Google's Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a tinier upgrade


Using these Pixel Buds Pro 2 every day since I got them have really had me appreciating my music more and more.  As I had been trying to use my bike or escooter as much as possible to get to work, I really needed something in my ears to keep me moving.

I really like that they kept the same size case as the older model, so that my Nomad leather case can fit them for easy portability.  

It's taken me some time to get used to how much smaller they were.  I always said the PBP1 were a fair bit large, not that I was ever afraid it'd fall out because they were too big, but just felt like a massive bud.  These new models are very much smaller.  They fit well in my ear, and I don't feel like they're too small to fall out, but ... they just feel smaller.  How can something be this 'small' and be a PRO?

Oh, it's pro alright!  They sound just as good as last years, if not just a tad bit 'cleaner' in my mind.

What I liked was the return to a 'something' that helps keep them in - the early Pixel Buds had those 'ear loop' things to get hooked into a ridge, but the Pro from last year had nothing.  These now have a bit that's sort of some way in between

I don't know if I 'feel' that they're hooking in somewhere or it's a placebo effect, either way I feel more at ease to whip around on my bike paths without worrying it they're going to fall out.

Speaking of their size and their 'nubs', one thing I've always liked was that there was seemingly no way you could mix up the left/right, with these they definitely are a little more 'identical' and it's hard to pick up on that 'chirality' (ooh, there's me using my chemistry lingo) of which one is which.

To make it more confusing, you can put the left in the right side and the right in the left side and it doesn't look that different in the case.


which is the right way

Only way you'll know is when you go to close it.

Then it won't close... I guess the G's help orient you, but we're not often looking that closely.

Okay, before I get into the software of it, I just want to add one more satisfactory thing about their physical nature.  I don't remember this being a feature on the others, but I get a nice 'chime when they're charging.  Sweet... don't know why, but it's those subtle things that bring me joy.

Okay, but let's get into it.  Immediately opening it for the first time around a device will have it prompt to pair up ... which can be annoying if you're like me and have several devices around you - they all will notify you something wants to connect.

Pixel phones have the Pixel Buds app pre-installed and it will walk you through any set up needed for it.  Fairly straight forward.

After all paired up you can then walk through any of the extra set up/features of the device.

First up, you'll probably want to go and adjust the Active Noise Cancellation.  This can be customized later on with how you toggle it with gestures.

Nothing new here, with the 3 options:  Noise Cancellation / Off / Transparency.  Essentially, block out the world (and it does a great job of that), no cancellation, or let in some of the outside world.

In another setting where you adjust the customization you can set each ear to do a different job of long pressing - so either the Digital Assistant, or using the Active Noise Cancellation.

Another thing before you get listening you may want to just check the seal of the device.  In the box there were different sizes of the rubber seals depending on what size you want.

There is a function then to play some sounds where it'll monitor with it's external microphones to see how much sound is 'leaking'.  This helps adjust the music as needed.

There is also the feature where it can sense when you need to be in a conversation (i.e. you start to talk to someone) that it will automatically pause the music and turn on transparency mode.


There also was a neat feature to see how it was monitoring your 'hearing wellness', I don't think this was in last year's model.  Just how loud were things getting and is that good for you.

You can also adjust how it sounds with an equalizer and spatial audio.

The equalizer has some pre-built, or you can adjust your own.  I really wish there was something that would auto change the EQ based on what I'm listening to (i.e. CBC, I want more vocal, YTM I'd want music, and movies... etc...). 

Spatial audio is really helping to give you that 'surround sound feel'.

This will depend on the source of audio, same with the options for headtracking - I do notice it works on some Netflix shows.  Where if you stop looking at the screen it really starts playing louder in the ear that's closest. That's neat.

I did have some weird hardships with the Find My Device.  If I go into that setting to find it, the app says it hasn't seen it over a week... which is odd (might have to be that I set it up with a different phone and that phone hasn't been on?)


Haven't figured that out yet.

Okay, but that's the software, how does it work?  Using it is great.  I plop them in, and can easily tap the unit to gesture to start/stop or skip or listen to my notifications.  It all works great.

It just feels a little small, which is cool that it sounds so great without being bulky, but can still feel small, like I'll lose them in my hands.  But once I have them out of the case and into my ears I love being able to tune the world out and get going on my bike.  The active noise cancellation works so well that I've used them on a recent band trip to help reduce listening to those snorers.  

I think you'll love 'em like I do.

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