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Google’s hardware announcements back in May have given Pixel fans a lot to look forward to, as the company showed off the upcoming Pixel 7, the Pixel Watch, and even teased an upcoming Pixel tablet, which is scheduled for release sometime in 2023. In particular though, the company’s signature Pixel earbuds are set to get a new revamp, in the form of the Pixel Buds Pro.
It’s not Google’s first time dabbling in wireless audio, as shown by the Pixel Buds 2020 edition and Pixel Buds A-series, which were launched in the years prior. With the Pixel Buds Pro, however, the company is introducing some new (and frankly, much-needed) changes, which should prove to be worthwhile improvements to the product line. But what exactly can we expect from the upcoming Pixel Buds Pro? Let’s take a look.
Active Noise Cancelling
Let’s start with what is probably one of the biggest improvements to the Pixel Buds, which is Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) or sometimes known as Active Noise Control. Simply put, ANC is a method used by a lot of modern earbuds and headphones to reduce unwanted external noise, meaning that you’ll only be able to hear your music, or whatever is playing from your audio device.
This was notably absent in the Pixel Buds 2020 and Pixel Buds A-series, and instead Google included an “Adaptive Sound” feature that helped in reducing outside noise, although from personal experience it wasn’t able to perform on the same level as a dedicated ANC system.
With the Pixel Buds Pro, however, Google says that it will be using a custom processor and custom algorithms in order to achieve maximum blockage of outside noise. The earbuds will also include a dedicated transparency mode, which is rather useful when listening to your music in busy environments, like sidewalks and such.
Sound Quality
Google says that the earbuds will come with 11mm drivers, which ideally should be able to provide a “powerful, yet nuanced sound.” The Pixel Buds Pro will also let users customize their sound preferences thanks to a full 5-band EQ onboard. The earbuds will also feature volume EQ, which in theory should provide a balanced sound between mids, highs, and bass frequencies.
Google says that the Pixel Buds Pro will come with its newly-introduced “Silent Seal” design, which should improve ANC quality and provide users with an overall better-sounding listening experience.
Better Connectivity
Aside from the lack of dedicated ANC, one issue that was prevalent on the older Pixel Buds 2020 model was an issue with the connectivity on the earbuds. Users complained that the earbuds would sometimes cut off randomly at short distances, or when their phone was in their pocket, for example, which was definitely beyond the boundaries of normal TWS earbud behavior.
Google did try and correct this issue with the Pixel Buds A-series, which mostly solved the disconnection problems. Some A-series owners did point out though that their earbuds would sometimes randomly pause playing, which turned out to be an issue with the in-ear detection on the earbuds.
With that in mind, we’re hoping that the Pixel Buds Pro would come without such issues, and that Google has finally nailed the connectivity quality on its upcoming product – especially since that the earbuds will be priced at $199.
New Design
Let’s talk about design – one thing that stands out about the Pixel Buds Pro is the new hardware look, which is a rather different style in comparison to the design on the Pixel Buds A-series. The “stabilizer” tail is now gone, and the newer earbuds come with a more standard-looking design which looks more akin to what you’d find on most modern TWS earbuds. This is a subjective matter, of course, but it’s nice to see Google try out a new and refreshed look for its latest product.
In terms of fit, the company says that the Pixel Buds Pro will come equipped with a “mouldable” design, which is intended to take after the shape of your ears, providing a better and more comfortable listening experience.
Google has also decided that the new Pixel Buds should have more colors – as such, users will be able to purchase the earbuds in Coral, Charcoal, Fog, and Lemongrass color variants.
Battery Life
As for battery, the Pixel Buds Pro will be able to give you up to 11 hours of playback time, which of course may vary depending on how often you’ll use the ANC or transparency modes. 11 hours is impressively long, especially when a majority of TWS earbuds at the moment max out at around 6-8 hours of playback time.
Should you need to top up the charge on the earbuds though, you can simply put them back in the charging case, which will let you charge them a few more times for a total of 31 hours. The charging case will also be compatible with wireless charging, which is a nicely-added convenience. Of course, you can also opt to charge via a wired charger, although Google says that the earbuds won’t come with a charger in the box.
The Pixel Buds Pro are set to launch in late July, and will be available for pre-order on July 21.
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