Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: Everything we know so far

The Pixel Buds Pro represented a major leap forward for the Google Pixel Buds family, delivering high-end features like ANC and IPX4 water resistance. We had a lot of positive things to say about Google’s flagship true wireless earbuds, but that’s not to say they were perfect. There is still plenty of room for Google’s flagship earbuds to grow. The leaks and rumors suggest there will be at least a few improvements, and we’ll break down everything we know about the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 below.

The Google Pixel Buds series has had a somewhat mixed reception. Google doesn’t give solid numbers on how products like these perform, but the headphones seem to have a small and growing fanbase.

While it seems unlikely that Google will exit the audio space immediately, it does have a history of axing products that don’t do as well as it initially hoped.

That said, recent rumors suggest Google is indeed working on the Pixel Buds Pro 2. Unfortunately, the publication did not share any launch details, but this news supports the fact that the buds are coming eventually.

More evidence of the earbuds’ existence popped up on UL Demko and Safety Korea in the form of listings for the charging case. These listings say that the charging case has the model number GH8TQ.

• Google Pixel Buds Pro — July 28, 2022

It’s hard to draw firm conclusions, but we can at least make an attempt. Google tends to unveil a new audio product every two years. As the Pixel Buds Pro launched in 2022, there’s a good chance that the earbuds will make their debut this year. But at what date will they appear?

Google started sending out invites to a Made by Google conference scheduled for August 13 back in June. In its invite, the company mentioned that we could expect to see “the best of Google AI, Android software, and the Pixel portfolio of devices.” We know that this will include the Pixel 9 series, as the company revealed as much on a dedicated teaser page, but the Pixel Buds Pro 2 would fit this description as well. So we’ll just need to keep our eye out when we get to this date.

While there have been a number of leaks leading up to the potential launch date, information related to the specs has been scarce. However, there’s just enough information out there that we can start putting pieces of the puzzle together.

Design

Starting with the appearance, don’t expect a design change as drastic as Samsung gave the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. According to multiple leaks, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will heavily resemble their predecessor.

A leak courtesy of reliable tipster Steve Hemmerstoffer gave us a close-up look at the earbuds. From the images, we can see that the grilles are a little larger, and the wings are fixed.

In addition to the close-up above, the leak included renders of the Buds Pro 2 in four different colors. These colors include black, gray, pink, and green. A report we touch on further down in the hub claims official names for these colors are Hazel, Porcelain, Wintergreen, and Peony. However, tipster Dylan Roussel on X (formerly Twitter) suggested that the colors would be called Haze, Porcelain, Raspberry, and Mojito.

We also get a look at the charging case, which appears to be the same white, egg-shaped case as before. However, there are rumors that the case is a little bigger now. In a related leak, we learned that Spigen has a clear protective case that it says is compatible with both the Pixel Buds Pro and Pro 2.

Specs

When it comes to the specs, there’s far less to go on. The regulatory listing from UL Demko and Safety Korea states that this case holds a 650mAh battery. For comparison, the charging case for the Pixel Buds has a battery capacity of 620mAh, which Google says offers 31 hours of playback with active noise cancelation turned off.

Outside of these details, there’s not much else known about the product, but we can make a few assumptions based on the prior model. The original Pro model offered Bluetooth 5.0, IPX4 water and dust resistance, seven hours of playback with ANC on and 11 hours with it off, a voice accelerometer, touch capacitive sensors, an IR proximity sensor, a motion detecting accelerometer, and gyroscope.

We expect all or at least most of these features to make a return in the Buds Pro 2. As for new features, it’s difficult to say, but we imagine Google will try its best to stuff in a few AI features as it has done for all of its other products as of late.

• Google Pixel Buds Pro — $199

There’s only been one entry in the Buds Pro line to date, so we can’t make predictions based on history like we can for the Pixel 9 series. Regardless, we can assume Google will try not to stray too far from the price point the first-generation established.

A leak preceding the upcoming Made by Google event may have revealed the price, and if true, it will mean the earbuds have gone up a bit. The leak in question claims that the audio product will sell for $229 in the US, €249 in the EU, and £219 in the UK. This means they will be about $30 more expensive in the US and about 20 euros and pounds higher in the EU and UK.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro are two years old and can be purchased for as little as $180. If you are a Pixel fan and want to get the buds for better brand consistency, there’s nothing stopping you from picking these competent earbuds up. If the Buds Pro 2 do launch on August 13, it’s likely the first-generation model will go on sale, giving you more incentive to grab them. However, if you want hardware that’s a little more recent or if there’s a feature you really want that isn’t available on the Pixel Buds Pro, then you should probably wait.

Don’t mind shopping outside of Camp Google? For those looking for a similar experience and cost, the most obvious alternatives to the Pixel Buds Pro are the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro ($249.99 at Samsung), which cost around $249 retail. You’ll get better audio codec support and a better fit, though some of their best features are exclusive to Samsung phone owners.

If you don’t mind spending a bit more, the Sony WF-1000XM5 ($298 at Amazon) or 2nd gen Apple AirPods Pro ($239 at Amazon) are also easy recommendations.