Launched in the fall of 2024 alongside the Pixel 9 series, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 represented a significant leap forward in what smart earbuds could be. While the first generation established Google as a serious competitor in the premium audio space with excellent ANC and sound, the second generation focused on leveraging Google’s greatest strength: Artificial Intelligence. Powered by a new Tensor audio chip and infused with Gemini AI, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 aimed to deliver not just an immersive listening experience, but a genuinely helpful and intelligent one.
Design and Fit: A Subtle Refinement
Google maintained the successful ergonomic design of the first Pro model, focusing on subtle refinements rather than a complete overhaul.
- Familiar Form Factor: The earbuds retained their comfortable, stabilizer-arc-free design, relying on the seal of the silicone ear tips to provide a secure fit and passive noise isolation. The shape was subtly tweaked for improved long-term comfort for a wider range of ears.
- Updated Color Palette: The colors were updated to match the aesthetic of the new Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro lineup, with options like Obsidian, Porcelain, Hazel, and Rose Quartz.
- Premium Case: The smooth, egg-shaped charging case returned, maintaining its satisfying magnetic closure and support for both USB-C and Qi wireless charging.
- Durability: The earbuds maintained an IPX4 rating for sweat and water resistance, with an IPX2 rating for the case.
The Tensor G4 Revolution: Gemini in Your Ears
The single biggest upgrade in the Pixel Buds Pro 2 was the inclusion of a new, custom audio SoC (System-on-a-Chip) based on Google’s Tensor G4 architecture. This brought powerful on-device processing directly to the earbuds, unlocking a new suite of AI-powered features.
- AI-Powered Call Quality (“Clear Calling Pro”): The new chip enabled a revolutionary leap in call clarity. The earbuds could use advanced AI models to intelligently distinguish the user’s voice from background noise. For the person on the other end of the call, this meant street noise, wind, and cafe chatter were almost completely eliminated, leaving only a clear, isolated voice.
- On-Device Gemini Nano: For the first time, Google’s Gemini Nano AI model ran directly on the earbuds. This enabled several smart features without needing to constantly communicate with the phone:
- Live Translation Enhancements: Faster and more nuanced language detection for the real-time translation feature.
- Smarter Assistant: Google Assistant could handle more complex queries and tasks offline and provide more context-aware suggestions and notifications.
- Adaptive ANC and Transparency: The on-device intelligence allowed the Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode to be more dynamic. The earbuds could better identify specific types of intrusive sounds and adapt the level of cancellation in real-time, while also making transparency mode sound more natural and less processed.
Enhanced Audio and Connectivity
While AI was the focus, Google also delivered upgrades to the core audio and connectivity experience.
- Refined Audio Signature: The 11mm dynamic drivers were retuned to offer even greater clarity and a more balanced sound profile, working in concert with the advanced processing of the new chip. Features like Volume EQ and the 5-band custom EQ were retained.
- Improved Spatial Audio: The algorithms for Spatial Audio with head tracking were refined for a more stable and immersive 3D listening experience with supported content.
- Upgraded Connectivity: The Pixel Buds Pro 2 featured Bluetooth 5.3 and support for LE Audio. This not only improved connection stability and efficiency but also opened the door for higher-quality, lower-latency audio via the LC3 codec and future features like Auracast broadcast audio.
- Seamless Multipoint: The excellent Multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, allowing simultaneous connection to two devices, was carried over and improved for even faster and more reliable switching.
Battery Life
Thanks to the increased efficiency of the Tensor G4 audio chip and LE Audio, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 saw modest but welcome gains in battery life.
- Listening Time: Approximately 8 hours with ANC enabled (up from 7) and up to 12 hours with ANC off (up from 11).
- Total Listening Time with Case: The total listening time with the charging case remained competitive, offering around 22-24 hours with ANC on, and well over 30 hours with it turned off.
Reception and Legacy
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 were met with very positive reviews, solidifying Google’s place at the top of the premium earbud market. Critics lauded the genuinely game-changing call quality, which many cited as the new industry best. The subtle but effective AI enhancements powered by Gemini, combined with the refined ANC and excellent sound quality, created a compelling package.
The primary praise centered on Google’s successful integration of AI to solve real-world problems, moving the conversation beyond just audio fidelity. While the design was iterative, the internal revolution powered by the Tensor chip was seen as a significant step forward. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 cemented the idea of an “AI earbud,” a truly smart wearable that actively helps the user communicate and interact with their digital world, setting a new direction for the future of personal audio.