I tried the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 and they're a big improvement — but they still aren't for everyone
RW verdict: Boasting a secure fit, punchy sound and decent battery life, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a fantastic pair of wireless earbuds for runners. However, their smaller, discreet design won't be for everyone and only Android users will benefit from their full suite of features.
Finding your perfect pair of wireless running headphones isn't as simple as opting for the ones that won't fall out on when you push the pace. There's lots of factors to consider, including sound quality, how easy the controls are to navigate on the move, battery life and additional features that benefit you beyond the run.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 were unveiled in August 2024, two years on from the release of their predecessor and boasting a host of claimed improvements: better noise-cancellation, enhanced sound quality and a longer battery life. On top of that, they have a revamped fit and support for Gemini – Google’s AI chatbot.
But are the updates enough to warrant an upgrade – and more importantly, are the Pixel Buds Pro 2 a viable options for runners? Let's get into things.
Set-up and design
Setting up the Pixel Buds Pro 2 takes mere seconds. All I needed to do was flip open the small, pebble case and they'd appeared in my phone’s Bluetooth settings. Nice and painless.
One of the most noticeable differences between the first-gen Pixel Buds Pro and the latest iteration is the size of the buds. Google has opted for a much smaller design this time around, with the Pro 2 being 27 percent smaller and 24 percent lighter than the original.
Each circular bud is inserted into your ear canal by a ‘twist-to-adjust’ method, with a small plastic fin acting as a stabilising anchor – no long AirPod-style arms here. If you twist the earbud up, it’ll sit more strongly in your ear – ideal for rigorous activity like running. In fact, I’ve literally not had to worry about these falling out of my ears once during testing. And if you need to get a tighter seal, there are additional eartips provided in the box: extra small, small, medium and large.
Personally, I'm on the fence when it comes to the design. On one hand, at just under 5g per bud, the Pro 2 are so lightweight and miniature that you hardly notice you’re wearing them. On the other hand, I’ve found you need to be a bit more deliberate with the way you put the earbuds in and take them out, while the controls – which I’ll come onto – are a bit tricky to adjust for someone with bigger hands like me.
The small, egg-shaped charging case is excellent, though, and easily fits into a running belt, hydration jacket or gym bag. The buds also come in a choice of black (hazel), white (porcelain), pink (peony) or mint (wintergreen). I tested the porcelain colourway, but I’m a big fan of the bolder designs.
Controls
The surface of the buds is where you’ll find the gesture controls. You can do all the usual stuff here: pause or play, skip tracks, answer and end calls etc. If you swipe forward or back, you can also adjust the volume. Pressing and holding the earbuds toggles active noise cancellation.
Controversially, I've found the controls a bit sensitive and tricky to get used to, perhaps because of the aforementioned large-hand-to-small-earbud issue. It's not so much of a problem if I'm just sat on the train to work, but on the run — the priority here — things don't work as seamlessly as I'd like. I've been testing the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 alongside the Buds Pro 2 and the Jabra's controls are far more reliable.
Sound quality
Google has brought its new Tensor A1 chip to the Pixel Buds Pro 2, which it claims enables faster audio processing and twice the Active Noise Cancellation as the first-gen Buds Pro.
In practice, the audio quality of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 certainly is excellent. The sound is crystal-clean, crisp and well-balanced and Google's design adjustments, including the 11mm drivers and high-frequency chamber, contribute to a more open and immersive soundstage.
Noise-cancelling is up there with some of the best, too (though still not quite on par with Bose) completely cutting out traffic noise on the run and silencing the sound of my own feet slamming down on the treadmill at the gym. Higher pitched noises can still filter through, though.
If you prefer to let some sound in, you can opt for transparency mode. It's very natural, unlike some cheaper earbuds, and is good for hearing people speaking right next to you. Anything further away is still cut out, so if safety on the run is your top priority, I'd look at a pair of bone conduction headphones instead.
If you have access to the Pixel app, you can choose between six EQ presets (from ‘Heavy Bass’ to ‘Vocal Clarity’) plus adjustable EQ sliders. You can also enable spatial audio with head tracking via the app. Spatial audio makes sound more immersive, while head tracking essentially rotates the sound to match your head orientation — like having surround sound on as you move. I personally find this feature a bit gimmicky, but some people may appreciate it. It's worth noting, however, that head-tracking only works with Google’s Pixel tablet and Pixel 6 phones or newer.
When it comes to taking calls on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, the headphones impressed. Another tester, who has previously used the Pixel Buds A-Series, described the Buds Pro 2 as 'crystal clear', especially compared with the awful muffling they experienced with the A-series.
One final note to make about the sound is that when you’re adjusting the earbuds or tweaking them around, they can produce an irritating whistling noise. It's a minor gripe, but not something I expected from a £200+ pair of headphones.
Features
A new feature for the Pixel Buds 2 is Find My Device — a lifesaver if you're prone to putting your buds down somewhere and forgetting where they went (guilty). You can ring both the earbuds and the case from your phone to hear where they are.
The other headline feature added to the Buds Pro 2 is Google’s talking generative AI bot Gemini. To talk to Gemini, you need to manually activate it by long-tapping either the right or left bud. It's fine if you just want to ask a quick question during your run (e.g check the weather or to ask when a specific coffee shop opens) but if you want to ask a follow-up question, you'll need to long-tap again. The broader the question, the longer the response, too. For example, 'Which coffee shops are open in Soho' prompted a rather long response that you can't interrupt. Overall, the chatbot is a decent first effort from Google, but I wouldn't recommend buying these headphones for this feature alone.
It's also worth noting that both Find My Device and Gemini are exclusive to Android users.
Battery life
For such a small set of buds, the Bud Pro 2's battery life is impressive. On a single charge, you get eight hours with noise-cancelling on. That extends up to 30 hours with the charging case and if you’re running low on the go, you can pop the earbuds back in the case for 15 minutes to get three more hours of battery life.
If you disable noise cancellation, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 can go for even longer.
RW verdict
With their small frame, excellent sound quality and competitive battery life, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are certainly a very solid option when it comes to running headphones. But they won't be for everyone.
If you're a petite runner, or want a cute, discreet set of buds, you'll get on well with these. There's some cool colour options, too. Android users, or those who have already bought into the Google-experience with a Pixel Watch, will also benefit from the additional features here.
If you're looking for something a little more reliable and simple, however, I'd look elsewhere, especially given the difficulties I've encountered with the controls on the Pixel Buds Pro 2.
If you're an iPhone user, you can still use the headphones, but you'll lose out on features like Gemini Live and Find My Device. And if you're paying £219.00 for a pair of headphones, I'd argue you want access to the full suite of features on offer.
Shop the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Also consider
When it comes to noise cancellation, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra are still the best in class. Screeching trains, chatty colleagues and thundering jet engines are all reduced to blissful silence, offering a comfort blanket against an increasingly hectic world.
For intuitive and responsive touch controls, the Jabra Elite 8 Active are superb, with a silicone coating that grips more when they get wet or sweaty.
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