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High hopes and low expectations for the Google Pixel Buds 2
July 26, 2025
The dust has settled from theMade By Googleevent, and thePixel Buds 2continue to garner plenty of attention from media outlets and consumers alike. There’s a lot to love about these earbuds on paper, but it’s all too easy to get lost in the hype. After all, the originalPixel Budsalso seemed promising, yet left us wanting more. Google swings hard at theApple AirPodswith its latest earbuds, but there are a few concerning features abound.
The Pixel Buds 2 may not deliver on everything
Suffice to say, Google understands comfort was an immediate disappointment in the first-generation model. Consequently, it’s trying to course-correct with the true-wirelessPixel Buds.
Again, this seems promising. The company is using a three-point anchor system, conceptually similar to theSony WF-1000XM3which are remarkably comfortable. Yet, the flat disc panels are cause for concern. Yes, they rest nearly flush with the outer ear, but the large diameter could easily pose a problem for those with small ears. Comfort aside, stability does seem to be a redeeming quality. Google has gone to great lengths to ensure a secure fit. Gone are the odd loop mechanisms found in the old Pixel Buds. Instead, Google chose a more conventional stabilization technique by way of silicone wing tips and gently contoured nozzles.
A secure fit isn’t worth much, though, if you can’t enjoy your music. The ambient vent located at the bottom of each earbud can be a pro or con depending on what youprioritize. If you’re a commuter who walks to the office, environmentalawarenessis invaluable. Unfortunately, vigilance is at the expense ofaudio quality. The Pixel Buds 2 are said to deliver high-quality audio. However, if you’ve everincreased the volumeto drown out subway car neighbors, you know how external noise makes it difficult to hear audio playback.
This phenomenon is calledauditory masking. Our brains can only process so much information at once. When noises compete for our attention, our prehistoric brains perceive the louder one with greater ease over a quieter one. While this is appreciated from a survival perspective, it doesn’t benefit audio reproduction.
Additionally, I was hoping Google would partner with Qualcomm foraptXsupport. Notably, there was no mention of any high-quality codec support at the event. The Pixel Buds 2 officialproduct pagealso omits any Bluetooth codec information, leading me to believe it’s altogether absent just like the original Pixel Buds.
Another dubious specification is battery life. After reviewing dozens oftrue-wireless audioproducts, it’s apparent that battery life ratings lean toward the generous end of the spectrum. More often than not, a company’s posited playback time for its earbuds falls short of real-world use. True-wireless technology has advanced to the point whereby five hours of playback just doesn’t turn heads. Plus, I suspect this duration will be shy of the five-hour mark when subjected toobjective testingmeasures.
If you had the opportunity to use theoriginal Pixel Buds, you may have walked away feeling frustrated by the touch controls which many listeners said were too sensitive. This time around, Google is doubling down on its touch-sensitive panels. We won’t know how functionality compares to the previous generation until we spend ample time with the earbuds. Still, I’m anxious about its performance.
There’s still plenty to get excited about
While I hold firm that the Pixel Buds 2 won’t be crowned a groundbreaking pair of true-wireless earbuds, there remains a lot of reasons to be excited about their release.
For one, the extended Bluetooth range is remarkable. Osterloh cited an outdoor wireless range of an entire American football field. This means you couldrunlaps around the community track with thesesweat-resistantearbuds and forgo one of those smartphone arm holsters. What’s more, the indoor range was given a three-room distance. While this is a strange and vague way to measure distance, I’m optimistic about its real-world application. At the very least, it seems like leaving your phone in agymlocker room while exercising should prove free ofconnection stutters.
What’s more, these earbuds are packed with sensors much like theApple AirPodsandBeats Powerbeats Pro. The integrated sensors force the microphone to focus on your voice and refrain from transmitting excess background noise. Osterloh was so confident in the technology he gave the example of biking while taking a call, an otherwise impossible act with nearly anyalternatepair of truly wireless earbuds.
Google is including a wireless case with the Pixel Buds 2. This appears to be a direct jab atApple. If you want wireless charging with the latest AirPods, you’ll have to cough up an extra $40. This is a huge plus for anyone who wants to be on the cutting edge of technology without being slapped with additional charges. The company does, however, permit hands-freeGoogle Assistantaccess as the new AirPods do with Siri. Not only will this make checking and responding to notifications easier, again positioning the company squarely against Apple: hands-free Siri access was a huge selling point of the newH1 chipwithin the 2019 AirPods.
With so manytrue-wireless earbudscoming down the pike, it’s increasingly difficult for audio manufacturers to secure a loyal following. While the Google Pixel Buds 2 may not be the end-all, be-all of true-wireless technology, they’re bound to attractGoogle Pixel 4owners. If nothing else, hopefully, the extended Bluetooth range sets a new precedent for the next generation of truly wireless earbuds.
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