When you switch between your computer and your phone, the headphones are smart enough to recognize it. You can answer calls on your phone while connected to your computer, which is very useful for multitaskers.
As with all voice assistants so far, one thing that I find underwhelming is the Gemini integration. For a standard Gemini, you will press the bud to ask all the questions, including follow-ups, but it can be very annoying if you have more than one question at once. Google has also integrated a wake phrase (“Hey Google, let’s talk”) to open the Gemini Live conversational AI.
The prompt opens Gemini Live, where you can ask the AI anything you want, from restaurant reviews to an appropriate training schedule based on the day’s activities. You can also stop if you think you’re missing the point and follow the context.
I like to use this feature with the Gemini Live app on my phone, so I don’t have to say it out loud, but if you’re blind or just hate typing, the wake word and Gemini Live might be more memorable. I don’t know. To you. Note that if you have the Gemini app, you can open Gemini Live and use it with other headphones as well. Pixel Buds Pro 2 are not required to use Gemini Live. You just need a wake word.
I would immediately trade these features for the myriad of hearing aid tools that Apple adds to the AirPods Pro through software updates. As it turns out, just about any headphone running Android can connect to Gemini Live. If you’re looking for earphones that will help you hear a little better, I’d still go for them.
When it comes to headphones that have all the features you need for any situation, there are few earbuds we can recommend more highly than the new Pixel Buds Pro 2. It has excellent noise cancellation and is perfect for taking calls. It has enough battery life to last you all day. You can see why Google increased the price by $30 over the last pair. It’s worth paying the extra money. These are probably the best high-end earbuds for Android that exist right now.
