The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Truly Wireless are the successor to the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless, and they're the brand's flagship buds targeted to Android and Pixel-device users. Their lightweight and less bulky redesign doesn't sacrifice any features. Google packs plenty of premium nice-to-haves, like active noise cancellation (ANC) with 'Conversation Detection' and Android-wide seamless device switching with 'Audio Switch,' into their smaller form factor.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are decent for neutral sound. If you like a little bit of extra bass without too much mud, these earbuds will suit your tastes. Their app has a five-band graphic EQ and plenty of presets to choose from; it also has a 'Volume EQ,' which compensates for changes in hearing sensitivity by adjusting the bass and treble in your mix depending on your volume. Thanks to the stabilizers, you'll also get a consistent sound between wears. Unfortunately, while the Pixel Buds Pro 2 control their sound signature well from the bass to the mid-range, they have some difficulty in the treble. Depending on the pitch of your vocals and instrumentation, you'll experience harshness or underarticulation while the highest harmonics sound lifeless. It's worth noting though, that hearing varies from person to person and not everyone will notice the upper harmonics (or lack thereof).
Five-band graphic EQ.
Volume EQ compensates for hearing sensitivity changes at low-volume listening.
Access to full features is limited to recent Pixel devices.
No support for hi-res audio codecs.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are great for commutes and travel. Their ANC system can block out lower-pitched sounds like the rumble of bus or plane engines as well as higher-pitched noise like cafe or office chatter. They're solidly built, lightweight, and comfortable with an adjustable fit. They have an 8.1-hour battery life with ANC on, which will get you through most shorter commutes and travel, though they likely won't last for an entire intercontinental flight. You also don't need to worry about splashes and rain while running to catch a bus, as the buds have an IP54 rating for resistance to dust and water exposure.
IP54 rating.
Very good noise isolation.
Access to full features is limited to recent Pixel devices.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are great for sports and fitness. They have a decent IP54 rating, so you'll be fine taking them on dusty trails or splashing your face with water after a long workout. Plus, you can give them an extra twist to secure them in place using their stabilizer to brace the earbuds in place against the bottom of your outer ear. They also have an automatic 'Conversation Detection' mode in their app in case you need to ask for directions without cycling through ANC modes manually. Over time, the buds may feel strange while you move around, and it can take some time to get used to their atypical stabilizer and fit.
IP54 rating.
Very good noise isolation.
Access to full features is limited to recent Pixel devices.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are decent for office use. Their active and passive isolation does a very good job of limiting the ambient din of office chatter and the consistent rumble of ventilation systems. Their fit can also be adjusted to be more relaxed, leaning less on the potentially intrusive stabilizer. They have just over eight hours of battery life with ANC on, so they'll get most people through an average workday. They also support multi-device pairing, so you can switch between listening to your work mix and a Teams call without issue. That said, if you're in a louder space like a bullpen, the earbuds' microphones may pick up background conversations while you're on a call.
Very good noise isolation.
Multi-device pairing not locked to operating system or device.
Mic has disappointing noise handling.
Access to full features is limited to recent Pixel devices.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 aren't suitable for wireless gaming as they only support Bluetooth, which has high latency with standard codecs. If you have a Pixel 8 or newer device, you may find that 'Game Mode' can sufficiently reduce your latency when playing supported titles on Android, though.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are wireless in-ears and can't be used wired.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are acceptable for phone calls. Their microphone system's recording quality is mediocre and further held back by poor separation of your voice from background noise. While you'll still be intelligible even with loud noises like subway cars in the background, your voice won't come off natural, and won't be pleasant to listen to. On the noise cancellation side, these earbuds have very good noise isolation and will handle most distractions easily, enabling you to hear your conversation partner(s) well.
Very good noise isolation.
Mic has disappointing noise handling.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Truly Wireless come in four colors: 'Porcelain,' 'Hazel,' 'Wintergreen,' and 'Peony.' Our unit is 'Hazel,' and you can see two labels with specifications and manufacturing origin.
If you encounter any other variants, please let us know in the comments below, and we'll update the review.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the upgraded version of the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless. Their redesign shaves off a good deal of weight and bulkiness and introduces a unique stabilizer that secures the earbuds using the lower part of your outer ear. Their companion app has also been updated to support premium features like 'Conversation Detection,' which competes with other high-end devices like the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless and the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro Truly Wireless.
As is becoming increasingly common among flagship devices, certain features of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are locked behind not just the operating system (Android) but also the brand (Pixel) and are only compatible with some of the latest Pixel devices. Similar to the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless, features like virtual soundstage support are locked behind product-specific ecosystems.
For more recommendations, check out our picks for the best wireless earbuds for Android, the best wireless earbuds for running and working out, and the best noise cancelling earbuds.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless are similarly performing earbuds to the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Truly Wireless. The Sony are bulkier and weigh more, but their foam ear tips help them passively mitigate more noise in the treble range, like squeaky brakes. On the other hand, the Google support newer features like 'Audio Switch,' which allows seamless switching of audio playback sources when logged into the same Google account, and 'Find My Device' for both the case and earbuds.
The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless have a similar set of features to the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Truly Wireless. They both have an acceptable overall microphone performance, no hi-res audio codec support, and ecosystem-locked features like their respective spatial audio and seamless device switching implementation. The Apple do have noticeably better noise isolation performance and multi-device pairing exclusive to Apple devices. However, they lack the customizability of a graphic EQ and presets that the Google earbuds offer. If your secondary devices aren't in the Apple ecosystem, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are more open, with Android-wide app availability and multi-device pairing that supports PCs.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless are the predecessor to the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Truly Wireless. As they use the same app, they have similar feature support, ranging from a five-band graphic EQ to Bluetooth Super Wideband for calls using a Pixel 8 or newer phone. That said, the newer Pixel Buds Pro 2 have an updated design that's less bulky, more comfortable, and more secure. They also boast an improved battery life of 8.1 hours compared to the 7.6 hours of their predecessor.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro Truly Wireless have similar features and performance to the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Truly Wireless. They're both Android-focused products with semi-closed ecosystem support. Both support seamless device switching but require you to log into a Samsung or Google account for the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Pixel Buds Pro 2, respectively. The Samsung earbuds support a proprietary high-res audio codec SSC, which only works on supported Samsung devices, whereas the Pixel have a low-latency mode that only works on Pixel 8 or newer phones. While both earbuds offer ecosystem-agnostic features—such as the Samsung app's virtual soundstage and the Google earbuds' multi-device pairing—compatibility with your current or future devices will ultimately determine which works best for you.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless are better than the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Truly Wireless for most use cases. Both buds have a similar level of comfort, though the Jabra are more stable thanks to their 'ShakeGrip' rubberized coating. The Jabra also have a better noise isolation and microphone performance. The Google do have a slightly longer continuous battery life of 8.1 hours compared to the 7.9 hours of the Jabra, and they also support head tracking in their virtual soundstage implementation. It's worth noting that spatial audio features require a supported Pixel device and content to work on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, though.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are button-shaped earbuds that depart from their predecessor, the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless. 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 Truly Wireless, 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.
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.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 have a generally flat sound profile with an elevated bass and poorly controlled treble on their 'Default' preset and with ANC on. Their bass response is slightly but consistently emphasized, offering thumpy, full-bodied, and warm low frequencies that enhance kicks and toms without overshadowing higher frequencies. Additionally, our unit had some pretty high group delay in the lower range, which can make the thump and punch of the bass sound sloppy. The mid-range carries the emphasis from the bass into the low-mids, but a dip in the mid-mid coupled with the elevated bass can make complex tracks feel cluttered and nudge vocals to the back of dense mixes. The treble range is inconsistent, so some cymbal hits sound piercing, while the precipitous drop in the high-treble around 15KHz 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 is unconventional: each band has an individual slider with no frequency ranges described, instead called: '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 have excellent frequency response consistency. With the right tips for your ear shape, there won't be much variation in the buds' performance between listening sessions.
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 Truly Wireless'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 good. There are varied sections of under and overemphasis across the entire treble range, 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.
Their peaks and dips performance is disappointing. The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 consistently maintain control over their sound profile in the bass and mid-range, delivering satisfying thump and punch alongside full-bodied, clear vocals and instruments. However, in the low- and mid-treble range, peaks and dips create alternating harshness and dullness depending on the pitch. Additionally, the high-treble may sound lifeless, depending on your sensitivity to higher frequencies.
These buds have very good imaging. Their performance is similar to other Google products we've tested, indicating high-quality control and ergonomics. However, their group delay is quite loose in the low-bass and sounds sloppy—this will be most apparent if you listen to bottom-heavy genres like EDM with frequent bass.
Their weighted phase mismatch is predominantly below the audibility threshold, with a transient bump in the mid-range that is unlikely to be noticeable in real-world content. Meanwhile, the left and right drivers are well-matched in amplitude and frequency, ensuring stereo sound is reproduced without gaps and with accurately positioned objects. That said, imaging can vary from unit to unit, so these results are only valid for our device.
Their passive soundstage isn't very spacious or immersive, which is normal for closed-back earbuds. Their design doesn't allow sound to interact with your outer ear, so audio will seem like it's coming from inside your head rather than speakers positioned around you.
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.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2's weighted harmonic distortion performance is very good. The measurements fall within good levels, remaining fairly low in the bass and mids with slight increases in the treble. As a result, your audio will sound pure and clean.
These are the settings used to test the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Truly Wireless. Our results are only valid when used in this configuration.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Truly Wireless 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) Truly Wireless 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 Truly Wireless. The case can be recharged wirelessly or via its USB-C port. There's also a speaker on the bottom for finding your device.