To complement the new Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, Google is releasing additional colors of its Pixel Buds Pro noise-cancelling headphones. They now come in blue and porcelain hues that pair nicely with the company’s latest mobile devices. I asked if this means any of the previous color options are being phased out.
More importantly, Google has announced some new software features that will be rolling out to its flagship headphones in the coming weeks. At the top of the list is conversation detection. Yes, as with headphones from Sony, Apple and other brands, the Pixel Buds Pro can now detect when you start talking, at which point they will automatically activate transparency mode and pause the audio you are listening to. Once you stop talking, the music resumes and noise cancellation is turned back on. Conversation detection is an optional setting, so if you have a habit of chatting to yourself or singing your songs, you can avoid it completely.
