The new AI-powered Pixel Buds Pro 2 are here with Gemini — and they claim to fix that 'falling out of your ears' problem
At the 2024 Made by Google event, the search engine giant announced the brand new Pixel Buds Pro 2.
With all of the controversy surrounding Samsung's new Galaxy Buds 3 Series, which look like Apple AirPods clones, we should address this: Google's Pixel Buds Pro 2 do not look like replicas of the popular Apple earbuds. The design of the earbuds is different—unlike the AirPods Pro and the Galaxy Buds 3, there are no stems in sight.
With that out of the way, here is what the Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer.
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The new Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Google seems to be going all-in with the AI-powered aspect of its new wireless earbuds. The company says this is the first time its powerful Tensor chip has been used in earbuds. According to Google, the Tensor A1 chip, built specifically to power Google AI processing, can process audio "90 times faster than the speed of sound."
Why do earbuds need to handle processing power that can handle AI? Because the Pixel Buds Pro 2 can access Google's AI chatbot assistant, Gemini. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the first earbuds with Gemini, which Google is describing as "an eyes-free, hands-free audio interface to Gemini" where users can ask Gemini to handle tasks such as accessing email, giving directions, and creating new YouTube playlists.
With this AI processing power, Pixel Buds Pro 2's Active Noise Cancellation with Silent Seal 2.0 feature can also cancel "twice as much" noise as the first Pixel Buds Pro to deliver clearer audio for phone calls.
Google's Tensor chip also comes in handy for another new AI-powered feature in the Pixel Buds Pro 2: Conversation Detection. Google says users won't have to remove the earbuds for real-life conversations. Pixel Buds Pro 2 can detect when a user starts speaking and automatically pause any music that's playing and switch to Transparency mode. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 can detect when the conversation is over, too, and resume the audio in the earbuds automatically without the user having to do anything.
Switching audio, in general, will be much easier as Google said that the new Pixel Buds Pro 2 will automatically switch between devices based on what the user is doing.
Back to the design aspects of the Pixel Buds Pro 2, Google claims that these latest earbuds are "the most comfortable and secure-fitting earbuds." They're also 27 percent smaller than the previous generation. Google was able to make these earbuds lighter while increasing the battery life as well.
Are you sick of your earbuds popping out of your ear? The Pixel Buds Pro 2 also has a new twist-to-adjust stabilizer, which locks the earbuds in a user's ear in situations like running or other exercise.
There are some caveats here. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 do require a Google Account for some features, which shouldn't be a problem for most. However, some of the specific AI-powered features require an Android device (specifically a Pixel 7 or newer). So, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are probably not the best choice for Pixel 6 and iPhone users, for example.
Pre-orders for the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will be available tomorrow for $229.99. They're expected to hit store shelves on Sept. 26.
