No one is talking about how awesome the Pixel Buds Pro have become

Once I purchase a bit of tech, I like figuring out that it’ll get up to date with extra options over time. It’s not all the time a assure, however it’s a kind of superior perks of right this moment’s tech scene. There’s a distinction although between small updates that change one or two issues, and main adjustments that utterly revamp your expertise of a product. And I believe the Pixel Buds Professional fall on the second a part of that scale.

Since they have been launched in July 2022, the Pixel Buds Professional have acquired a number of huge updates and new options. Some, just like the customized equalizer, ought to’ve been there from the beginning, whereas others just like the listening to wellness dashboard, are good extras. All of the others are so good and so cool that they’ve elevated the Pixel Buds Professional from my secondary pair of wi-fi earbuds to an absolute must-have in my pocket or backpack always.

When the Pixel Buds Professional first launched, Google Quick Pair was nowhere close to as ubiquitous as it’s now. I may simply pair the buds with my Android telephones or my pill, however that was it. Put on OS smartwatches weren’t supported but, nor have been Chromebooks. With time, Google has included these and simplified pairing to them. My Pixel Buds Professional at the moment are related to my cellphone(s), pill, watch, and Pixelbook.

However what makes the Pixel Buds Professional comparatively distinctive is their assist for Audio Change on prime of Quick Pair. Normally, I don’t have to consider reconnecting them to any gadget. I simply put on them and they’ll play audio from whichever gadget I’m presently utilizing. I can transfer from my cellphone to pill, watch, and laptop computer with out breaking a sweat.

That is just like the way in which Apple’s AirPods and Samsung’s Galaxy Buds seamlessly swap between Apple’s gadgets and Samsung’s gadgets, respectively. The one distinction is that Audio Change is brand-agnostic: It really works with my Pixel 8 Professional, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Nothing Telephone 2. I can’t wait till this function is offered by default by all earbuds and headphones makers, however till then, the Pixel Buds Professional stay considered one of few pairs that assist it. A few of Sony’s buds (just like the Linkbuds S) and JBL’s buds provide it too, however it’s a must to dig in to see if the actual mannequin you need has them.

The one cog lacking in my ecosystem is assist for Google TV. Quick Pair (and Audio Change by extension) was supposed to come back to Google TV months in the past, however is nowhere to be seen but — at the very least on my Chromecast. Since our residence places of work are in the lounge, I typically watch TV whereas my husband is working (and vice versa) and I simply need to have the ability to rapidly pair and hear by way of my Pixel Buds Professional with out distracting him.

Whereas spatial audio continues to be a complicated mess, no matter platform, model, and content material kind, it’s nonetheless completely pleasant when it really works. The Pixel Buds Professional added assist for it and for the extra gimmicky head monitoring some time in the past. Once I come throughout content material that’s optimized for spatial audio, I can usually inform the distinction: a louder sound with fewer distortions, a extra enveloping aural expertise. It’s not a must have, however it stays so cool when it’s obtainable.

Dialog Detection, one other current addition to the Pixel Buds Professional, has been a game-changer for me. I not scramble to take away my earbuds when somebody talks to me or I want to speak to somebody. I simply say a phrase or two and the audio pauses, transparency mode is enabled, and I can interact in a chat. The brink is a bit too low for my liking typically (sneezes, coughs, yawns, and chewing can typically set off it!), however it’s nonetheless rather a lot higher than making an attempt to manually pause the music and swap into transparency.

Whereas these options aren’t distinctive to the Pixel Buds Professional, the truth that they have been added later over the course of 16 months is commendable. You don’t usually get this degree of value-add from updates to current gear.

The Pixel Buds Professional aren’t excellent, however they’re significantly better now than once they launched. They’re particularly extra handy to make use of with the remainder of my Android/Google gadget, and simpler to suggest once they’re discounted. You may simply discover them now for $119 on Black Friday, which is a unbelievable deal should you ask me.

Finally, all these upgrades have given me confidence in future Pixel Buds too. In the event that they get as many essential updates and enhancements as these, they’ll be — and get — phenomenal.