Bluetooth version: 5.0
ANC: Yes
Battery life: 20hrs (buds: 7hrs; case: 13hrs)
Weight: 6.2g (each)
A reasonable price and plenty of features (for Android users, at least) isn't enough to make these compelling. They're lacking in the sound department, which is unforgivable in this fiercely competitive market. They also don't support more advanced Bluetooth codecs. Disappointing.
For
- Good noise cancellation
- Great battery life
- Nice integration with Pixel phones
Against
- Poor fit
- Sound struggles to compete across the board
- No support for advanced Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth version: 5.3
ANC: Yes
Battery life: 24hrs (buds: 6hrs; case: 18hrs)
Weight: 5.4g (each)
Apple's first five-star buds are the better buy, for iOS users, that is. They sound better, have superb noise cancellation and bags of features. They are more expensive, however, and not nearly as feature-rich for Android users. But in terms of sound quality, they win hands down.
For
- Clear, detailed and powerful sound
- Excellent noise-cancelling
- Longer battery life
- Smooth, intuitive use with iOS devices
- Updated ANC features
Against
- Many features restricted to iOS devices only
- Updated USB-C case model identical in sound to original
Google and Apple are two absolute giants of the tech world. Apple’s range of AirPods has taken the world by storm in recent years, with the latest second-generation AirPods Pro earning a five-star review after a string of four-star ratings for previous models.
Google's previous effort, the Pixel Buds A-Series, earned five stars too, but its newer, higher-end Pixel Buds Pro only picked up three stars. So how do they compare to Apple's finest? Which should you buy? And should you wait for the Pixel Buds Pro 2?
Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: price
Google's buds are the more affordable of the two. They retail for £149 / $139 / AU$179, but can be picked up a little cheaper than that (probably due to the imminent launch of the Pixel Buds Pro 2).
The AirPods Pro 2 cost £229 / $249 / AU$399, though we have seen them discounted to £199 recently. That's still a fair bit pricier than Google's buds.
** Winner: Google Pixel Buds Pro **
Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: design
We're not sold on the Pixel Buds Pro design. While the touch controls work brilliantly, they don't fit securely in your ear. This was an issue for multiple members of our review team, so it wasn't down to one person having strangely-shaped ears. There is an ear tip fit test within the app, but that claimed we have a good fit, even when we didn't. So it's next to useless. They also become uncomfortable during long listens.
The earbuds come with three sizes of changeable ear tips and come in a range of different colours: bay, porcelain, charcoal, fog, lemongrass, or coral. The touch-sensitive buds can be used to control a number of essential functions – tap to play / pause media, or answer a call. Double or triple taps go to the next or previous track, while swipes forward or backward control volume.
The charging case that comes with the Pixel Buds Pro features a USB-C charging port and also benefits from Qi-certified wireless charging – handy if you already have the means to charge your devices wirelessly.
Moving on to the AirPods Pro 2, each earbud features a stem that benefits from a touch-capacitive layer. This allows users to swipe up or down on either bud to change volume – a welcome addition over the first-generation AirPods Pro, where this useful feature was missing.
You can also pinch the stems to pause / play media and take calls, while longer presses switch between different noise-cancelling modes. There’s also nice haptic feedback when you swipe and we find the controls to be responsive overall.
It’s also worth noting that Apple includes four sizes of changeable tips with this model of AirPod earbuds, rather than the standard one-size-fits-all approach seen with its standard AirPods models.
With the AirPods Pro 2 comes a MagSafe charging case which has a built-in speaker and lanyard loop. This case is also Qi-certified for wireless charging and the speaker is used to emit tones to indicate charging, low battery or to help find it when misplaced. Previous models of the case featured Apple’s proprietary Lightning port for wired charging; newer cases use a USB-C connection.
They might only come in white, but for the greater number of ear tip sizes and better fit overall, the AirPods Pro 2 take this round.
** Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2 **
Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: features
The Pixel Buds Pro's flagship feature is spatial audio with dynamic head tracking – exactly as found on the AirPods Pro 2. But with both pairs, this feature is exclusive to the respective companies' ecosystems – so Android-using AirPods owners miss out, as do iOS-using Pixel Buds Pro users.
The Pixel Buds Pro's active noise-cancelling uses ‘Silent Seal’ to maximise the ability to block outside noise. This is powered by a custom processor, custom algorithms and custom speakers. There are three settings: noise cancellation, transparency mode (which allows you to hear more of the world around you), and off.
We found the ANC decent, especially given the issues with fit. But it's not on a par with the AirPods Pro 2, which we found incredibly effective. The second-generation AirPods Pro give an immediately noticeable improvement over the original model in this regard, with Apple stating that the new H2 chip and the re-positioned acoustic vents and mics work together to block out twice as much noise.
Google’s Pixel Buds Pro feature multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, which should make switching between connected devices simple, and Google claims the earbuds offer up to seven hours of playback with ANC turned on and a total of 20 hours with charging-case top ups.
The AirPods Pro 2 don't have multipoint, but do have effectively the same feature exclusively for Apple devices like iPhones, iPads and Mac computers. They also have Adaptive Audio. This mode reacts to noise levels in your surroundings and adjusts the level of active noise cancelling dynamically. It’s a happy medium between full ANC and Transparancy Mode. We find this new feature to be reactive yet subtle, blocking out noise from passing traffic but the effect is absent at home or in the office.
From the buds themselves, the AirPods Pro 2 give you an hour's less juice than the Pixel Buds Pro. But the AirPods have the longer battery life including the carry case – 30 hours, to the Pixel Buds' 20 (these numbers are all with ANC on).
Ultimately, which pair of earbuds has the better features comes down to which mobile platform you use. The Pixel Buds Pro are better for Android users, while the AirPods Pro 2 are the superior ones for iOS users.
** Winner: Draw **
Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: sound
The AirPods Pro 2 are a marked improvement over the previous model, in part thanks to the new H2 chip and new speaker components. As a result, these earbuds earned that all-important fifth star.
As always, Apple has a wonderful way with voices when it comes to its audio products. The overall sound retains Apple's neutrality but with added weight, detail, and dynamic subtlety.
We find that the AirPods Pro 2 are “rhythmically agile and nimble, songs flow with an easy fluidity, and they communicate both high-energy tracks and ones that are more contemplative with ease.”
The Pixel Buds Pro can't compete. It's disappointing, because the Pixel Buds A-Series were a five-star pair, but the higher-end model can't replicate the feat. They're upfront and energetic, with a respectable level of detail for the price. But bass bloat is a real issue, while the treble is overly bright for our ears. They're less expansive than the AirPods Pro 2, with busy mixes sounding a little congested, while the midrange is a bit flat and thin.
That might sound harsh, but the world of wireless earbuds is cut-throat, and these just aren't good enough.
** Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2 **
Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: verdict
Apple’s second generation of AirPods Pro is the company’s current flagship earbud and sets a high bar for what a pair of wireless earbuds at this premium price point should do. They look good, sound even better and are bursting with features.
Google can't compete. The Pixel Buds Pro are less comfortable, block outside noise less effectively, and sound worse. Though Android users will find plenty of features to like.
A disappointing show for Google. Let's hope the Pixel Buds Pro 2 fare much better...
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