I often find myself needing to disable noise cancellation on my true wireless earbuds or take them out of my ears to have a conversation with someone. This can be quite inconvenient, especially with touch controls that are difficult to use due to my curly hair. However, a recent update to the Pixel Buds Pro has addressed this issue with a feature called “Conversation Detection.”
This new feature automatically pauses media playback and activates transparency mode when you start talking. It then resumes playback and switches back to your previous noise cancellation or transparency setting once you’re done talking. I was pleasantly surprised by how well this feature works. It only takes a word or two for it to activate, and it’s as simple as saying “OK” to trigger conversation mode.
I no longer need to fumble with my earbuds or pause my music manually when someone wants to talk to me. I can simply say “One sec,” and the Buds Pro will switch to conversation mode, allowing me to chat without any disruptions. The feature is quite magical and adds a bit of convenience to my daily life.
One great thing about Conversation Detection is that it only activates when I speak. It won’t activate if someone speaks next to me or if I whisper. It seems that Google is using both in-ear vibrations and the microphone to eliminate any false positives. This means that I can ride the subway or be in noisy environments without any interruptions to my music unless I start talking.
However, the feature can be a bit too sensitive at times. Coughing or sneezing fits can trigger it, and even singing along to music can activate it. But overall, this is a fantastic setting that I would love to see on more wireless earbuds with noise cancellation.
Aside from Conversation Detection, the recent Pixel Buds Pro update also includes other useful features, such as Clearer Calls, which improves call quality by doubling the Bluetooth bandwidth. There’s also a new Hearing Wellness meter that notifies you if you’ve exceeded the recommended volume limit and calculates your total exposure to loud music and audio. As someone with mild tinnitus, I highly recommend taking care of your ears and not messing with the volume levels.
In conclusion, the Pixel Buds Pro’s Conversation Detection feature has made my life a bit easier by automatically pausing music and activating transparency mode when I start talking. It’s a seamless and convenient addition that I would like to see on more earbuds.