Google Pixel Buds Pro Review: Truly Excellent Earbuds

If Apple’s AirPods Pro are the benchmark for measuring the standard of any new pair of wireless earbuds, then Google has them beat with its new Pixel Buds Pro. Not solely do they sound higher than Apple’s flagship earbuds, however in addition they price $50 much less, have higher battery life, and are available cuter colours. 

These earbuds work positive with iPhone units, however their full suite of options shines by while you pair them with an Android device. For starters, they pair rapidly. You can even simply join them to a number of units and swap between them, so in case you have the buds in your ears whereas watching a film in your laptop computer and a name comes by, you’ll be able to simply reply your telephone with out having to fiddle with something. More importantly, these buds by no means fell out throughout my plodding runs, they characteristic wi-fi charging, and did I point out the lovable egg-like case? What extra might you want for podcasts and Beyoncé?

Form-Fitting Buds

The better part concerning the Pixel Buds Pro is how comfortably they slot in your ears. The medium-sized buds have a form-fitting peanut form that sticks proper in my medium-sized ear canals with ease, however by no means loses grip. I’ve tried to headbang these buggers out of my ears. I’ve taken them on 7-mile runs within the woods. I’ve showered with them in after mentioned runs. They keep in there completely regardless of the dearth of ear fins—they use the identical normal silicone ear ideas you will discover on most earbuds, however the general ergonomics simply make them hug my ear holes.

The exterior of every bud is available in a couple of colours. My favourite is the tangerine orange (or what Google calls Coral), however my overview unit was a discreet grey, which seems to be good-looking however isn’t as enjoyable. Frankly, part of the rationale to get these as a substitute of AirPods is the aesthetic distinction between Apple’s monolithic white and Google’s playful pastels.

Using them is simply as simple as utilizing AirPods. The exterior of every bud is touch-sensitive, with intuitive controls. Tap as soon as to play or pause, twice to skip songs, and long-press to show the energetic noise cancellation on or off, relying on whether or not you need to hear the world. I additionally like that swiping left or proper adjusts the amount—oftentimes earbuds with contact sensors forgo quantity controls for playback controls. 

These buds are additionally plugged into Google Assistant, so you’ll be able to shout “Hey Google” and demand it set timers or play a sure music. It’s helpful for the few instances I did not need to contact my telephone, however it’s nonetheless a novelty in public, the place you may not need to appear to be you are yelling at your self. To every their very own, I suppose.

Like the controls, the case the buds are available is well designed. It’s more durable to place an earbud into the fallacious slot, and I like how flat it lays on my wi-fi charging pad between listening classes. It’s additionally simply good to carry. Like somewhat tic tac. 

Into the Music

A single 11-mm dynamic driver inside every Pixel Buds Pro delivers a surprisingly strong soundstage, made doable largely by Google’s glorious digital sign processing and noise canceling. 

Music comes by with presence and character, particularly within the bass, which tends to have extra punch and separation than what I’ve heard from prior Pixel Buds. While listening to my testing playlist, the midrange is the one place the place the buds lose some definition. That’s to be anticipated when a single driver has to deal with good bass response and shimmery highs (and does so properly)—you are likely to lose one thing, someplace. Still, I’m glad Google’s engineers centered on the areas most individuals care about.