Google's $200 Pixel Buds Pro vs. Apple's $249 AirPods Pro

[MacRumors]

Google this week launched its latest earbuds, the $200 Pixel Buds Pro, which are designed to compete with the AirPods Pro. In our latest YouTube video, we tested out the Pixel Buds Pro to check them out and to test whether they're on par with the $250 AirPods Pro.

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The Pixel Buds Pro are more affordable than the AirPods Pro and offer a similar feature set with Active Noise Cancellation, a Transparency mode, "Hey Google" voice control, automatic switching between paired Bluetooth devices, and Find My Device app tracking in case they're misplaced.

Like the AirPods Pro, the Pixel Buds Pro have silicone tips that fit into the ears for a tight seal to cut down on exterior noise. Google advertises a Silent Seal feature that improves noise cancellation, and we were impressed with the noise cancellation capabilities. Later this year, Google plans to add spatial audio functionality, but it's not available at this time.

Google does include a Transparency mode, but it's not up to par with the Transparency mode on the AirPods Pro and it's hard to tell that it's even on. There is an app that comes with the Pixel Buds Pro so you can tailor the sound to fit your needs, but the app is only available on Android devices and EQ adjustments aren't set to be available until later in the year.

As for the fit, the Pixel Buds Pro do not have long stems and instead have a shorter body that makes them less obtrusive in the ears. We found the Pixel Buds Pro to fit well in the ear and to be comfortable for long periods of listening, and Google does include built-in sensors that measure the pressure in the ear canal for more comfort.

With their smaller body, the Pixel Buds Pro fit in a little case that adds additional battery life, similar to the AirPods Pro charging case. The Pixel Buds Pro offer up to 31 hours of battery life, while the AirPods Pro are limited to about 24 hours of battery.

The Pixel Buds Pro are solid earbuds that have a lot to offer, but they may not be appealing to Apple users just because of the convenience of fast switching with AirPods and because you can't adjust the sound without an Android device. It will also be interesting to see how the Pixel Buds Pro measure up to the next-generation AirPods Pro, which are rumored to be coming out later this year.

Rumors suggest the AirPods Pro 2 will feature an updated H1 chip with self-adaptive noise cancellation capabilities, and they might include Lossless audio support. We're also expecting sound improvements and improved Find My functionality, with a full rundown of what's coming available in our AirPods Pro 2 guide.

Article Link: Google's $200 Pixel Buds Pro vs. Apple's $249 AirPods Pro

 

[blazerunner]

I prefer Jaybird Vista 2s over either of these.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Dumb article. If you own an iPhone why would you buy Google's earbuds? And if you own a Google or Android phone you'll most likely get the Google Buds Pro.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

What about the sound quality?

 

[The Barron]

Google's Pixel Buds Pro are a total deal breaker seeing as a number of the features only work with an Android device. Boo 👎

 

[ZZ9pluralZalpha]

Honestly, I like the AirPod stems—"less obtrusive" seems to translate to "large round blobs filing the earhole like a bloated tick". It'd be even better if the stems grew a bit to hold the batteries, as they did on the first-gen AirPods, since the Pros and 3s have increased body thickness and tend to stick out of my (apparently shallow) ears.

 

[Dizbuster]

I have AirPods Pro and they’re ok, mainly because the fit is ok…just ok. I can run in them but never really feel like they’re securely in my ear.

 

[DD88]

What are AirPods like? , always been wanting to try them but never pulled the trigger on them

 

[Steppanwolf]

I have Airpods Pro and Beats Fit Pro, the Beats definitely feel more secure in my ears (at the expense of some comfort thanks to the wings). I find the Airpods tend to work themselves out of my ears over time, but that's not really an issue because the battery life in them frankly is terrible. They barely last for a full 2 hour zoom call (which is why I got the BFPs). I also tried going "out of ecosystem" with the Sony Linkbuds and the alphabet soup that is their top tier buds (XM4s I think?) but ultimately I wanted the magic of the H1 chip.

As someone who has bounced back and forth between iOS and android, if the pixel buds can start to channel that apple magic between phone, tablet and laptop, then that is awesome. That said, the whole deal with Microsoft and Android trying to place nice doesn't seem to be going too well, and ultimately that plus the extra long support and device life is why I believe I'll be on the apple side of the fence for some time to come. My M2 Air is slated to arrive sometime next week and I am excited, it's my first macbook since the 2013(I think) 13" MBP.

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

If you're invested in the Apple eco system this product is not going to sway you. However, I did enjoy the comparison and more competition in this space will only help to keep Apple honest and innovating.

 

[imnotthewalrus]

What are AirPods like? , always been wanting to try them but never pulled the trigger on them

Ive never used the AirPods Pro, as I hate the rubber stems squashed in my ear. However I just bought A pair of the AirPods 3 to replace my dying AirPods 2 (I've also had the AirPods "1"). I love the AirPods 3; they have improved bass response (not boomy, just better) and they support Spacial Audio which is so-so, but it's a growing format.

 

[Aston441]

Came expecting, as usual, no objective testing of the microphones. Found no testing of sound quality either way, not even subjective. Leaving with expectations more than satisfied!

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Google's Pixel Buds Pro are a total deal breaker seeing as a number of the features only work with an Android device. Boo 👎

Correct and it's the same for the Airpods Pro. That's why the comparison between these two earbuds makes no sense. I have the Pixel Buds and paired with my Pixel, they are awesome and sound great. It has a lot of nice features including tap to bring up Google Assistant.

 

[Aston441]

Here's an article to help all new aspiring reviewers of sound equipment get started, BEFORE they set off reviewing such items:

What is an Oscilloscope? An Intro to Analog and Digital Oscilloscopes

Oscilloscope is every electrical engineer's must have tool. But What is an Oscilloscope? What are types of Oscilloscopes? Learn more here.

www.electronicshub.org

 

[Johns12]

Honestly, I like the AirPod stems—"less obtrusive" seems to translate to "large round blobs filing the earhole like a bloated tick". It'd be even better if the stems grew a bit to hold the batteries, as they did on the first-gen AirPods, since the Pros and 3s have increased body thickness and tend to stick out of my (apparently shallow) ears.

To each there own. I have always disliked the stem.

 

[Poisednoise]

Perhaps I’m in the minority as a musician, but I really do object to articles about headphones that don’t even mention the sound (or even provide any frequency graphs). You’d never do a test of monitors without looking at the screens, or a test of a laptop without doing a few benchmarks, would you?

 

[Dammit Cubs]

I recently bought link buds S because of it's stellar voice mic performance in multiple areas. While i lose some of the seamless integration, it's a simple as going to your bluetooth settings and pressing connect.

but overall, it has been what I needed as I prefer to be out of the home and i respect my callers where I don't want them hearing my background noise. It has caused me to buy multiple bluetooth products that excess at this and I will continue to upgrade as this technology gets better.

 

[imnotthewalrus]

Perhaps I’m in the minority as a musician, but I really do object to articles about headphones that don’t even mention the sound (or even provide any frequency graphs). You’d never do a test of monitors without looking at the screens, or a test of a laptop without doing a few benchmarks, would you?

Ah, my friend...Welcome to the world of "Does it sound good?". Graphs are graphs, but the unique human ear doesn't give a f***. I say this with humble love, my digital friend, but sound is subjective to preference, not graphs. It took me decades (yes, I am f****** old) to accept this unfortunate truth: Live and let live. No offense intended. Peace out.

 

[paulovsouza]

Odd they launched without their features fully fledged out. Maybe to get the sales they can before the AirPods Pro 2.

I don’t like how massive it looks filling in the hole of your ear. Wish it was more inconspicuous. Hope if AirPods Pro goes stemless they stay small. And maybe even skin tone colored.

 

[8CoreWhore]

Another $200 headphones designed to be thrown in the garbage when the batteries die. It's obscene.

 

[ramallite]

What am I missing when Dan says that you cannot adjust the EQ on AirPods as you can on these Google Buds? I often go into the Music app settings (on iPhone) or the EQ window (on the MacOS Music app) and play with the equalizer settings for optimal sound (I have the Beats Fit Pro but assume AirPods Pro have the same feature). Is he talking about something else?

 

[lk400]

How is the sound quality not even mentioned? These are ear phones, sound quality should be 80%, and bells and whistles the other 20.

 

[Aston441]

Ah, my friend...Welcome to the world of "Does it sound good?". Graphs are graphs, but the unique human ear doesn't give a f***. I say this with humble love, my digital friend, but sound is subjective to preference, not graphs. It took me decades (yes, I am f****** old) to accept this unfortunate truth: Live and let live. No offense intended. Peace out.

Um, no.

If something can't produce over say 4kHz (looking at you Apple microphones 😂) it will sound like garbage to anyone with good ears. Actually measuring and demonstrating and SHAMING Apple, by posting irrefutable numbers puts pressure on them to quit hoodwinking people.

ETA: btw, if you ever decide to go to an audiologist and get some high quality testing (hint: they'll give you a graph and numbers), and purchase some high quality hearing aids, you'll discover that your "subjective preference" was actually slow, but ultimately tremendous loss in high frequency hearing, so all of the wonderful nuances of high quality audio were lost for you. But you can mitigate that now.

ETA2: makes me wonder if having really old people run Apple explains why their audio is such absolute dollar store garbage. Maybe they actually can't hear the difference?

 

[w5jck]

I hate the hanging down part on the Apple AirPods Pro. Looks stupid and would be annoying to wear. I use Amazon Echo Buds which cost less than half as much as the AirPods and they work great with my iThingies, including my Apple TV and Apple Music.

 

[Poisednoise]

Ah, my friend...Welcome to the world of "Does it sound good?". Graphs are graphs, but the unique human ear doesn't give a f***. I say this with humble love, my digital friend, but sound is subjective to preference, not graphs. It took me decades (yes, I am f****** old) to accept this unfortunate truth: Live and let live. No offense intended. Peace out.

I think my point was that we’re NOT in the world of “does it sound good” because they didn’t mention the sound. As for measurements, I’m not suggesting that graphs are by any means the be-all-and-end-all, but they definitely tell you more about the sound than not having them does. And what’s with the “I’m old so I know more than you” card? I’m not just a professional musician, but old enough to have bought and owned a pair of brand-new 414SLs when they were first introduced. That doesn’t make me any more right or wrong though.