TechAudioHeadphonesEarbudsGoogle Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: great noise-cancelling from these small earbudsEven if you don’t get on with Gemini Live, the noise cancelling in Google’s second-gen Buds Pro is really impressiveWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)T3 VerdictThe Google Pixel buds Pro 2 refine the offering of Google’s previous earbuds with a more compact body and lighter weight, while extending the battery life and improving the active noise-cancellation (ANC. The sound from these earbuds is great too, but Google’s additional features like access to Gemini’s artificial intelligence features needs work to be convincingly useful.Reasons to buy+Excellent noise cancellation (ANC)+Strong performance for the size+Seamless Google integration+Great battery lifeReasons to avoid-Not sold on the stabiliser-Lacks hi-res codec support-Gemini Live not that useful-Delay when answering callsWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
TechAudioHeadphonesEarbudsGoogle Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: great noise-cancelling from these small earbudsEven if you don’t get on with Gemini Live, the noise cancelling in Google’s second-gen Buds Pro is really impressiveWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)T3 VerdictThe Google Pixel buds Pro 2 refine the offering of Google’s previous earbuds with a more compact body and lighter weight, while extending the battery life and improving the active noise-cancellation (ANC. The sound from these earbuds is great too, but Google’s additional features like access to Gemini’s artificial intelligence features needs work to be convincingly useful.Reasons to buy+Excellent noise cancellation (ANC)+Strong performance for the size+Seamless Google integration+Great battery lifeReasons to avoid-Not sold on the stabiliser-Lacks hi-res codec support-Gemini Live not that useful-Delay when answering callsWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Even if you don’t get on with Gemini Live, the noise cancelling in Google’s second-gen Buds Pro is really impressive
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)T3 VerdictThe Google Pixel buds Pro 2 refine the offering of Google’s previous earbuds with a more compact body and lighter weight, while extending the battery life and improving the active noise-cancellation (ANC. The sound from these earbuds is great too, but Google’s additional features like access to Gemini’s artificial intelligence features needs work to be convincingly useful.Reasons to buy+Excellent noise cancellation (ANC)+Strong performance for the size+Seamless Google integration+Great battery lifeReasons to avoid-Not sold on the stabiliser-Lacks hi-res codec support-Gemini Live not that useful-Delay when answering calls
(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)
(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)
T3 VerdictThe Google Pixel buds Pro 2 refine the offering of Google’s previous earbuds with a more compact body and lighter weight, while extending the battery life and improving the active noise-cancellation (ANC. The sound from these earbuds is great too, but Google’s additional features like access to Gemini’s artificial intelligence features needs work to be convincingly useful.Reasons to buy+Excellent noise cancellation (ANC)+Strong performance for the size+Seamless Google integration+Great battery lifeReasons to avoid-Not sold on the stabiliser-Lacks hi-res codec support-Gemini Live not that useful-Delay when answering calls
T3 VerdictThe Google Pixel buds Pro 2 refine the offering of Google’s previous earbuds with a more compact body and lighter weight, while extending the battery life and improving the active noise-cancellation (ANC. The sound from these earbuds is great too, but Google’s additional features like access to Gemini’s artificial intelligence features needs work to be convincingly useful.
T3 Verdict
The Google Pixel buds Pro 2 refine the offering of Google’s previous earbuds with a more compact body and lighter weight, while extending the battery life and improving the active noise-cancellation (ANC. The sound from these earbuds is great too, but Google’s additional features like access to Gemini’s artificial intelligence features needs work to be convincingly useful.
Reasons to buy+Excellent noise cancellation (ANC)+Strong performance for the size+Seamless Google integration+Great battery lifeReasons to avoid-Not sold on the stabiliser-Lacks hi-res codec support-Gemini Live not that useful-Delay when answering calls
Reasons to buy+Excellent noise cancellation (ANC)+Strong performance for the size+Seamless Google integration+Great battery life
Excellent noise cancellation (ANC)
Strong performance for the size
Seamless Google integration
Great battery life
Reasons to avoid-Not sold on the stabiliser-Lacks hi-res codec support-Gemini Live not that useful-Delay when answering calls
Not sold on the stabiliser
Lacks hi-res codec support
Gemini Live not that useful
Delay when answering calls
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
When it comes to choosing thebest wireless earbuds, you’re literally spoilt for choice. There are an abundance of options, spanning multiple brands, be thatApple’s myriadAirPodsoptions, or from other audio-makers across a wide price bracket.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 update what was a successful pair of headphones forGoogle. Having had a couple of cracks at wireless earbuds, thePixel Buds Prowere more fully-featured than Google’s other models, importantly offering proper active noise-cancellation (ANC) – but with a design that was rather chunky.
Now Google is doubling down with the Pixel Buds Pro 2, enhancing what was great about the first Buds Pro, while making some fairly significant changes in the product’s size and other key areas. Are these new earbuds worthy of accompanying yourGoogle Pixel 9 Pro XL?
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: Price & availability
Today’s best Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 deals$229$199View$229.99ViewWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 deals$229$199View$229.99ViewWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 deals
$229$199View$229.99View
$229$199View
$229$199View
$229$199View
$229$199
$199
$229.99View
$229.99View
$229.99View
$229.99
$229.99
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
TheGoogle PixelBuds Pro 2 launch at £219 ($229 / AU$379), positioned to rival theApple AirPods Pro 2, but just a little cheaper.
The original Pixel Buds Pro launched at £179 ($199 / AU$299), so there’s been quite a jump in price. However, we know that Google discounts on a regular basis and it’s likely that the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will also get discounted or reduced at some point in the future.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: What’s new?
(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)
Google’s positioning of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is essentially as a replacement of the original’s aspirations. However, the form of these headphones has changed significantly, as these are the smallest earbuds that Google has produced so far.
The headline figures here are a 27% reduction in size and a 24% reduction in weight (4.7g each, compared to 6.2g previously), with a new design that incorporates a stabiliser on the back to give a secure fit. It’s a substantial physical change over the previous headphones, along with anew IP54 rating.
There are new internals too, with the company’s Tensor A1 chip powering them, extending the battery life to 8 hours (over 7 hours previously), with the active noise-cancellation (ANC) said to be twice as effective.
These headphones also support Gemini Live, so you can dive into a full conversation with Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) assistant while you’re on the move.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: Design & comfort
(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)
(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)
Reducing the size of earbuds is always welcome. I never had a problem with the size or weight of the original Pixel Buds Pro, but it’s a radical change for the sequel. Google says that the designers used 45 million data points from ear scans to come up with the new shape – and the reduction in physical volume is substantial.
They still use a silicone tip style, but with the body of each headphone then sitting in your ear. The unique part of the design is a rubber stabiliser on the opposite end of each bud, which is designed to lock into your ear with a twist. It’s not the first time that Google has explored this approach: the Pixel Buds (Gen 2) and Pixel Buds A-series both had a little protuberance on the top that was design to hook into your ear.
There’s a choice of tip sizes and once I’d found the best size, I found them perfectly secure – even though the “stabiliser” didn’t actually touch any part of my ear. I’ve been out running in the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and they have been perfectly secure, not to mention the IP54 rating meaning it doesn’t matter if they get sweaty.
I’ve found the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to be perfectly comfortable and I like that the surface dome has a slight lip as it makes them really easy to grip, so they are easy to adjust in your ear.
The included case for the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is basically the same as it was before, smooth and strokeable, just like a pebble. It’s become my favourite stress toy, really, turning it through my hands when I’m thinking about the next witty thing to write about earbuds…
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: Features & control
(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)
(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)
Gemini picks up where Google Assistant left off, allowing you to ask questions and speak responses, but I found the responses to be slow and often Gemini would stop listening halfway through the process, especially when trying to send messages.
Gemini is also unable to launch apps like Spotify, so it’s actually less useful than the old Google Assistant when it comes to music – especially for earbuds. If Spotify is playing it will let you skip tracks and pause, but you can’t ask for a different artist or playlist.
Speaking of control, the Pixel Buds app (which is seamlessly integrated if you have aPixel phone) allows you to customise what a press and hold does – it’s either launch the digital assistant or switch noise control mode.
Otherwise the controls are conventional, but with forward and backward swipes to turn the volume up and down – which is appreciated. I did struggle with these a little when I had sweaty hands due to exercising, but I personally find Google’s tap system simpler than the pinches on headphones like theNothing EarorSamsung Galaxy Buds Pro 3.
Each earbud and the case are now part of the Find My Device network, with each part able to play a sound to help you find them. They also support Bluetooth multipoint, offer conversation detection to pause the music and switch to transparency mode when you start talking, which is great when ordering a coffee on your commute.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: Performance
(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)
(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)
There are 11mm drivers in the Pixel Buds Pro 2, with Google saying that there’s a new acoustic architecture, including a high-frequency chamber to boost treble. I found the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to sound great out of the box with a rich bassy nature, surprising given the compact size on offer. There’s a five-channel equaliser (EQ) to adjust to your preferences, with a range of presets available too.
I also found music to be wonderfully clear, with the Pixel Buds Pro 2 able to deliver a thicker bassline on demand without stomping over the rest of the track. Google has separated the processing path so that music is handled separately from the ANC processing, to ensure that one isn’t impacting the other.
Noise-cancelling ability is a big part of what I look for inthe best ANC headphones. I’d sacrifice absolute sonic performance for better ANC. I want the backdrop to my music to be silence. In this regard, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 deliver on that promise of better ANC than their forebears. I found the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to effectively reduce road noise to almost nothing, but it’s done without putting any essence of pressure into your ear, so it’s just a blanket of silence.
They also support spatial audio. While there is some spatial audio music out there, I’ve found it to be inconsistent – but for movies it’s great. I fired upKingdom of the Planet of the ApesonDisney+and found spatial audio to make a huge difference to how immersive the movie sounded. Pair that with the ANC and that train ride just got so much better.
The downside is that Google still doesn’t support common Bluetooth codecs for higher-quality audio. There’s no LDAC or aptX support here, so if you’re pursuing the best quality Bluetooth audio, you might be better withSony’s WF-1000XM5orBowers & Wilkins Pi8– but you’ll pay more for it.
I also found conversations to be nice and clear: even when in noisy environments, callers commented that they could hear what I was saying, but were aware that there was noise in the background. But I did find a voice delay when starting or answering a call, where the other person couldn’t hear me for a couple of seconds. Hopefully that’ll be fixed in a future software update.
Google delivers on the battery life too, with that 8-hour promise being a realistic figure with ANC on. That extends to 30 hours including the case. What’s impressive is that these diminutive headphones deliver that much battery life from such a small body. Charging is via the USB-C on the case, or there’s Qi wireless charging too.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review: Verdict
(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)
(Image credit: Future / Chris Hall)
When it comes to choosing a pair of headphones or earbuds, it’s important to decide what matters to you the most. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a natural choice for someone deeply into the Google system, especially if you want to take that Gemini Live experience on the move. Beyond that, the seamless experience withthe best Android phones– especially the likes of theGoogle Pixel 9 Pro Fold– makes these a natural choice.
Also consider
If you like what the Google Pixel Buds 2 Pro offer but think they are too expensive, then you might consider theNothing Ear, which are much cheaper yet offer good performance and ANC, but lack the Gemini Live experience.
Alternatively, if the price doesn’t worry you, then you might want to consider theBose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, which deliver excellent audio and ANC.
Finally, it’s hard to go wrong with theSony WF-1000XM5, which offer a great all-round experience and are generally considered to be some of the best earbuds you can buy. They’re a little older, thus their price has dropped from high to middling these days.
Today’s best Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, Nothing Ear, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Sony WF-1000XM5 dealsGoogle Pixel Buds Pro 2$229$199ViewSee all pricesNothing Ear$159$114ViewSee all pricesDeal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299ViewSee all pricesSony WF-1000XM5$298ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, Nothing Ear, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Sony WF-1000XM5 dealsGoogle Pixel Buds Pro 2$229$199ViewSee all pricesNothing Ear$159$114ViewSee all pricesDeal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299ViewSee all pricesSony WF-1000XM5$298ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, Nothing Ear, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Sony WF-1000XM5 dealsGoogle Pixel Buds Pro 2$229$199ViewSee all pricesNothing Ear$159$114ViewSee all pricesDeal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299ViewSee all pricesSony WF-1000XM5$298ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, Nothing Ear, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Sony WF-1000XM5 deals
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2$229$199ViewSee all pricesNothing Ear$159$114ViewSee all pricesDeal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299ViewSee all pricesSony WF-1000XM5$298ViewSee all prices
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2$229$199ViewSee all prices
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2$229$199ViewSee all prices
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
$229$199View
$229$199
$199
See all prices
Nothing Ear$159$114ViewSee all pricesDeal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025
Nothing Ear$159$114ViewSee all prices
Nothing Ear
Nothing Ear
$159$114View
$159$114
$114
See all prices
Deal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025
Deal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025
Deal endsMon, Jan 27, 2025
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299ViewSee all prices
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299ViewSee all prices
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
$299View
$299
$299
See all prices
Sony WF-1000XM5$298ViewSee all prices
Sony WF-1000XM5$298ViewSee all prices
Sony WF-1000XM5
Sony WF-1000XM5
$298View
$298
$298
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
{“data-model-name”:“Google Pixel Buds Pro 2,Nothing Ear,BoseQuietComfort Ultra Earbuds,SonyWF-1000XM5”,“data-widget-type”:“review”}
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Nintendo’s retro classic returns over 30 years after landmark original – ahead of Switch 2’s rumoured revealDonkey Kong Country Returns HD is on Nintendo Switch – 15 years since the Wii’s reimagining and 31 years since the SNES classic
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is on Nintendo Switch – 15 years since the Wii’s reimagining and 31 years since the SNES classic
The ultimate full-body gym workout for beginners, according to a fitness expertWant to hit the gym to build strength and muscle, but don’t know where to start? This workout can help
Want to hit the gym to build strength and muscle, but don’t know where to start? This workout can help
Amazon upgrades Kindle Colorsoft already – new model addresses customer complaintsAmazon’s full-colour e-reader fixes a problem that was plaguing its display
Amazon’s full-colour e-reader fixes a problem that was plaguing its display
