The AI capabilities of the Pixel Buds Pro are great
And yet, I still don't think I want them as my daily earbuds
The wireless earbud has become pretty much required everyday carry material for many people right? If you're on the go these days, you most likely have your phone along with some type of audio device to listen to things that come out of your phone.
We know who the most popular players are in this space. If you're using an iPhone, there is a great chance that you're also wearing Apple's buds. If you're rocking a Samsung device, there is a good chance you have a set of Galaxy Buds on you at all times.
But what if you're a Pixel user? Are you automatically picking up a pair of the Pixel Buds Pro? Well, I've been using Pixel phones for years and just recently picked up a set of Pixel Buds as a potential replacement for my aging Jabra Elite 75Ts, and I'm pretty conflicted.
Google has had a rough journey with their line of Pixel earbuds. I tried their original version and it was just a complete buggy mess. Connections where terrible, audio quality was terrible, it just wasn't a good experience and they were instantly returned.
But word on the street is that Google has really figured things out with this latest version. And they've been pumping out regular software updates to make the buds even better over time. So why not give them a try?
What do I like about them?
The sound quality is pretty good compared to previous generations of buds from Google. The bass is bumpy, the highs are just high enough. A variety of music and spoken word just sound amazingly clear, crisp, and plenty loud enough.
And I've had zero connection issues this time around. They pair instantly with my Pixel phone as they should. I don't think I've ever had such a seamless bluetooth experience and that's certainly worth quite a bit.
Battery life should also not be a concern with these either. They estimate between 7-11 hours depending on your active noise cancelling needs and other settings. Of course, like pretty much every other modern buds, you can charge them up again with their included case. So you should be totally fine to make it through a whole day an night without plugging into a USB-C charger. What's even better is that the case includes wireless charging as well.
The Best Feature
So there is a unique feature to these buds that really got me excited. Google claims that the buds can use AI to detect conversation and automatically stop your audio and turn on Transparency Mode. It seems like magic, and it does in fact work very well.
For me personally, it comes in handy when I'm walking my dog and pass by a neighbor who wants to chat. Before, I was always awkwardly removing a bud and trying to catch what they said. But with the Pixel Buds Pro, you won't miss a beat as someone tells you how how cute your dog is. You'll hear them loud and clear and then your music will automatically resume just a few moments after it stops detecting a nearby conversation.
This is really a game changer and could come in handy in a variety of situations. Conversations in an office, hearing your family when you first walk in the door and are still listening to that podcast. This is the best feature of the buds and it's soemthing that I find to be immensely useful. However, I just don't think it's enough to get me to keep using these earbuds on a daily basis.
What do I not love about them?
The fit is just awkward for me. We all have unique ears, but no matter which size tip I tried, things just didn't feel right. And the Pixel Buds app even has a feature where they can detect if you have a good seal on the buds in your ears. And this process was dreadful for me. I kept adjusting for nearly 30 minutes until I just gave up and moved on. Maybe they just aren't meant for my ears and that's ok.
And once I did get them in my ears and went for a run, I heard an awful thumping sound as the buds made contact with my ear on every step. Again, this could just be a personal problem, but it was really unfortunate. I just couldn't get them to sit right after a lot of effort. And this wasn't an issue that I've had in the past with buds.
So because of this lack of a good seal, I was not at all impressed by the ANC capabilities. I still felt like I could hear things pretty well even with noise-cancelling turned on. It wasn't nearly as good at blocking out noise as my Jabra's.
I think Google did a decent job with the fit and finish of these but I'm just a not a big fan of the touch controls and slippery feel of the buds and case. I think that virtually all pieces of plastic tech should have a nice rubberized texture so they're not slipping out of your hands. These things are downright slippery and the case just doesn't feel as good in my hands as previous buds I've used.
And this may also sound silly but I just hate the way the buds sit in the case. The angle in which you need to drop them in is just not intuitive. And call me crazy but it really bugs me that the G logo on each bud doesn't sit exactly the same way when they're in the case. I just want both G's to be level, is that too much to ask? They're each askew just enough to bother me. It's small, but when you take them in and out of the case so often, tiny things like this can wear on you.
Conclusion
So, I think my search will have to continue. The Pixel Buds have some great things going for them, but I just don't think they're going to work for my everyday earbuds. And honestly, it's kinda inconvenient (and expensive) to have multiple earbuds for different use cases. Maybe these could work as my dog walking buds, but not as my running buds. And with the less-than-stellar ANC, I can't really see myself using them during deep work sessions either. They could be good for commutes, but my commutes are sporadic as a remote worker and I also prefer not to wear earbuds when commuting my bike.
Where do I go from here? I think I can squeeze some more life out of my Jabras. I know the brand has some new models out too, but none of them feel like the natural successor to the amazing Elite 75Ts. Another option I'd like to try are the Sony WF-1000XM5s. It seems like they'd have better ANC capabilities and might fit just a bit better. The search continues...
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
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