Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Headphones Review

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 have a warm sound signature with a poorly controlled, but somewhat balanced treble on their 'Default' preset and with ANC on compared to our target curve. The precipitous drop in the high-treble around 16kHz leads to a lack of airiness and can leave the overall sound feeling closed off.

With the ANC disabled, these buds have a similar tuning, but with a generally more subdued bass and mid-range. They also have several EQ presets, which vary the most in their bass response. In addition, these earbuds have a five-band graphic EQ, though the format doesn't disclose specific frequencies, sticking instead to: 'Upper Treble,' 'Treble,' 'Mid,' 'Bass,' and 'Low Bass.' The buds also have a 'Volume EQ' toggle, which bumps up the bass and treble response as you lower your volume to compensate for changes in hearing sensitivity to those frequencies at lower levels.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 have decent frequency response consistency. With the right tips for your ear shape, there won't be much variation in the buds' performance between listening sessions, but it can vary if you don't take the time to get the fit right.

These buds have exceptional compliance with our target curve in the bass range. Their bass response is slightly emphasized, ensuring bass is thumpy, full-bodied, and warm. In tracks like G.O.A.T. by Polyphia, you'll hear full-bodied kicks and toms accentuating the mix without muddying up higher frequencies too much.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2's target compliance is excellent in the mid-range. Their signature carries over a slight emphasis from the bass range into the low-mids, which then dips below our target in the mid-mids. In tracks with more complex layers and orchestration, vocals and instruments may sound a bit cluttered and nudged further back in the mix.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2's treble target compliance is excellent. There are varied sections of under- and overemphasis across the entire treble range including a narrow boost in the low-treble, with a notable drop in the high-treble response. As a result, the crash cymbals dotting tracks like The Cranberries' Zombie can sound a bit sharp, while the upper harmonics of the rhythmic hi-hat lack sparkle and sound closed-off due to the severe drop-off in the high-treble.

Their peaks and dips performance is disappointing. The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 sound consistently smooth in the bass and mid-range, delivering satisfying thump and punch alongside full-bodied, clear vocals and instruments. However, there are strong and narrow peaks and dips in the low- and mid-treble range. These notches create alternating harshness and dullness depending on the pitch. Additionally, the high-treble may sound hissy and lifeless, depending on your sensitivity to higher frequencies.

These earbuds have inadequate stereo mismatch performance. Mainly, the phase mismatch between the L/R buds through the entire treble region results in vocals sounding hollow, and this also affects localisation of transients (like cymbal hits) within the stereo image. That said, they're otherwise well-matched in weighted amplitude and frequency response overall. These results are valid for our pair of buds only, and another pair may exhibit different results from ours.

These have bad group delay. The effect is very prevalent with music that has a lot of low-end content. Bass sounds loose and sloppy, lacking definition. They also drop off in the treble range because the earbuds don't playback audio for the full treble range and cut off around 16kHz rather than 20kHz.

These have incredible harmonic distortion performance. When pushed to 94 dB/SPL and 104 dB/SPL, they don't add unwanted distortion artifacts to your signal.

These are Bluetooth earbuds and require their battery to play back audio.

You can access the virtual soundstage features through the Google Pixel Buds app. To customize your experience, you can toggle 'Spatial Audio' and 'Head Tracking' features separately. Spatial audio simulates surround sound for a more immersive and spacious soundstage. Meanwhile, head tracking follows your head position and shifts the soundstage relative to your head angle.

Unfortunately, the Pixel Buds Pro 2's virtual soundstage features are only fully supported on Google Pixel 6 phones or newer, and users report limited content availability.

These are the settings used to test the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are button-shaped earbuds that depart from their predecessor, the Google Pixel Buds Pro. Their redesign introduces a small fin stabilizer and shrinks their size, so they don't stick out of your ears as much. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 retain the embossed brand's logo on their circular touch surfaces, which come in several colors: 'Porcelain,' 'Hazel,' 'Wintergreen,' and 'Peony.' They also have larger grills than before, which are the same color as the rest of the touch surface.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 feel comfortable. These buds have a twisting design for adjusting between a relaxed or secure fit; their soft stabilizing fin can twist downward to brace the earbuds against the bottom of your ear. And with the four sets of included ear tips, you'll likely find a comfortable pair. That said, these buds can slide out of place if you're enthusiastically enjoying a meal or having a conversation. Additionally, the earbuds can worsen the suction feeling some people feel with in-ears, depending on how aggressively you've secured them with the fin.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 have good controls. Like their predecessor, the Google Pixel Buds Pro, they use tap and swipe controls with touch sensors on their circular surface. The earbuds are quick to respond, though swiping forward and backward may take time to master, as swipes can sometimes register as taps. They also give a unique confirmation chime for playback or volume controls—which have no feedback until you hit max/min volume.

Their default control scheme also works for both earbuds (even when one is off or charging). Additionally, you can customize the press-and-hold control independently on each earbud, though your options are limited to cycling between ANC modes or activating your configured voice assistant. You can also use voice commands with hotwords like "Hey, Google." When you're first setting up, you'll find their dedicated pairing button on the case.

Like other earbuds, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are exceptionally portable. You can fit them in a pocket or bag without much difficulty.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2's case is impressive. Its form factor is nearly identical to previous iterations but with some functional improvements: the case has an IPX4 certification for resistance against water and includes a small speaker for finding the device. So you'll be fine tossing the case into a gym bag or popping your buds in for a quick charge while it's raining.

There's also a pairing button on the back of the case and an LED for monitoring the battery status of both the charging case and the earbuds. It's worth mentioning that due to the new design of the earbuds, it's quite easy to place the L/R earbuds in the wrong slot without noticing until you try closing the charging case.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2's build quality is good. Both the case and earbuds are made of plastic with a matte finish and have an IP certification: the case is IPX4 certified against water splashes, while the earbuds are IP54 certified for additional protection against dust. The included ear tips are also rigid and feel durable. On the downside, the large vents on the earbuds may attract and retain dust or debris, so you'll need to maintain them to ensure features like ANC continue to work properly.

These earbuds have good stability. Once you've found the right fit, their stabilizing fin does a good job of keeping them in your ears even during higher-intensity movements; they'll stay in your ears even while you headbang and jam out to your favorite tracks. However, their atypical stabilizer and fit may take some time to get used to, as the buds may give the sensation that they're falling out despite being secured.

• Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds
• Charging case
• Silicone ear tips (XS, S, M, L)
• Safety and warranty documentation
• Quick start guide

Note: A USB-C charging cable for the case isn't included in the box.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 have good noise isolation performance. Their noise cancelling doesn't have a strength adjustment, but you can switch to 'Transparency' mode if you need to hear your environment. The earbuds filter out lower-pitched noises like rumbling machinery decently but are a bit inconsistent in the mid-range, so sounds like voices can slip through. In higher frequencies, responsible for shrill and painful sounds, the Pixel Buds Pro 2's passive isolation doesn't block as much noise compared to something with foam tips like the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless. There's also a small bump in the low bass which might amplify noise in this range, though it's unlikely you'll notice it.

These buds do an impressive job of blocking noise in common scenarios. They're great at handling the rumble of large vehicles accelerating and tackling the ambient din in airplane cabins. The buds, however, are a bit worse at tackling mid- and high-bass noise in offices like the thud of footsteps on hard floors.

In the sound section of the app, there's a 'Conversation Detection' setting toggle that allows automatic switching from 'Noise Cancellation' to 'Transparency' when you speak.

These earbuds don't have a dedicated wind reduction mode. When wind interacts with the ANC microphones, the ANC system creates noise intended to cancel out a sound that won't reach your ears; this creates the popping noise referred to as wind noise. These buds aren't particularly good at handling wind noise, though they are a bit better at 90 degrees.

In 'Transparency' mode, they have an automatic wind reduction feature, which dynamically reduces the level of transparency to prevent directly replicating wind interaction picked up by the external microphones.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 have remarkable leakage performance. Depending on how loud you listen to your audio, neighbors might notice a tinny version of your mix leaking out in a calm environment like a library or study room.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2's recording quality is mediocre. Speech is intelligible despite the high total harmonic distortion (THD) we measured. However, you'll notice speech is quite 'dirty' due to both the high THD and inconsistent microphone frequency response. Voice reproduction will also lack in the high-bass and low-mids, making you sound thin but still comprehensible.

These buds support 'Bluetooth Super Wideband' exclusively on the Google Pixel 8 and up, which is advertised to increase bandwidth for voices. This feature works with 'Clear Calling': Pixel phones' onboard noise handling software solution. Unfortunately, we aren't currently able to test the mic performance in this configuration.

The microphone's noise handling is disappointing. It mitigates some consistent background audio, though when you speak, each syllable is accentuated by noise. In environments with more unpredictable sound like a subway station, expect occasional pickup of background voices. The earbuds' microphone handles louder noise, like the arrival of a train, passably, though your voice may cut out slightly in the loudest conditions.

Their battery performance is good. The manufacturer advertises up to eight hours of playback with ANC enabled, which matches our testing results. The case also provides 2.8 extra charges, matching the advertised total listening time of up to 30 hours. The earbuds also have an IR proximity sensor for in-ear detection, which pauses audio when you remove them to save battery. Additionally, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 support five-minute fast charging, which can give you up to 1.5 hours of listening with ANC off in a pinch. If you need to maximize your battery life for a marathon listening session, Google advertises 12 hours of continuous playback with ANC off and an extra 36 hours from the charging case.

The Google Pixel Buds app is great. The app includes a five-band graphic EQ and EQ presets, allowing you to tailor the earbuds' sound to your preferences. You can use 'Conversation Detection' to automatically switch the earbuds to 'Transparency' mode when you speak or manually change the ANC mode in the app. 'Spatial Audio' is also accessible through the app for increased immersion, though full functionality, including head tracking, requires a Pixel 6 or newer and compatible content.

These earbuds are equipped with Auracast, which allows audio streaming to multiple Bluetooth devices simultaneously; however, it's still a relatively uncommon feature. The app has an in-ear detection feature, which automatically puts the earbuds on standby when removed to help conserve battery life. The case and buds are also integrated with Google's 'Find My Device' feature: you can locate them on a map and play a chime from the case or earbuds when nearby. For gamers, the earbuds support a low-latency mode, but it's tied to the 'Game Mode' features on Pixel 8 and newer phones.

You can also remap the press-and-hold control, check your ear tip seal, and configure 'Audio Switch,' which lets you change the earbuds' audio source between devices connected to the same Google account. While there's only a dedicated app for Android, you can access the earbuds' web app on MacOS, ChromeOS, and Windows—retaining core functionality like an equalizer and ANC settings.

These earbuds don't come with a charging cable for their case, so you'll need to acquire a standard USB-C cable from elsewhere.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 have good Bluetooth connectivity. They use Bluetooth 5.4 and support multi-device pairing with up to two devices simultaneously. These earbuds also support emerging Bluetooth features like LE Audio and Auracast, though they require supported devices and apps to function.

Certain features are also exclusive to Android or Pixel devices, such as 'Audio Switch' and 'Bluetooth Super Wideband.' 'Bluetooth Super Wideband' is a Pixel 8 (or newer) exclusive feature that increases available bandwidth for calling. Meanwhile, 'Audio Switch' allows switching between Android playback devices logged into the same Google account. If you're playing music on your phone and start a video on your tablet, your Buds Pro 2 will switch to output audio from one device to the other. For users with products in the Apple ecosystem, the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) support similar seamless device switching for iOS or macOS devices.

These buds only support the AAC and SBC and aren't compatible with any hi-res audio codecs. Unfortunately, they also have disappointing latency over SBC, which can create a noticeable desync between your audio and video. It's worth noting that some apps and devices compensate for latency, though. Additionally, if you have a Pixel 8 or newer, 'Game Mode' is advertised to lower latency with the Pixel Buds Pro 2 on supported apps, though we haven't been able to test this.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 can only connect to PCs using Bluetooth for full audio and microphone support.

These headphones come with a charging case similar in design and functionality to that of the Google Pixel Buds Pro. The case can be recharged wirelessly or via its USB-C port. There's also a speaker on the bottom for finding your device.