Google is late to the “Pro” party for the most popular brands. Now that the best pair of wireless earbuds are here, what do you bring to the dance? The Pixel Buds Pro look like the two models that came before it, but they’re supposed to look better and do more when future updates enable them.
It’s hard to read an uptrend ahead, so these shoots should show what they have from the start. Chances are, you’ll either really love them, or feel like your ears deserve better.
Google Pixel Buds Pro: Price and Availability
Google launched Pixel Buds Pro in July 2022, both online and in retail, through the usual channels. They’re the most expensive Google earbuds yet at $199, though you might eventually see them drop in price from time to time. They come in different forms of charcoal, coral, mist, and lime.
Google Pixel Buds Pro: What’s Good
For Google, the Pixel Buds Pro aren’t just earbuds for playing tunes, they’re an accessory to keep you connected. It’s not a new concept for the brand, especially considering the same purpose that was applied to the previous Pixel Buds (2nd generation) and Pixel Buds A-Series.
It’s true that it’s not easy to find earbuds that will wake up the Google Assistant and translate languages in the middle of a conversation the way they can. Not to mention reading notifications whenever you want to hear them. While every connectivity feature isn’t necessarily exclusive to Pixel Buds Pro, the integration will look unique or special if you haven’t had one before.
That’s why I’m not sure you’ll feel much different from, say, the Pixel Buds A-Series. Fast Pair is excellent at getting things to work over Bluetooth. The fit and feel are so similar, you might mistake it at first sight. Google maintains its penchant for making earbuds that are lightweight, comfortable, and reliable, and even includes an in-app setting to test which ear tips are best for you.
The 20-second process plays a tone test for sound leakage, and in my case, I found the medium and large ear tips to be insufficient. The problem is that there are not very big tips in the box, so I used a pair from another brand. When I re-tested with these, I found them to be perfect for me.
An airtight seal is crucial to getting the best sound balance, which makes this test even more important in the larger scheme. But your ears are the deciding factors in the end.
Google doesn’t want you to think too much about audio because it thinks its AI algorithms can do it for you. The internal components were customized to work with those algorithms, and after several days of listening to a wide range of content, it became clear to me who these earbuds really are.
Every pair of Pixel Buds I’ve tested with clear clarity above all else, and Buds Pro amplify that even further. Google describes the bass as something you want to hit “clearly” without emphasizing that “gravity” which suggests it’s much easier to tune elsewhere. The sound stage here definitely leans toward the mid- and higher-end, resulting in a level of clarity that I enjoyed with some content more than others.
Anything with a guitar or saxophone pierced with vibrancy is impressive, while the podcasts and audiobooks were great. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel the same way listening to the tracks with heavier bass, because the simple fact is that there wasn’t enough of it. Bass can be simultaneously huge and clear, as evidenced by the kind of performance already available in other earphones in the same price range, such as the Jabra Elite 7 Pro and Technics EAH-AZ60, for example.
To help with this issue, Google committed to Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) which surprised me in its effectiveness. It did a very good job of blocking out low-frequency sounds, including on a flight where I was sitting in the last row.
As anyone can attest, this part of the plane is noisy and full of uneven noises, like when passengers make their way to the restrooms. Those sounded like a growl with the Pixel Buds Pro, with the added help of passive isolation provided by the tighter seal I’ve gotten from the extra-large tips.
Transparency shows its value in reverse by doing an excellent job at the ambient sounds you want to hear for better external awareness. It also influences conversation, not only to make it easier to hear someone speaking, but also while using live translation for those difficult language interactions you might encounter.
Speaking of interactions, Google has long cited call quality as one of the things that really fits in with its earbuds, and I’d say it’s hard to argue with that kind of confidence. The Pixel Buds Pro have been great for me in this regard, while maintaining what previous pairs have offered before, which is clarity and reliability.
I had a few hiccups with the Bluetooth connection, even in the busiest areas, which only makes it easier to carry on a conversation while roaming while the phone is sitting on a charging pad.
You can also put the seamless integration with Google Assistant into this category. While it’s not perfect, and amidst the odd misinterpretation, the voice assistant does pretty well at responding to commands and reading notifications when you let it. This is one of the easiest earbuds for initiating hands-free phone calls, as well as doing many of the things you already do with the Assistant through other devices.
The multipoint function was equally effective for connecting to two devices simultaneously. It’s very easy to stay paired with two phones, a computer and a phone, or even a tablet, if needed. Switching audio does something similar in that it will automatically switch from one device to another – with one problem requiring that they both be on the same Google account.
The touch controls on the earbuds are pretty much mixed bags, although Google has done a good job making them consistently reliable. I didn’t really like the Pixel Buds (2nd generation) swipe gestures to control the volume, but they’re pretty good here, even if there’s always a chance they’ll be paused by mistake.
Google estimates battery life at up to seven hours with ANC turned on and 11 hours if you leave it off. You’ll only reach these numbers at the default volume, which is unlikely in most circumstances.
Since I routinely had to turn the volume up to 70% or higher, I ran for five hours with the ANC turned on. Not great, but respectful enough, which is something Google may be able to improve with future updates. This case will only get two extra charges, which is enough, and it supports wireless charging for added convenience.
Google Pixel Buds Pro: What’s Not Good
I know the balance is subjective, but I find it hard to see anyone who loves bass enjoy the Pixel Buds Pro. At the same time, these aren’t earbuds for audiophiles either, so who’s leaving? Realistically, it could be anyone else.
The focus on clarity makes the Pixel Buds Pro sound good off the bat, but once you put these earbuds in your ears, you trust Google to figure out the best way to tune them.
Algorithms, however they work, are not necessarily intended here. The ear tip fit test doesn’t adjust anything, making Volume EQ one way to go. The problem is that it only starts to push the bass at lower volumes.
For example, if you love how your rock playlist looks, but regret the lack of impact on your hip-hop or house playlist, you don’t really have options. At this price, a customizable EQ is a must – algorithms or no algorithms.
It’s an omission that stands out more precisely because the Pixel Buds Pro actually look good. I look at it sort of like watching a great show on a TV with great picture quality, only to hear the sound of pedestrians coming out of the speakers. With the right speaker upgrade that you can also tune by yourself, the experience not only changes but also applies differently to different tastes.
Ear tips can fall under the same theme. It’s great to have an easy to use way to test passive insulation, but then why only offer three sizes as standard?
I also wanted to increase the codec support to go beyond the SBC and AAC rendering offered by Buds Pro. Having aptX Adaptive would have added a missing low latency mode, as well as boosting resolution a bit more for devices that can handle it.
I wouldn’t bother Google with backtracking from spatial audio. It’s coming in a future update this fall, likely when the Pixel 7 launches, but that hasn’t been confirmed. It would be nice to see feature drops bring usable functionality that adds value to what’s already there. Time will tell.
Google Pixel Buds Pro: Competition
Pixel Buds Pro will be good enough to be among the best wireless earbuds for tight integration with Google Assistant. It faces tougher alternatives in other aspects, such as the Sony WF-1000XM4 – still the best for ANC performance – and the Jabra Elite 7 Active for sound quality, comfort and durability.
The Pixel Buds A-Series are much cheaper, but for their price, you can also wear the Anker Soundcore Life P3, which looks great and gives you excellent app support.
Google Pixel Buds Pro: Should You Buy It?
You should buy this if…
- You want a clearer sound
- You care about fitness and comfort
- Want reliable touch controls
- You want Google Assistant hands-free
You should not buy this if…
- Want a custom EQ
- Want more ear tip sizes
- Want more coding support
- You feel you are getting better value for less
In the transition to “Pro,” Pixel Buds are an iterative step up from their predecessors, not a huge leap to a different level of stardom. It’s easy to admire because it’s not overly complicated, but it also offers integrative features that make it unique in how it performs. Google Assistant users will love the way things blend seamlessly here.
Audio clarity is a great start, and I’d like to see Google find listeners who want the opportunity to customize the sound of the earbuds, too. This will take those to another level entirely, and one more worthy of the title of Pro.
Google is looking to raise the volume with the Pixel Buds Pro, to clarify the sound, finally incorporating active noise cancellation and transparency to complement a good pair of earbuds.