Google sounds really excited about 'massive' feature update hitting Pixel Buds right now

New hardware is always going to pique our interest, but you don’t necessarily need a big hardware refresh in order to get users excited. Even though we didn’t get a fancy new Pixel Buds model alongside the Pixel 11 this past summer, Google did update the Pixel Buds Pro 2 with a new color — and better yet, announced a software update to enhance ANC performance. Now Google’s sharing word of a “huge,” “massive” update targeting not just the Pro 2, but also the Pixel Buds 2a and original Buds Pro.

Google announces its version 6.144 Pixel Buds update, and first on its list of changes is that same ANC upgrade promised back at the Pixel 11 launch. This one’s just for the Pixel Buds Pro 2, and tweaks audio and ANC settings based on how well-seated in your ear the earbuds actually are, dynamically adjusting in real time.

But that’s the end of Google’s exclusivity today, and the rest of these additions are arriving for the Buds Pro, Pro 2, and Buds 2a alike. Here’s everything the company tells us to expect:

• 🌍 Enhanced Live Translate: Experience a more natural way to translate on the go. Leave your phone in your pocket and start translating instantly with a simple touch on your earbuds. Whether you’re conversing with someone or using listening mode to stay aware of your surroundings in a foreign language, Pixel Buds work seamlessly with the Google Translate app to make on-the-go translation easier than ever.
• 🗣️ Change audio settings with your voice: You can now interact with your bud settings using Gemini voice commands. Just use your voice to turn on Active Noise Cancellation, adjust your EQ, or enable touch controls!
• 🔇 Tap to Mute: You can now mute and unmute your microphone directly from the buds during calls with just a simple tap.
• 💤 Auto-pause media while sleeping: Now your Pixel Buds can rest when you do. Using sleep sensing features on your Pixel Watch, your watch can tell when you fall asleep, then your buds can pause audio playback, turn off touch gestures, and silence notifications so you can get the sleep you need.

Being able to get started with Live Translate without taking out our phone sounds like a great upgrade while traveling. We’ve even seen Google working on the opposite — a mode for Live Translate that removes the earbud requirement.

Gemini has as many haters as it has fans, but we hope that everyone can agree that easy Pixel Buds voice control sounds like a win. That tap-to-mute mic feature also sounds super handy, but Google does note that this will only work when your Buds are paired with a Pixel phone.

Finally, we’d like to believe that we’re self-aware enough to take out our earbuds before passing out for the night — but experience occasionally proves otherwise, and now Google’s bringing us a helpful new mode to avoid at least some of the consequences from that embarrassment.

Look for these changes hitting your Pixel Buds any minute now.