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Pixel Buds 2 Pro: Better than Airpods?

They’re light—really light. That’s the first thing you’ll notice and one of the best things about the Buds 2 Pro. Compared to other flagship earbuds like the AirPods Pro 2 (5.3 grams) or the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 (5.4 grams), the Pixel Buds 2 Pro weigh just 4.7 grams each! Thanks to 45 million ear scans, Pixel made these not only 24% lighter but also 27% smaller than the original Buds Pro.

Design and Build Quality

A unique feature is the twist-to-adjust stabilizer mechanism, letting you loosen the fit for comfort or tighten it when working out. Some users with larger ears have reported fit issues, but if you use the right ear tip (sizes range from extra small to large), you should be fine. And if you’re unsure, the Pixel Eartip Seal Check feature on the app (Android only) plays audio samples and tells you the best size.

Water and Dust Resistance

No need to worry about sweat or dust—the Pixel Buds 2 Pro have an IP54 rating, so they can handle water splashes from any direction and fine dust. Just don’t submerge them. This is on par with AirPods Pro 2; Samsung and Jabra offer slightly better protection.

Case

The Pixel Buds 2 Pro case brings practical upgrades over the last gen, like a speaker at the bottom that doubles as a tracker with Pixel’s Find My Device network. The case also gives audible feedback for charging, low battery, and pairing.

Downsides? The case has decent water resistance (IPX4) but no dust rating. Also, in a very Apple-like move, Google no longer includes a charging cable.

Audio Performance

Each earbud has a custom 11 mm driver and a Tensor A1 chip. The default sound is flat and neutral—great for balanced listening and even critical evaluation. Reviewers have described the tuning as “pleasant.”

If you don’t like the default sound, you can choose from presets like heavy bass, light bass, balanced, or vocal boost, or make a custom profile (one at a time) in the app—unavailable on iPhone.

Noise Cancellation and Transparency

Thanks to the Tensor A1 chip, the Buds 2 Pro have much better noise cancellation than before. They can process audio incredibly fast, adapting to your environment up to 3 million times per second.

Noise Cancellation

The buds cancel a wide range of noise, especially low–mid frequencies. They’re above average versus other buds and do a solid job blocking traffic, AC, or low ambient sounds.

Transparency

A major highlight. Transparency is clear and natural, on par with leaders. Silent Seal 2.0 helps transitions feel smooth (auto-transparency, auto-volume while talking).

Gemini

Google’s built-in Gemini AI adds perks—weather readouts, real-time translation, etc. It can’t access device-specific info, show images/video, or remember conversations. Occasional errors happen but are getting rarer.

Microphone and Call Quality

Each earbud uses three microphones, voice accelerometers, and wind-blocking mesh for strong voice clarity. They perform well indoors and outdoors, sometimes even beating AirPods Pro 2 in wind.

Charging and Battery

Battery

With ANC on, you get up to 8 hours per charge—30 with the case. With ANC off, up to 12 hours, or 48 with the case.

Charging

Just 5 minutes in the case gets you ~1.5 hours without ANC (or ~30 minutes with ANC). Charge via Qi wireless or USB-C at 2–5 W.

Conclusion

Some of the best earbuds right now—especially for transparency and battery. For Android users they’re an easy recommendation. For iPhone users, the lack of app support is a dealbreaker.

Sources

Google. “Pixel Buds Pro 2 Features, Specs & Clear Calling.” Google Store, 27 Aug. 2025. https://store.google.com/product/pixel_buds_pro_2_specs?hl=en-US

“Google Pixel Buds Requirements & Specifications.” Google Support, 2 Aug. 2025. https://support.google.com/googlepixelbuds/answer/7544332?hl=en-SG

“How we built Pixel Buds Pro 2 for even better sound and comfort.” The Keyword, 21 Nov. 2024. https://blog.google/products/pixel/pixel-buds-pro-2-design-google/

“Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: Higher-Quality Sound, More Comfort.” Google Store, 31 Dec. 2023. https://store.google.com/intl/en/ideas/articles/how-to-wear-pixel-buds/

“Google Pixel Buds Pro review.” SoundGuys, 12 Aug. 2024. https://www.soundguys.com/google-pixel-buds-pro-review-76163/

“Are the Pixel Buds Pro water and sweat-proof?” Android Central, 20 Jul. 2022. https://www.androidcentral.com/accessories/audio/earbuds/are-the-pixel-buds-pro-water-and-sweat-proof

“Are the Google Pixel Buds Pro waterproof?” Android Police, 7 Jan. 2024. https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-buds-pro-waterproof/

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