The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 is now official, having been announced at a Made by Google event at the company’s campus in Mountain View, Calif. on Tuesday.
The earbuds were unveiled alongside several other products, including the new Pixel 9 series of smartphones and the Pixel Watch 3 wearable, in addition to a host of new AI features to accompany the latest hardware.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 is available for preorder as of August 13. The earbuds are priced at $229. They will go on sale at the Google Store and other select retailers on September 26.
Here’s a rundown highlighting the specs and features of the Pixel Buds Pro 2.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 is Google’s second-generation high-end earbuds, which focus on design, performance, and intelligence, allowing them to be the first ear buds of the Gemini era. Google said it has added the expected premium sound enhancements to the Pixel Buds Pro 2. The earbuds include improved audio processing and noise cancellation in a power-efficient way. Google has also invested in its own custom-designed Tensor A1 chip, which aids in ultra-low latency audio processing and adapting sound to the environment up to 3 million times per second. This results in active noise-canceling twice as strong as the prior generation Pixel Buds Pro model.
The Tensor A1 chip functions with AI multipath processing that separates the music playback from active noise canceling to different lanes on the component, resulting in a heightened music-listening experience. This is a rare feature, even among most premium earbuds.
In addition to audio improvements, Google has also boosted the battery life of the Pixel Buds Pro 2. The earbuds support up to 8 hours of battery life with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) turned on and an additional 30 hours with the charging case. A 15-minute charge can add up to three hours of extra battery life to the earbuds. They can last even longer with ANC turned off.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are designed to be the smallest, lightest, most comfortable, and secure-fitting premium earbuds on the market. They are 24 percent lighter and 27 percent smaller than Pixel Buds Pro. Google has also developed the twist-to-adjust stabilizer, that allows you to twist the base of the earbuds to help them stay in your ear more securely. They’re packaged with four sizes of ear tips for additional options for comfort. The earbuds are rated IP54 for sweat and water resistance, while the case is rated IPX4.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 introduces Gemini Live to Google’s audio lineup, a feature which is also new to the Pixel 9 smartphone lineup. The AI function showcases Gemini in a hands-free audio experience, allowing you to interact with your earbuds in a similar way to a smart assistant in your home. Simply, unlock your phone while wearing your Buds, and say “Hey, Google, let’s talk live.” Once activated, the feature still functions even if your smartphone is locked again. You can also keep an earbud in your ear to maintain a connection with Gemini.
With the addition of Gemini Extensions, you can execute various productivity and helpful tasks, such as accessing email, asking for walking directions, creating a YouTube music playlist for a workout, and more via your earbuds. For more in-depth queries, Gemini can provide ideas and inspiration instead of just quick answers. Your phone also saves full transcripts of conversations with Gemini so you can pull them up later.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 is compatible with any device that supports Bluetooth 4.0 or later, including Android and iOS smartphones, tablets, and laptops. However, to access all features of the earbuds, users must be connected to a Google Account, a smartphone running Android 6.0 or later, and an internet connection. The earbuds support Bluetooth 5.4, LE Audio, and Super Wideband, as its native connectivity.
Color options for the Pixel Buds Pro 2 include Porcelain, Hazel, Peony, and Wintergreen.
