Tensor-powered Pixel Buds Pro 2 could double the ANC power

Google is gearing up to unveil the next-generation Pixel flagship on August 13, and it’s thought a second-generation Pixel Buds Pro model could be a highlight.

According to a new leak ahead of the Made by Google event, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 could be the first in the category to be powered by a Google Tensor-branded chip.

The local silicon has so far only powered the Pixel phones and Pixel tablet, and the fourth-generation model is expected to appear in the Pixel 9 series.

As for the Pixel Buds Pro 2, the chip powering the earbuds will be called Tensor A1 according to @MysteryLupin on X. If that’s the case, the “A” likely stands for “Audio.”

According to the leak, this new chip would double the power of active noise cancellation. This would fix an aspect of the original Pixel Buds Pro, which were criticized compared to the performance of their competitors.

Our tester said: “I wasn’t overly impressed with the ANC in outdoor spaces, where it fell far short of the AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM4. The Buds Pro struggled to drown out the thud of a London Underground train, and on a few occasions I had to check whether ANC was on or off. The same was true with loud construction work or road noise.”

The leak also indicates that there will be AirPods Pro-style conversation detection to lower media volume when you’re chatting, and 30 hours of total battery life thanks to the pod-style case. A good 8 hours of battery life would be possible from a single charge.

Tuesday is the biggest event of the year in terms of Google hardware. While the Pixel devices have been heavily teased by Google and leaked multiple times, we’re still eager to see the hardware revealed in all its details.

We’ll be providing full coverage of the event, which starts at 6pm UK time on 13th August.