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Googles Pixel Buds series has always been a worthy companion for its Pixel phones. The company only lacks a set of over-ear headphones to offer similar options to what Apple provides for iPhone users. Of course, Google got a later start than its rival, but like its Silicon Valley counterpart, the company has designed its earbuds to work best with its own devices. Youll need both a phone and earbuds from Google to get the best features. Thats unlikely to change anytime soon. Like Apple, Google is now on version 2.0 of its Pro-series earbuds. The first model debuted in 2022, and delivered active noise cancellation (ANC) for the first time on a set of Pixel Buds. There were notable features missing at launch, like spatial audio, so the inaugural set of Pixel Buds Pro werent yet at their full potential. With the Pixel Buds Pro 2 ($229), Google has its ducks in a row, shipping its new flagship earbuds with a powerful Tensor chip for the first time and providing a hands-free conduit to Gemini AI. Theres a new design, longer battery life and updated acoustics, but once again, the company is asking you to pay more than the previous version for all of the new features. Design The first thing that struck me about the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is how small they are. While a 27 percent size reduction doesnt sound like a huge drop, it certainly is here. This model is tiny compared to the previous one, and Google shaved 1.5 grams off of the overall weight as well. The result is a much smaller earbud that sits more comfortably and securely in your ear. Google redesigned the overall shape here, too. To help trim down the overall size, the IP54-rated Pixel Buds Pro 2 are now more compact rather than elongated like their predecessors. Like many audio companies, Google says it analyzed millions of ear scans to arrive at this new shape. Additionally, the company conducted real-life wear tests to make sure the earbuds wouldnt fall out easily. To keep the buds in place, Google opted for a twist-to-adjust stabilizer on the back. Everyones ears are different, and on mine, I dont feel like this adds any extra security. As far as I can tell, it doesnt tuck into the curves of my ears when I twist to lock in as Google suggests. But, once I found the best ear tip size for me, a secure fit wasnt an issue as the Pixel Buds Pro 2 stayed in place just fine. Whats more, the tiny footprint kept things comfy for long wear sessions, which hasnt always been the case for Googles earbuds. Theres still a robust suite of onboard controls on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, but the smaller-sized earbuds will require some adjustments to your taps. Since the buds arent as big, the touch panel offers less real estate. This means youll need to be more precise with your fingers, which took some time for me to master. If theres an upside to larger earbuds, its that you dont have to be as accurate with your control inputs to get them to register. Gemini AI and Tensor power Billy Steele for Engadget The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are Googles first earbuds with a Tensor chip. Apple has always been keen to discuss the audio processor inside AirPods by name, but this is the first time I can remember Google doing the same. Thanks to the Tensor A1, the company says it can provide ultra-low latency audio processing, including multi-path signal handling. Google says it created a highway lane for music so that its unbothered by the processing required for ANC. The chips efficiency also allowed the company to increase battery life (slightly) despite the overall reduction in earbud size. Google is hyping the Pixel Buds Pro 2 as the first earbuds to work with Gemini AI. But, since Gemini has replaced Google Assistant on the Pixel 9, thats a bit like saying theyre built for Assistant. Clearly, all Pixel Buds share that ability, so youll want to look past the marketing-speak. Its true that the Pixel Buds Pro 2 work with Gemini for hands-free help with more complex tasks than Assistant and Gemini Live is here for more conversational interactions. Of course, you dont need the earbuds to use any of this, as you can just use a Pixel 9 on its own. Tensor and Gemini arent the only notable features on the Pixel Buds Pro 2. Youll also get Conversation Detection, Hearing Wellness tracking, multipoint Bluetooth and the ability to customize the long press option (only two choices there though). You can also automatically switch between devices linked to your Google account, which wont be tremendously convenient if you prefer Pixel phones and MacBook Pros. Inside the Pixel Buds app, which is also accessible from the Bluetooth settings menu, youll see battery levels and get ANC controls if you need to change those from your phone. Pixel Buds Pro 2 sound quality Overall sound quality on the original Pixel Buds Pro was an improvement over the Pixel Buds (2020) and the A-Series, both of which lacked sufficient low-end tone. Theres plenty of bass on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 when a song demands it, but its not constant or overbearing. Google says it redesigned the entire audio system to overhaul the acoustics and drivers for maximum efficiency. Its goal was to pass the audio signal to your ear as cleanly as possible so you get accurate, immersive sound without having to make further adjustments. Im not sure the audio is a huge leap over the Pixel Buds Pro, but there is a noticeable improvement. That bassperformance thumps when a Deftones alt-metal track or Kaytranadas electronic hip-hop beats demand it. Theres not as much nuance to the low-end tone as on the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4, which are my current pick for best overall sound quality. Theres enough to get the job done though, so the Pixel Buds Pro 2 remains a significant sonic improvement over Googles more affordable earbud models, especially when you factor in the crisp highs and adequate mid-range on display here. The synth-heavy tracks on Justices Hyperdrama, for example, envelope you with gritty, textured riffs and driving beats. If you do feel the need to make audio adjustments, Google offers a full 5-band EQ in the Pixel Buds settings. There are also five presets, but none of those sound great. In fact, I think they all make things worse. Theres also the ability to tweak the volume balance, if you need the volume to be louder in one ear than the other. Unlike the Pixel Buds Pro, this model is shipping with Spatial Audio ready to be put to work. However, there are some big caveats here. First, the immersive sound requires a Pixel 6 and up, and it doesnt work with A-Series devices. Whats more, Spatial Audio is only available on compatible video apps. You wont be able to use it for music. And when it comes to Netflix, the streaming service requires that you also turn on head tracking. Google shouldve made things straightforward here, but instead, its a mess. Its a solid addition if it works when you want it, but there will certainly be times when thats not the case. ANC performance Billy Steele for Engadget For the ANC setup on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, Google says it cancels twice as much noise thanks to its so-called Silent Seal 2.0 system. The company explains that it does this by blocking a wider variety of sounds than it did on the previous model, including higher frequency distractions. Its true that the Pixel Buds Pro 2 perform well with low-to-mid-range noise, blocking the constant roar of a car interior (passenger seat, obviously), loud fans and more. Where the Pixel Buds Pro 2 still struggle is with things like human voices. To be fair, lots of earbuds and headphones stumble trying to block out a noisy neighbor. Unless youve got music or a podcast going, youll be able to hear nearby conversations, albeit moderately muffled. Call quality For calls, Google once again employs AI to make things sound better. And that applies to both ends of the call. The company says its Clear Calling feature has been improved, further reducing background noise on your end and any would-be distractions near the person youre talking to when the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are paired with a compatible Pixel phone. The earbuds do a good job of blocking background noise on their own. Even when you record a voice note or do some other activity that doesnt use Clear Calling, the AI-powered system reduces the roar to where you can barely hear it. Whats more, Clear Calling doesnt just apply to phone calls, it works with apps like Google Meet and some third-party software (over Wi-Fi). And while I dont think the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will make you sound pristine, the heavy lifting they do (with the aid of a Pixel phone) to keep you clear of background commotion is commendable. Battery life on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 Google promises up to eight hours of battery life on a charge with ANC enabled on the Pixel Buds Pro 2. When you factor in the case and the buds, youre looking at up to 30 hours of noise-canceling use. During my tests, I didnt keep ANC on the entire time, but I also used transparency mode during calls and times I needed to listen out for my kids or the doorbell. I got just over eight hours with the volume at around 50-75 percent, which varied depending whether I was streaming from my Pixel 9 or MacBook Pro. The IPX4-rated Pixel Buds Pro 2 case supports both wired and wireless charging, so youve got an alternate option there. Whats more, a 15-minute rest in the case will give the earbuds enough juice to last for up to three hours. The competition Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the best-sounding and most comfortable option in Googles earbud lineup. This makes them the best choice if youre into all of the integrations for Pixel phone owners. If you can live without all of that stuff, youll find better sound quality and more advanced features elsewhere. Sonys WF-1000XM5 is my current top pick, thanks to the fit, audio performance, ANC quality and other tools the company offers. Youll get Speak-to-Chat automatic pausing for short convos and DSEE Extreme upscaling to recover detail thats typically lost to Bluetooth compression. Theres also the ability to automate sound settings based on activity or location. If pure sound performance is what youre after, Sennheisers Momentum True Wireless 4 is the best bet. These earbuds dont have the robust feature set that Sony has amassed, but the audio quality is the best in my opinion. The company also recently added Auracast support and a Find Headphones feature thats akin to Googles Find My Device. Wrap-up Like the Pixel Buds Pro were in 2022, the second version of Googles pricier earbuds are the best the company has to offer. Theyre more expensive than their predecessor, but theyre also more powerful, more comfortable and last longer. There are some confusing caveats with Spatial Audio and the onboard controls may take some getting used to, but the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are an improvement in the places where it really matters. The sam truth remains as it did two years ago though: these are earbuds built for Pixel phone die-hards, so if youre not one of those, you can find better audio performance and expanded features elsewhere. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/pixel-buds-pro-2-review-tiny-earbuds-with-big-sound-and-a-direct-line-to-gemini-170016328.html?src=rss
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We first covered the Samsung 990 Evo SSD in January and noted its speed and efficiency. Just eight months after its release, Samsung has now revealed its 990 Evo Plus SSD. The company claims its 50 percent faster than the previous model and is suitable for gaming, business and creative tasks. Samsung says the drive uses its 8th generation V-NAND technology, with a maximum sequential speed of 7,250MB/s for the 990 Evo Plus 4TB model and a write speed limit of 6,300 MB/s. The SSD has a nickel-coated heat shield to prevent overheating and the company says its 73 percent more efficient. For those looking for the random read and write speeds, theyre 1,050K IOPS and 1,400K IOPS, respectively. Other than the 4TB model mentioned above, the SSD can come in 1TB and 2TB models. All three come with Samsung Magician Software and are capable of AES-256-bit full disk encryption. All the new drives will be available this fall from select retailers and Samsungs official website. The 1TB model will sell for $110, the 2TB model for $185 and the 4TB model costs $345.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/samsungs-new-990-evo-plus-ssd-is-50-percent-faster-than-its-predecessor-164354770.html?src=rss
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Meta has secured deals with several actors, including Kristen Bell, John Cena and Judi Dench, to use their voices for the Meta AI chatbot, Reuters reports. Users will be able to talk to the chatbot while listening to answers in the voice of their favorite celebrities. Other celebrities include Awkwafina and Keegan-Michael Key, a source told Reuters. Besides these five voices, the source also said that there are more generic voice options if users prefer them. All voices will be available this week in the US and other English-speaking regions, though the source didnt give any other specific locations. The news follows a report from last month which claimed Meta was negotiating with actors to secure the rights to use their voices for its AI projects. Now, the deals have reportedly been struck, and the chatbot found when using Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp could feature these famous voices soon. The company had intended to finalize agreements before the Connect conference, where Reuters source says it will announce the new voice options.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/metas-ai-chatbot-will-soon-speak-in-the-voices-of-john-cena-and-other-celebrities-160603365.html?src=rss
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