Google announces Pixel Buds Pro, teases Pixel 7 and Pixel Tablet at I/O 2022

Google is finally looking to give AirPods Pro a run for their money.

At its annual Google I/O keynote, Google unveiled the new Pixel Buds Pro. Unlike the current Pixel Buds A that are on the market now, these new Buds include active noise cancellation to go along with the silicone seal that already prevented some noise from coming in. They have a smaller, more elegant-looking outer panel, so they’ll look better in the ears, too.

The new Pixel Buds Pro will be available for pre-order on July 21 for $199, making them $50 cheaper than the AirPods Pro and right in line with Apple’s fantastic Beats Fit Pro.

All four colors of Pixel Buds Pro.
Credit: Google

Google also confirmed the Pixel Buds Pro would get an update to support spatial audio sometime later this year. Apple already supports this feature (which makes sound feel like it’s happening in a 3D space around you) with select songs on Apple Music, so it’s good to see Google reach parity there, too. Most importantly, Google promises 11 hours of battery life (or seven with ANC turned on), which is a huge upgrade from the five hours you got from the previous Pixel Buds.

And if that wasn’t enough, Google teased the new Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro phones coming later this fall. Aside from a look at a new all-aluminum camera bar along the back and the promise of a new second-generation Tensor chip, Google was coy with further details. But at least we definitely know a new Pixel phone is coming later this fall.

Pixel Tablet, coming next year.
Credit: Google

Oh, and Google’s also making a tablet, too. Appropriately named Pixel Tablet, it’s not supposed to come out until 2023, so Google didn’t say much about it other than confirming it also runs on Tensor. For those who are already bought into the Google hardware ecosystem, though, this is another item to add to the list.

Man, it sure feels like Google really wants to compete with Apple on the hardware front, huh?