The Google Pixel Buds 2020 Truly Wireless are the successor to the Google Pixel Buds 2017 Wireless but feature a different truly wireless design. Due to their sleek, lightweight design and shallow fit, they're quite comfortable. They also look and feel quite premium, and Android users can pair them very easily by simply opening the charging case near an Android device. Their sound profile is versatile enough for most genres and content, though unfortunately, their selection of sound customization options is rather limited. They don't filter out much ambient noise either.
Our Verdict
The Google Pixel Buds 2020 are decent truly wireless headphones for neutral sound. They have a well-balanced sound profile that should suit most genres, though their underemphasized low-bass range may bother fans of genres like EDM or hip-hop. Furthermore, they have a closed-off soundstage, though that's fairly normal for closed-back in-ears.
- Easy pairing with Android devices.
- Consistent audio reproduction.
- App has few sound customization options.
- Closed-off soundstage.
The Google Pixel Buds 2020 are okay for commuting and traveling. While they're exceptionally portable and comfortable enough to wear for long periods, they block very little background noise, especially the low engine rumble of buses or planes. Their near seven-hour continuous battery life should be long enough for your daily commutes, but might not be sufficient for overnight flights. On the bright side, Google advertises two hours of playback from a quick 10-minute charge, though we don't test this.
- Easy pairing with Android devices.
- Sturdy-feeling IPX4-rated construction.
- Bad noise isolation.
- Unremarkable single-charge battery life.
The Google Pixel Buds 2020 are great truly wireless headphones for sports. Thanks to their lightweight design and stability fins, they feel very stable in the ear and don't move or slide around, even with more vigorous head movements. Their IPX4 rating for water resistance makes them a good fit for outdoor runs, though we don't currently test this. They look and feel very well-built and durable, so they should endure a couple of minor drops and bumps.
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Sturdy-feeling IPX4-rated construction.
- Unremarkable single-charge battery life.
The Google Pixel Buds 2 are passable for office use. They're comfortable enough to wear all day, but their battery may not last long enough to get you through an entire workday. Unfortunately, they don't help much with blocking background noise, but they don't leak much audio, so you can turn your music up without bothering nearby coworkers.
- Comfortable and stable fit.
- Easy pairing with Android devices.
- Bad noise isolation.
- Unremarkable single-charge battery life.
The Google Pixel Buds 2020 are Bluetooth-only headphones that aren't recommended for wireless gaming. While you can game with them on a mobile device or Bluetooth-enabled PC, their high audio latency makes them less than ideal for this use.
The Google Pixel Buds 2 are Bluetooth-only headphones that can't be used wired.
The Google Pixel Buds 2 are mediocre headphones for phone calls. Their integrated mic makes your voice sound thin and muffled, though it does a good job of isolating it from background noise. Their poor noise isolation capability can also make it difficult for you to follow what's being said on a call if you're in a noisy environment.
- Easy pairing with Android devices.
- Microphone helps separate your voice from background noise.
- Poor microphone recording quality.
- Bad noise isolation.
Changelog
- Updated Sep 23, 2022: We've added a comparison with the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless in the 'Noise Isolation' test.
- Updated Oct 08, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Mar 10, 2021: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Sep 18, 2020: Verified a new firmware update that adds a 'Bass Boost' feature.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Google Pixel Buds 2020 come in four color variants: 'Clearly White', 'Almost Black', 'Oh So Orange', and 'Quite Mint'. We tested the 'Clearly White' model, but expect the other variants to perform similarly overall.
Let us know in the discussions if you come across another variant, so we can update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Google Pixel Buds 2020 are the successor to the Google Pixel Buds 2017 Wireless but now have a truly wireless design. They look and feel premium, and can easily pair with newer Android devices by simply opening the charging case near your device. They're as comfortable as the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Truly Wireless and the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wireless, but unfortunately, unlike the Apple, they don't have ANC and block very little background noise. Check out our recommendations for the best truly wireless earbuds, the best wireless earbuds, and the best wireless earbuds for Android.
The Apple AirPods Pro are much better truly wireless in-ears than the Google Pixel Buds 2020 Truly Wireless. The Apple block significantly more background noise, thanks in part to their great ANC feature. They also have a slightly better-balanced sound profile with a bit more bass. On the other hand, the Google last longer off a single charge and have an easier-to-use control scheme.
The Google Pixel Buds A-Series Truly Wireless are the budget-friendly sibling of the Google Pixel Buds 2020 Truly Wireless but perform very similarly. Both headphones have a comfortable and well-built design with balanced sound profiles. However, the Pixel Buds 2020 have a higher total battery life and offer volume control. They also support wireless charging.
The Google Pixel Buds 2020 Truly Wireless are better wireless headphones than the Google Pixel Buds 2017 Wireless but with a different design. While the 2017 model have a wire connecting each earbud, the new Pixel Buds 2020 are truly wireless. Other than that, the 2020 Pixel Buds are more comfortable, have a much better-balanced sound profile, and have a longer single-charge battery life. On the other hand, the 2017 Pixel Buds can be paired to two devices at once, though the newer model now has instant pairing with Android devices.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds are better truly wireless headphones than the Google Pixel Buds 2020 Truly Wireless. The Galaxy Buds have a better-balanced sound profile and isolate much more background noise. On the other hand, the Pixel Buds pair to Android devices almost instantly, and have a much easier-to-use control scheme. Their companion app is also compatible with both Android and iOS, though it doesn't offer much in terms of customization options.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
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