The new Google Pixel lineup this year looks amazing: The Pixel 8, the Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel Watch 2, and the Pixel Buds Pro 2023 all have new devices coming out. I was able to get my hands on the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2023, and I was eager to see how they stack up in the market. 

First things first, the Pixel Buds Pro 2023 come in two new colours (to go along with the existing three colours: Charcoal, Lemongrass and Fog) with the new release: Porcelain and Bay, with the former being the set that I received. Both colours are gorgeous, and I particularly like how muted and neutral the porcelain option is. The case colour doesn’t change, just the touch-sensitive part of the earbuds themselves. 

The amount of software upgrades that the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2023 have received is considerable. My favourite feature is one called Conversation Detection. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Essentially, there is an AI built-in that detects when you begin speaking to another person, and it activates Transparency Mode for the earbuds and pauses the music you’re listening to. There were definitely a few times when I would begin talking, but it wouldn’t activate until the other person responded. Pauses in the conversation also triggered the music to resume and then pause again when the conversation continued.  

Mobile gamers are getting some attention with the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2023 as well. As we all know, Bluetooth does have latency issues, and in a gaming environment, we always want to make sure that the audio is able to keep up with the action on-screen. The new Low-Latency gaming mode on the Pixel Buds Pro has the capability of cutting latency in half when using a Pixel phone. What’s more, is that it turns on automatically when you open a compatible game.  

“The amount of software upgrades that the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2023 have received is considerable.”

The Pixel Buds Pro 2023 now support a feature called Bluetooth Super Wideband, which doubles the bandwidth for voices, which can make your calls sound clearer and fuller. This was definitely the case when I took a phone call in a crowded room at my office. Background noise was all but non-existent. In addition, Clear Calling on Pixel helps reduce the noise coming from the person on the other end of the call, allowing you to hear them clearly. Testing this was a lot of fun, as my partner turned on her Spotify playlist on her computer speakers, literally right next to her, and I didn’t hear a single thing.  

There are a couple of things about the Pixel Buds Pro 2023 that I wasn’t particularly keen on, and the first is the fit. I’ve never really had an issue with earbuds staying in my ears during use, but there’s is just something about these ones that makes them feel like they are always on the verge of falling out. I’ve reviewed a number of sets of earbuds and have never had to change the ear tips before last year’s set, but that was the first thing I did with the new Pixel Buds Pro 2023 to get a bit of a better fit. I feel like I am constantly pushing them back in, which activates (or deactivates, depending on how many times it’s been) Active Noise Cancelling.

“The new Low-Latency gaming mode on the Pixel Buds Pro has the capability of cutting latency in half when using a Pixel phone.”

Google says that the battery on the Pixel Buds Pro 2023 will last about 11 hours (or up to 31 hours with the case), but that’s going to be with most, if not all, of the features, including ANC, turned off. A long day at the office using the earbuds will deplete most of the battery for the earbuds themselves. With Active Noise Cancelling on, you’ll get around 7 hours of usage for the earbuds and up to 20 hours of use with the charging case. The charging time is the best part, however, affording you a full hour of listening time, with ANC on, for a 5-minute charge.

There is a lot to like about the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2023, with a lot of software features incoming and two really nice colours. The battery life is manageable for a full day’s work, so I can’t complain too much. In terms of price, they are the exact same price as the set that was released last year, coming in at $259.99 CAD ($199.99 USD). As a result, I can still enthusiastically recommend them to Google enthusiasts and Android users alike.