UPDATE: Google is rolling out several new features for the Pixel Buds Pro 2.
The latest firmware update adds Adaptive Audio to help you keep tabs on your surroundings, even as you’re listening to music, podcasts, and audiobooks. Plus, loud noise protection will automatically reduce the volume in your earbuds to protect your hearing. So, a “nearby fire truck’s loud siren won’t blare in your ears at maximum volume,” Google says.
In those noisy environments, Gemini Live should be able to hear you thanks to advanced audio processing that prioritizes your voice and eliminates background noise.
Meanwhile, if your hands are full, you can handle calls and text messages via head gestures.
The update (version 4.467) will roll out gradually. Once it’s available, the firmware update will be downloaded automatically when your Pixel Buds Pro 2 connect to a Pixel or Android 6.0+ device.
Original Story 8/20:
Alongside the Pixel 10 series, Google today announced a new pair of cheaper earbuds, the Pixel Buds 2a, that serve as a more affordable alternative to its top-tier Pixel Buds Pro 2 and aim to compete with the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro and Sony WF-C710N.
The Pixel Buds 2a replace the Pixel Buds A from 2021 and introduce Active Noise Cancellation to Google’s budget earbuds for the first time. Silent Seal 1.5 technology helps block external noise when you’re listening, while transparency mode helps you keep tabs on your surroundings.
The headphones use an 11mm driver to provide “clear, crisp audio.” Google says it put a lot of work into making the earbuds small, with comfort being its number one priority. It used 45 million ear scans to help “deliver all-day comfort for all kinds of ears.”
Google Pixel Buds 2a (Credit: Eric Zeman)
The earbuds are IP54 sweat- and water-resistant, so you won’t need to worry about getting them wet in the rain. The earbuds use Bluetooth 5.4 tech, which should mean a faster and more reliable connection between your paired gadgets and the headphones.
Get Our Best Stories!
Your Daily Dose of Our Top Tech News
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
The charging case powers up through USB-C, and Google estimates it can pump an hour’s listening time into the earbuds after five minutes in the case.
Battery life estimates sound ambitious but not best-in-class. Google says the earbuds will handle up to 10 hours of continuous listening and an extra 17 hours of charge in the case. If you’re using Active Noise Cancellation, you can expect those estimates to drop to seven hours in the earbuds and 13 extra hours in the case.
Google Gemini has made its way to these headphones, but only when paired with a compatible Android phone. The assistant will work with your smartphone to pull up information that you ask for through your voice. Examples given by Google include conversations directly with Gemini Live or finding information within your emails.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)
Google has reduced the color options for this generation from four to two, so you can choose between Hazel and Iris.
Recommended by Our Editors
The price has also jumped up; the Buds 2a are $129.99 compared with $99.99 for the original earbuds. However, Google often threw in the first-gen buds as free gifts when purchasing other Google gadgets, so it may do the same here in the future.
We haven’t tested the Pixel Buds 2a yet, but we have high hopes considering the last-gen ones scored a four out of five in our review. Will Greenwald wrote at the time, “The true wireless Google Pixel Buds A-Series earphones offer good sound quality and hands-free Google Assistant voice control for an affordable price.”
Google also confirmed upcoming changes for its existing Pixel Buds Pro 2, including a new color option of Moonstone to match the Pixel 10 series.
If you already own the earbuds, you will also receive four new features through a software update in September. The first is Adaptive Audio, which adjusts volume in noisy environments to help you concentrate when surrounded by loud noise. There’s also Loud Noise Protection, which is designed to reduce sudden noises, such as sirens.
Google is also bringing hands-free tools to pick up the phone on your earbuds. If you nod your head when you’re getting a call, you can pick it up, or you can shake your head to decline. It’ll also work for replying to text messages. Finally, Google is improving its Gemini integration on Pixel Buds Pro 2 with a tool to eliminate background noise when talking with Gemini Live.
Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL First Look: Familiar Design, New AI Tricks
About Our Expert
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over a decade after getting my start in tech reporting back in 2013. I joined PCMag in 2025, where I cover the latest developments across the tech sphere, writing about the gadgets and services you use every day. Be sure to send me any tips you think PCMag would be interested in.
Read Full Bio
