A easy twist satisfied me the Pixel Buds Professional 2 are higher than I ever thought

I’ve had the Pixel Buds Professional 2 for six months now and thought I already knew every thing there may be to learn about them. In spite of everything, they’re two pairs of buds and a case — what extra might there be to them? However as I used to be catching up on some older episodes of the Made By Google podcast, I got here throughout an attention-grabbing tip I hadn’t actually thought-about in regards to the Pixel Buds Professional 2, and it modified the best way I exploit these buds each single day by merely twisting them in my ear.

Within the Pixel Buds Professional 2 episode of Google’s podcast, Collin Billings (senior product supervisor of the Pixel Buds Professional 2) defined the causes and benefits behind the buds’ twist-to-fit stabilizer design (YouTube hyperlink). Though this was a part of the advertising and marketing materials for the buds, I had by no means actually paid a lot consideration to it as a result of nothing on the buds really twists. They’re one steady strong piece of plastic. I assumed it was only a gross sales gimmick.

However as Collin defined it, the concept is to twist your complete buds in your ear so you possibly can change from a comfortable match to a looser one, every with its personal advantages. So I attempted it. And I attempted it once more. After which once more. And it lastly dawned on me! That is genius.

When the stabilizer is looser (for me, that’s when it’s pointed diagonally upward), the Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 merely relaxation in my ears, not inflicting any strain on any a part of it. That’s an especially snug match that enables me to put on the buds for hours at my desk. The noise cancelation is a bit of diminished, however not sufficient to change into detrimental to my enjoyment of the music or podcast.

The issue with that match, although, is that it’s not comfortable sufficient for extra energetic use. If I shake my head, put on or take away a jacket, run a bit, or do any jostling motion, they’re prone to dislodge and fall out.

That’s the place the twist turns into helpful. I simply flip the buds round so the stabilizer is pointing horizontally and tightly urgent towards my ear to get a extra secure match. This works higher after I’m extra energetic outside, strolling, or taking public transit. Noise cancelation is best on this case, however there may be some further strain on my ear from the contact of the stabilizer, so I can solely stand it for an hour or so earlier than I’ve to loosen it once more.

All of that is clearly made attainable due to the Buds Professional 2’s extraordinarily tiny design. If these buds had been any larger, you couldn’t twist them in any form or kind. I’ve tried this with the older, authentic Pixel Buds Professional, and it’s simply not attainable with that design; they sit in my ear in a single orientation, and the rest makes them fall out or kill me with ache. The Professional 2, although? They’re tiny and spherical sufficient to be spun about 40° in every ear with out fully dislodging or torturing me.

So, for the previous couple of months, I’ve been extra acutely aware of how I’m carrying my Pixel Buds Professional 2 — one thing that I by no means thought of with some other pair of buds. Once I’m in a secure surroundings and utilizing the buds for an extended time frame, like working at my desk or sitting on a multi-hour practice trip, I simply use the unfastened configuration. And after I begin transferring, like if I’m on a stroll or taking public transit, I change to the comfortable match and keep it up till I’m in a safer spot and may loosen them once more.

This has been a game-changer for flights, too. I typically really feel strain and ache in my ears at a excessive altitute, and earbuds make it quite a bit worse. Relieving this strain with out eradicating the Pixel Buds Professional 2 is simple with a twist-to-loosen, and if I really feel my eyelids getting heavy and I don’t need the buds to fall from my ears whereas I nod off, I simply twist to tighten them.

The opposite massive profit for me now’s that the buds hardly ever fall from my ears after I’m placing on a heavy jacket, taking off a sweater, or wrapping a shawl round my neck. All of those used to jostle the Pixel Buds Professional out of my ears, however with the Professional 2, they’re a rarer incidence as a result of I simply tighten the stabilizers towards my ears earlier than doing them.

I discover it foolish that I spent a number of months with these buds and by no means actually examined their slot in my ears till I heard about it from a podcast. I simply took their match as a right, aiming for a default tightness someplace within the center between the looser and extra comfortable ones; I guess lots of people do the identical factor. In my thoughts, earbuds had been simply one thing you set in your ear and by no means messed round with. However I’ve since realized I can — and may — actively change this match relying on what I’m doing, and that made these Pixel Buds Professional 2 infinitely extra versatile for my on a regular basis use. It’s like having two pairs of buds on me with out ever taking them out of my ears.