With the arrival of the Pixel Buds 2, Google's latest attempt to create a rival to the Apple AirPods undoes many of the mistakes the company made with the original Pixel Buds

For starters, Google's new $179 earbuds are truly wireless and are no longer connected by annoying cables like the originals Audio has also been improved, with a new Adaptive Sound feature that adjusts volume based on surroundings; the Pixel Buds 2 also feature fast pairing and Google Assistant

The biggest trade-off for the Pixel Buds 2 is the lack of active noise canceling features that the AirPods Pro offers However, the Pixel Buds 2 are considerably cheaper

A review of the Pixel Buds 2 is forthcoming, but here's what other critics have to say about Google's new earphones Consensus While definitely an improvement over the original Pixel Buds, there are still some notable flaws

Chris Welch, who reviewed the Pixel Buds 2 for The Verge, believes that Google has successfully corrected the mistakes it made with the original earphones in 2017 However, some flaws remain, particularly in the way the Pixel Buds process audio

Strengths of the Google Pixel Buds 2

"Google's new second-generation Pixel Buds are a vast improvement over the older models, both in concept and execution Their design makes more sense, they are easier to use, more comfortable to wear, and are on par with the competition in most core features

"The Pixel Buds offer a very enjoyable listening experience Instruments overlap nicely and there is an enveloping soundstage Phoebe Bridgers' "Scott Street" is always a good track to gauge detail and headphone expressiveness And on this track, her vocals are never buried by everything else that happens in the crescendo of the song"

Cons of Google Pixel Buds 2

"Bass is the weak point of these earbuds, and I think that's partly because the vents prevent the full seal needed for head-scratching bass"

"As with other headphones that rely on swipe gesture controls, you need to be careful and precise when using the [Pixel Buds] controls It is relatively easy to pause when you are trying to change the volume and vice versa if you are not careful with your finger movements"

Shelley Smith believes that Google has redeemed itself with the Pixel Buds 2, even if these earbuds do not offer active noise cancellation according to her review in Laptop Mag, the earbuds provide rich, accurate audio and even if the volume is a bit low, Google has come up with a design that balances style and comfort

Google Pixel Buds 2 pros

"Move over AirPods Pro, there's a new nearly instantaneously-pairing device in town Open the lid of the Pixel Buds' charging case and immediately Google's Fast Pair technology kicked in

"This iteration of the Pixel Buds may be the best touch control I've ever used on a wireless earpiece There is enough area to swipe back and forth to turn the volume up or down"

Cons of the Google Pixel Buds 2

"What I wish Google had included was an adjustable equalizer that allows you to create your own custom sound"

"With wireless earphones, you have enough surface area to turn the volume up or down

"In battery testing, we noticed that the right buds tend to drain faster than the left

Engadget's Billy Steele is impressed with this overhaul of the Pixel Buds 2 While the lack of active noise cancellation is a drawback and the adaptive sound feature is still a work in progress, the Pixel Buds 2 proved to be very comfortable, with improved performance from the included Google Assistant Most importantly, it compares favorably to Apple's AirPods 2

Pros of the Google Pixel Buds 2

"Google's updated Pixel Buds are amazing compared to the previous model Not only are they truly wireless, but the smart features are reliable, the touch controls are easy to use, and the comfort is top notch "

"If Google's virtual helper is your assistant, the Pixel Buds will probably serve you better than any other true wireless earbuds"

Cons of Google Pixel Buds 2

"The increase in sound (due to the adaptive sound feature) is very subtle I could barely even tell it was happening For this to be useful, the change would have to be noticeable and probably coincide with some sort of notification So, at this point, the judges have not yet made a decision"

"As for battery life, Google promises 5 hours on the earbuds themselves This is relatively low, but comparable to Apple's AirPods"

David Carnoy was pleased with the Pixel Buds 2 in a CNET review, praising the improved fit and excellent call quality They may not be as good as Sony's WF-1000XM3, but they are very good wireless earbuds in this price range His biggest complaint is that many of the Pixel Buds' additional features, like Google Translate, are not available on the iPhone

Pros of the Google Pixel Buds 2

"[The Pixel Buds 2] sound very good, perform well, and are a worthy competitor, especially for Android users, in the premium true wireless earphone arena

"The 561 gram wireless charging case (with USB-C charging port) is really great It's compact, feels solid in the hand, and has a smooth matte finish; I like it better than the AirPods case and it feels more luxurious than the Galaxy Buds Plus case"

Cons of the Google Pixel Buds 2

"As far as sound goes, (the Pixel Buds 2) doesn't come close to the top level sound of true wireless earphones"

"I liked them better than the AirPods case

"There is an app for non-Pixel Android devices -- integrated into the system on Pixel phones -- but no app for iOS devices, which is a shame"