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Google Pixel Buds Pro
For a lot more fun, the Google Pixel Buds Pro speakers are dedicated to sending special tear sounds and comb to bring them in touch. The different student has built-in content, specifically mathematics of battery life and opening guides with IPX2 calculations with IPX4 comb. Better battery life and higher speaker opening with speakers and Google Assistant connectivity are the best reasons to find the latter.
| What We Like | What We Don't Like |
|---|---|
| ANC and Transparency mode | AAC and SBC codecs only, no aptX |
| Hands-free Google Assistant access | Fit is a bit loose |
| Water resistant case and buds | Price |
| Fast, wireless, and USB-C charging | Missing features at launch |
| Battery life | |
| Fast Pair and multipoint |
Google gifted the Pixel Buds Pro with active noise canceling (ANC), so now you can perform your usual productivity tasks while dampening the outside world. Conversely, if you’d rather invite the world in, the Pixel Buds Pro has a few Android-specific features, such as access to the Google Translate app and a transparency mode. Small details like Google Assistant integration make the Pixel Buds Pro less of a music listening set of earbuds, and more of an extension of the Google universe.
Does it deliver on the hype? We spent five days with Google Pixel Buds Pro and learned everything you need to know before taking the plunge.
Editor’s note: this Google Pixel Buds Pro review was updated on July 28, 2023, to add the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 and Sony WF-1000XM5 as alternatives, and to add FAQs.
How do you control Google Pixel Buds Pro?
Google Pixel Buds Pro basically have intelligent controls. An interesting addition is that your voice can be raised or lowered by swiping back and forth. Pixel Buds Pro is one of the few headsets that offer this feature. Sony uses earplugs on several of its headphones, such as the WH-1000XM5, but not the EarSong. You also get common features from the Pixel Buds Pro such as auto play/pause when turned on or off, and optional mono sync. The controls are the same on both ears, and in terms of intuitive convention, that's a big plus.
| Action | Effect (Music) | Effect (Phone) |
|---|---|---|
| One tap | Play / Pause | Answer call |
| Two taps | Next track | Reject call |
| Three taps | Previous track | |
| Tap and hold | Toggle ANC/transparency modes | |
| Swipe forward | Volume up | Volume up |
| Swipe backward | Volume down | Volume down |
| "Hey, Google" | Voice your request or inquiry |
When we see how much customization Google provides in the Android experience, it's surprising how little the Pixel Buds Pro offers to change the touch controls. You can't change Swipe Forward to skip a track, for example, this gesture is only assigned to control volume. The customizations consist of three things: you can choose whether to enable/disable the in-air speaker, choose whether you want to dedicate Google Assistant to one ear, and directly from the ears to the same earbuds. Which mode do you want to rotate? By default, Google enables In-Air Noise Cancellation and Clarity mode as your onboard listening modes, but you can also add a normal mode through the app's Modes editor.
What’s it like to use Google Pixel Buds Pro?
The case with our test unit is almost the same color as the Google Pixel Buds (2020), a matte white case with black highlights. It now has an IPX4 rating, and the LED has been moved to the near side of the case's screen. A simple twist of the thumb will lift the hard cover of the case, revealing the lush lemongrass colored caps inside the case. (The Pixel Buds Pro is also offered in charcoal, fog, and coral color options.) Around the back panel is that delightful Google 'G' signature, where the touchpad is located. The style is a nod to the 90's bubbly design way more advertising, something reminiscent of a Volkswagen Beetle or a Fruit Matos painting.
The ear nozzle is about 6mm, and behind it sits an 11mm dynamic driver. Google supplies the Pixel Buds Pro with three ear tips: the small is 11 millimeters, the medium is 12 millimeters, and the large is 13 millimeters. I wear small in one ear and medium in the other, because everyone's ears are different. In-ear replacements fit easily in your ears. With an IPX4 rating, you can take these in-ears for a run, but they're not the best running in-ears. The app will test your ear tip, although its real usefulness suffers, as the test claims that every size ear tip in my testing is valid for me, which is not true.
It happens that after you open the case pack and pull out these Google Pixel Buds Pro itself, you get to see the smell of the case. The case has moved from the bottom part to the top. A simple flick of the thumb lifts the lid tightly, and pops open the lemongrass-colored cups. (The Pixel Buds Pro are also available in charcoal, fog, and coral colors.) The Google 'G' signature is on the almost runny clay texture, where the touchpad is located. The style is reminiscent of the 1990s bubbly design aesthetic, rock-like Volkswagen Beetles or fruity Mentos.
The ear nozzle is about 6mm, and behind it sits an 11mm dynamic driver. Google supplies the Pixel Buds Pro with three ear tips: the small is 11 millimeters, the medium is 12 millimeters, and the large is 13 millimeters. I wear small in one ear and medium in the other, because everyone's ears are different. The caps fit comfortably in the ears. With an IPX4 rating, you can take these in-ears for a run, but they're not the best running in-ears. The app will test your ear tip, although it suffers from its real usefulness, as the test claims that every size ear tip in my testing is valid for me, which is not true.
Nevertheless, the Pixel Buds Pro feels comfortable, though it requires readjustments when out for a walk. Google also ditched the Adaptive Sound feature found on the Pixel Buds A-Series, opting instead for more useful active noise canceling tech. You can still enable Adaptive Sound through a Google Pixel 6 phone’s settings menu, but it’s not in the Android app anymore. So, rather than automatically adjusting your volume to overwhelm external noise, ANC detects the external noise and cancels it out. This way, your volume is left unaffected and you can likely do yourself a favor and listen at a quieter level.
Pixel Buds Pro Mastery: How to Use the Pixel Buds App
Android users can download the Pixel Buds app. It provides updates, some limited customization, and the ear tip fit test. If you’re eager to use Google Assistant, you’ll want the app to help set that up and probably dedicate an earbud to controlling it. Once set up to your liking, you probably don’t need the app for anything other than updates, so you can set and forget it. We might have all acclimated to granting our headphones and earbuds permissions, but it’s worth mentioning again that this is very much tied into Google’s data collecting ecosystem. You’ll have to agree to the terms and conditions to access some of the features one might argue you’ve already paid for.
If you forget the buds somewhere, there’s a Find device function that’s similar to Apple’s Find My feature. You’ll have to enable this in your settings (granting location data) before you lose the buds for it to work. Pixel phone and Android users can also integrate the Pixel Buds Pro with the Google Translate app. This way, you can start a conversation and receive a response all with the headset and your phone.