Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 - Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds - Hazel

Why it's worth it

Silent Seal 2.0 adjusts cancellation 1,000 times a second, five times faster than the previous generation, so it keeps up when a train door opens. Gemini works hands-free even in a busy café, and the twist-to-adjust stabilizer locks them in during workouts.

Speed is the differentiator. According to The Verge, Silent Seal 2.0 adjusts the cancellation 1,000 times per second, up from 200Hz on the original Pixel Buds Pro. That matters in the moments when noise changes abruptly — a car window rolling down, a subway door opening, a bus pulling away. Fixed-mode cancellation lags in those moments. These don't.

The fit system is clever and underrated. A twist-to-adjust stabilizer lets you lock the buds tight for a run or back them off for a four-hour flight, which is a genuinely different approach from swapping tips. Owners consistently call these the most comfortable pair they've worn for long stretches, and the adjustment is why.

From our review of 8 noise-cancelling wireless earbuds, by Ben Carter, Tech Editor

What we like

• +Speed is the differentiator
• +The fit system is clever and underrated
• +Gemini integration is the real reason to pick these over the Sony or Bose
• +Sound holds its own too

What to know

• –Non-Pixel Android phones are where the trouble starts
• –Cancellation is strong but not Bose-strong