As someone that frequently travels by plane and train, having a pair of high-quality earbuds with noise cancelling is a must for me. Much as I love donning my cans, the convenience of a pebble-sized reprieve from a noisy commute is one I couldn’t live without. If we sound similar of mind and you’re in the market for some new earphones, I suggest picking up some Pixel Buds Pro 2.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
“Light ears ahead.”
Pixel Buds Pro 2 are available in a variety of colours for just $179 on Amazon US, netting you a saving of $50 (22%). This discount also marks the return of the earbuds’ lowest ever price, making this the best time so far this year to pick up a pair. UK shoppers can also grab some with a cool £25 off, for a total of £194. Better still, you can have your pick of all four colours and still save. The ‘Wintergreen’ model speaks to me most of all.
The design and feature set of Pixel Buds Pro 2 is an improvement on Google’s previous earbuds in every way you could hope for. Their smaller and lighter design makes for comfortable extended listening periods, but it’s introduction of a ‘twist-to-adjust’ securing mechanism that I appreciate most of all. Not only does this create a more secure-feeling fit in your ear but it also improves noise-cancellation. As such, they’re great for exercise as well as blocking out noise generally.
Speaking of which, Google claims that Pixel Buds Pro 2 can block up to twice as much noise as its prior generation earbuds. This is partly due to design changes mentioned earlier but the company’s Tensor A1 processor also plays a part. It’s the first chip the brand’s squeezed into an earphone, and in my experience the Active Noise Cancellation it helps provide is a massive step up.
Tensor A1 also works in tandem with the new 11mm drivers inside Pixel Buds Pro 2 to greatly improve sound quality. While audiophiles may balk at the slightly bass-heavy default EQ, it provides a fun listen that’s more well-rounded than the older first-generation Pixel Buds Pro. If you’re someone that frequently listens to vocal-driven genres or podcasts, you’ll appreciate how much better these are at handling midrange and high frequencies.
An invaluable addition to Pixel Buds Pro 2 is ‘Find My Device’ functionality. I frequently leave my earbuds around the house, only to forget where I’ve put them down later in the day. Google has equipped the new carrying case with a speaker, for the purpose of emitting sound to help you to easily locate your earphones via your phone. This feature also extends to each individual earbud too.
Finally, a note on battery life. Each Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbud can run with ANC for up to eight hours, with the carrying case providing up to 30 hours of listening. This is plenty of charge for daily use, and you can even juice up the entire setup via Qi wireless charging.
The only caveat I have regarding Pixel Buds Pro 2 is that they only make sense for those with Android smartphones. If you’re rocking an iPhone, I recommend turning to Apple’s AirPods instead. Otherwise, they come heartily recommended, particularly if you’re already carrying a Pixel phone.
