I’ve tried Pixel Buds Pro 2: they’re good, but not yet a buy for iPhone users

Google’s earphones feature a refreshed design and a new chip, which results in better ANC and battery life. This would make them one of the top earphones for me, only if they had an iOS app.

Two years after releasing the original Pixel Buds Pro, Google has brought a few welcome updates to its Premium earphones line. The Buds Pro 2 still come in the same rounded, slightly egg-shaped case, but what’s inside is slightly different.

Google claims that the refreshed Buds Pro 2 are 27% smaller and 24% lighter than the previous generation, which should result in a comfortable fit in your ear.

My experience shows that these are indeed very comfortable earphones. Pixel Buds Pro 2 were the only in-ear earphones I’ve ever tried that I didn’t have to adjust again once I put them on. A little twist after Pixel Buds Pro 2 are in your ears, and you're all set for a walk, a conversation, or a workout.

Such a design, though, isn’t for everyone. If you are the type of person who can’t sleep with earplugs, there is a high chance that you might find Pixel Buds Pro 2 uncomfortable to wear.

Improved ANC

Aside from a slightly changed form, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 feature a few other enhancements. Now, they come with Google’s custom-made Tensor A1 chip, which, according to the company, will result in twice as powerful active noise cancellation (ANC) as in the previous model.

In my experience, the ANC in the Pixel Buds Pro 2 works great. It eliminates unwanted background noise from your surroundings, allowing you to immerse yourself in the audio.

The earphones' sound quality is clear and balanced. I enjoyed the bass, which was clear enough but not too strong.

If you want to change the sound by adding more bass or adapting to a certain style of music, you can do it with your Pixel Buds app. Here, you can see the equalizer, music volume, regulate ANC and many other settings.

Just after releasing the Buds Pro 2, Google officially unveiled an app for Windows and macOS, which is a welcome update.

However, there isn’t an iOS app. As an iPhone user, I would really love to have these basic controls on my phone without connecting to a desktop device.

Slightly improved battery

Another new feature of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is Gemini Integration. If your Android smartphone has Gemini as the main assistant on your smartphone, you will be able to activate Gemini by saying “Hey Google.”

For the latest Google Pixel devices, saying, "Hey Google, let’s talk live" will bring you Gemini Live, enabling much more human-like conversations.

Battery life on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 has improved by about 10-15% over the previous model. Google says that the Buds Pro 2 give you eight hours of playback with ANC on and 12 hours of listening when ANC is off, which is pretty much what I experienced.

Meanwhile, with a charging case, the earphones give you 30 hours of total listening time with ANC and 48 hours without it.

We don’t yet know the exact capacity of the earphones as Google hasn’t yet disclosed it, though improved battery life is likely a result of Google’s A1 chip.

The final word

The new Pixel Buds Pro 2 come in porcelain, hazel, wintergreen, and peony, and cost $229. This puts them on the lower end of the premium earphone spectrum.

They now also come at an increased price. Two years ago, the company started selling the Buds Pro at $199, though you could quickly find them on a sale for $149 in some markets.

While $230 is quite a high price to pay for a pair of earphones, decent sound, and quality features like ANC justify the increase.

For those who are comfortable with Google’s in-ear design, Pixel Buds Pro 2 might be worth checking out, especially if you can find them on sale. However, for iPhone users, the lack of a dedicated app may make all the difference in sticking with the AirPods.