   

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 final early impressions

Those are the new Pixel Buds Pro 2 in a nutshell. It's a little disappointing that they cost $29 more, but, as I said, we're seeing that same price inflation with other recent flagship earbuds like Sony's WF-1000XM5 and Samsung's Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. Apple has priced its AirPods Pro at $249 for a while, though the AirPods Pro 2 do sell for closer to $180 at Amazon.  

With their smaller form factor, Google has hopefully addressed the fit issue that some people had with the original Buds Pro's design (of course, it's possible these smaller buds might not fit some ears as well as the originals). If they do deliver on their promise of having better sound, noise canceling and voice-calling performance, they have a chance to be top-notch earbuds, particularly for Pixel device users and Android users in general. 

Pixel Buds Pro key specs

• Sweat and water resistance: IP54 (buds), IPX4 (case)
• Bluetooth 5.4 with LE Audio
• Tensor A1 processor
• Custom-designed 11mm dynamic speaker driver
• Active noise cancellation with Silent Seal 2.0
• Transparency mode
• Active in-ear pressure relief
• Conversation detection
• Ringtone speaker in case for Find My Device
• Voice accelerometer
• Three microphones (wind-blocking mesh covers)
• Capacitive touch (tap and swipe) sensors for music, calls and voice assistant controls
• IR proximity sensor for in-ear detection to play and pause automatically
• Motion-detecting accelerometer and gyroscope
• Hall Effect sensor for case open and close detection
• USB-C and Qi-certified wireless charging
• Battery life up to 12 hours with ANC off (additional 36 hours in charging case), 8 hours with ANC on (additional 22 hours in charging case)
• 5-minute charge of earbuds gets 1.5 hours of listening time (with ANC off)
• Colors: porcelain, hazel, wintergreen and peony
• Weight of each earbud: 4.7 grams (with medium ear tip)
• Charging case: 65 grams (with earbuds)
• Price: $229
• Ship date: Sept. 26