It is now IPX2 rated and the LED has been moved from the bottom of the housing to the top of the cover. A simple thumb press flips the hard cover up, revealing the Lemongrass-colored caps on the black buttons. The Google “G” signature, where the touchpad is located, is stamped on the cap with an almost sandstone texture. The styling evokes a more understated interpretation of late 1990s bubble design, reminiscent a bit of the Volkswagen Beetle or fruit-flavored Mentos. Android users can download the Pixel Buds app. It provides updates, some limited customization, and earbud fit testing. If you’re eager to use Google Assistant, you’ll need the app to help you set it up and probably dedicate an earbud to controlling it. Once the settings are done, you probably won’t need the app for anything other than updates, so you can set it up and forget it. You’ll have to agree to terms and conditions to access some of the features that you might say you’ve already paid for. Pairing is easy with the Pixel Buds Pro thanks to Fast Pair for Android. You have the choice of either Bluetooth SBC or AAC codecs over Bluetooth 5.0. AAC and SBC are interesting choices for a set of headphones aimed primarily at Android owners, as AAC tends to perform better with iPhones and rather inconsistently with Android phones. AAC support is a requirement for anything that uses Bluetooth 5, but curiously Google doesn’t include something better for Android like aptX. Cost shouldn’t be a reason either, as you can get the Jabra Elite 4 Active for a lot less money and get aptX support. After our standardized tests of constant real music playback, peaking at 75 dB(SPL), the Google Pixel Buds Pro lasted 7 hours and 6 minutes on a single charge, with ANC enabled. That’s about on par with the advertised battery life. The case provides an additional 13 hours. This is definitely a very good number for wireless headphones, especially those with ANC. Google also lends the Pixel Buds Pro case optional wireless charging or via standard USB-C.
