Google Pixel Buds Pro

The Google Pixel Buds Pro sound good, with particular strength in bassy tracks and the ANC works well. There’s also a wealth of nice extras, like wireless charging, multipoint support and tight Android integration.

Google's Pixel Buds Pro arrive in a competitive market and the standout feature is an AirPods Pro-beating 31-hour battery life – but if Google is to challenge the class-leaders, the sound quality needs some work.

The greatest compliment I can give these earbuds is that I simply don't think about using them, because they work so well in a variety of instances. Workouts? Check. Deep listening? You got it. Travel-friendly? Yep. They might not eat into Apple's world-dominating headphone market share, but that's not because Google couldn't make a better product.

These are Google's best Pixel Buds yet, but Apple's 'Pro' earbuds still win in the long run.

While the Pixel Buds Pro are $20 more than what we got two years ago, the 2022 version is much improved. Active noise cancellation and the refined sound quality are equally impressive, and well worth the extra money. As long as Google can deliver spatial audio quickly and it works well, the only thing lacking is call quality, which may not be a dealbreaker for you.

Like any pricey earbuds, you’ll want to try them on for yourself to get a feel for the fit. But assuming the new, bulkier design jibes with your ears, Google finally has a full-featured, flagship pair of earbuds that Pixel fans can enjoy without any back-of-mind reservations or second thoughts — just as it ought to be for $200.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro deliver satisfying audio, effective noise cancellation, and some unique Android-only features, but lack the codec support to deliver the best sound quality on Android devices.