This is pretty dang close to the original Quest 3, which costs $500. The latest headset uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen2 processor and boasts 8GB of RAM, so it can easily handle Quest 3 exclusives like the forthcoming Batman: Arkham Shadow. It offers the same full-color passthrough for mixed reality apps and games and ships with the same controllers as last year’s model. The refresh rate also hovers between 90Hz and 120Hz.
Meta
The external sensors/cameras also seem nearly identical to the standard Quest 3. There are two RGB cameras to create the stereoscopic color passthrough and four VGA cameras for hand tracking and controller tracking. These also help determine user movements and position in 3D space. Finally, there are two flood LEDs for illumination.
So what’s the catch? Meta has to make up for that lost $200 somehow. First of all, there are no pancake lenses and there’s no 4K content. These look to be the same Fresnel lenses as found with the Meta Quest 2, with a resolution of 1832 x 1920 per eye and 20 PPD (pixels per degree.) The field of view is also slightly reduced when compared to the regular Quest 3 headset.
The storage gets a major hit. The base model comes with 128GB, though there’s a 256GB model available for $400. Meta has lowered the price of the 512GB Quest 3 to $500, from $650, so the entry-level 3S features around a quarter of the storage.
On the plus side, the battery life is actually a bit better with the Quest 3S when compared to the Quest 3. Meta says it should get around 2.5 hours of use per charge, compared to 2.2 hours with the Quest 3.
There’s also a nice little bonus for the holiday season. Customers who orders any Quest 3 or 3S model will get a free digital copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow when it’s released this October. The company did the same thing with the criminally underrated Asgard’s Wrath 2 last year. The promotion goes until April.
The Quest 3S works with most Quest 3 accessories, which is good news because it also ships with the standard, and totally uncomfortable, headstrap. That Elite Strap is a wise investment, especially the one with the battery.
Preorders are open right now and there’s a shipping date of October 15. With the pending release of the Quest 3S, Meta’s phasing out the Quest 2 and the Quest Pro. The Zuck gives and the Zuck takes.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-reveals-the-budget-friendly-quest-3s-vr-headset-171843107.html?src=rss
This is pretty dang close to the original Quest 3, which costs $500. The latest headset uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen2 processor and boasts 8GB of RAM, so it can easily handle Quest 3 exclusives like the forthcoming Batman: Arkham Shadow. It offers the same full-color passthrough for mixed reality apps and games and ships with the same controllers as last year’s model. The refresh rate also hovers between 90Hz and 120Hz.
Meta
The external sensors/cameras also seem nearly identical to the standard Quest 3. There are two RGB cameras to create the stereoscopic color passthrough and four VGA cameras for hand tracking and controller tracking. These also help determine user movements and position in 3D space. Finally, there are two flood LEDs for illumination.
So what’s the catch? Meta has to make up for that lost $200 somehow. First of all, there are no pancake lenses and there’s no 4K content. These look to be the same Fresnel lenses as found with the Meta Quest 2, with a resolution of 1832 x 1920 per eye and 20 PPD (pixels per degree.) The field of view is also slightly reduced when compared to the regular Quest 3 headset.
The storage gets a major hit. The base model comes with 128GB, though there’s a 256GB model available for $400. Meta has lowered the price of the 512GB Quest 3 to $500, from $650, so the entry-level 3S features around a quarter of the storage.
On the plus side, the battery life is actually a bit better with the Quest 3S when compared to the Quest 3. Meta says it should get around 2.5 hours of use per charge, compared to 2.2 hours with the Quest 3.
There’s also a nice little bonus for the holiday season. Customers who orders any Quest 3 or 3S model will get a free digital copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow when it’s released this October. The company did the same thing with the criminally underrated Asgard’s Wrath 2 last year. The promotion goes until April.
The Quest 3S works with most Quest 3 accessories, which is good news because it also ships with the standard, and totally uncomfortable, headstrap. That Elite Strap is a wise investment, especially the one with the battery.
Preorders are open right now and there’s a shipping date of October 15. With the pending release of the Quest 3S, Meta’s phasing out the Quest 2 and the Quest Pro. The Zuck gives and the Zuck takes.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-reveals-the-budget-friendly-quest-3s-vr-headset-171843107.html?src=rss
Meta announced its new mixed reality headset during the 2024 Meta Connect keynote on Wednesday. The Meta Quest 3S will start at $300 and represents a more affordable, yet higher-specced option between the $500 Quest 3 from last year and 2020's (soon to be discontinued) Quest 2.
The new model has the same processor as the Quest 3, as well as the same full-color external cameras to enable mixed reality features. The per-eye resolution matches that of the Quest 2, instead of the 4K pixel dimensions of the Quest 3. The 3S is also equipped with Fresnel lenses like the second model — the slimmer pancake lenses are reserved for the pricier set. Along with the new device, Meta also announced a price change for the existing Meta Quest 3; It now comes in just one storage capacity, 512GB, but that configuration goes for $500 instead of $650.
The Meta Quest 3 is our current pick for the best VR headset overall, so it'll be interesting to see whether the Meta Quest 3S improves upon the previous generation's winning formula of relative affordability combined with useful mixed reality, realistic VR immersion and support for a healthy library of games. Engadget's Devindra Hardawar gave the both the Quest 3 and Quest 2 positive reviews upon their debuts and our verdict on the Quest 3S will come soon, once we've had a chance to test the new set.
But if you can't wait until then, here's a quick rundown of how the specs of Meta's three consumer-grade VR headsets compare side by side (while omitting the overly expensive yet underwhelming Quest Pro, which will also go the way of Quest 2 once current inventory runs out). Pre-orders for the Meta Quest 3S open on September 25 and the headset will hits shelves October 15.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/the-meta-quest-3s-vs-meta-quest-2-and-meta-quest-3-finding-a-happy-medium-171820494.html?src=rss
Meta announced its new mixed reality headset during the 2024 Meta Connect keynote on Wednesday. The Meta Quest 3S will start at $300 and represents a more affordable, yet higher-specced option between the $500 Quest 3 from last year and 2020's (soon to be discontinued) Quest 2.
The new model has the same processor as the Quest 3, as well as the same full-color external cameras to enable mixed reality features. The per-eye resolution matches that of the Quest 2, instead of the 4K pixel dimensions of the Quest 3. The 3S is also equipped with Fresnel lenses like the second model — the slimmer pancake lenses are reserved for the pricier set. Along with the new device, Meta also announced a price change for the existing Meta Quest 3; It now comes in just one storage capacity, 512GB, but that configuration goes for $500 instead of $650.
The Meta Quest 3 is our current pick for the best VR headset overall, so it'll be interesting to see whether the Meta Quest 3S improves upon the previous generation's winning formula of relative affordability combined with useful mixed reality, realistic VR immersion and support for a healthy library of games. Engadget's Devindra Hardawar gave the both the Quest 3 and Quest 2 positive reviews upon their debuts and our verdict on the Quest 3S will come soon, once we've had a chance to test the new set.
But if you can't wait until then, here's a quick rundown of how the specs of Meta's three consumer-grade VR headsets compare side by side (while omitting the overly expensive yet underwhelming Quest Pro, which will also go the way of Quest 2 once current inventory runs out). Pre-orders for the Meta Quest 3S open on September 25 and the headset will hits shelves October 15.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/the-meta-quest-3s-vs-meta-quest-2-and-meta-quest-3-finding-a-happy-medium-171820494.html?src=rss
Google’s Pixel Buds series has always been a worthy companion for its Pixel phones. The company only lacks a set of over-ear headphones to offer similar options to what Apple provides for iPhone users. Of course, Google got a later start than its rival, but like its Silicon Valley counterpart, the company has designed its earbuds to work best with its own devices. You’ll need both a phone and earbuds from Google to get the best features. That’s unlikely to change anytime soon.
Like Apple, Google is now on version 2.0 of its Pro-series earbuds. The first model debuted in 2022, and delivered active noise cancellation (ANC) for the first time on a set of Pixel Buds. There were notable features missing at launch, like spatial audio, so the inaugural set of Pixel Buds Pro weren’t yet at their full potential. With the Pixel Buds Pro 2 ($229), Google has its ducks in a row, shipping its new flagship earbuds with a powerful Tensor chip for the first time and providing a hands-free conduit to Gemini AI. There’s a new design, longer battery life and updated acoustics, but once again, the company is asking you to pay more than the previous version for all of the new features.
Design
The first thing that struck me about the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is how small they are. While a 27 percent size reduction doesn’t sound like a huge drop, it certainly is here. This model is tiny compared to the previous one, and Google shaved 1.5 grams off of the overall weight as well. The result is a much smaller earbud that sits more comfortably and securely in your ear.
Google redesigned the overall shape here, too. To help trim down the overall size, the IP54-rated Pixel Buds Pro 2 are now more compact rather than elongated like their predecessors. Like many audio companies, Google says it analyzed millions of ear scans to arrive at this new shape. Additionally, the company conducted “real-life wear tests” to make sure the earbuds wouldn’t fall out easily.
To keep the buds in place, Google opted for a “twist-to-adjust stabilizer” on the back. Everyone’s ears are different, and on mine, I don’t feel like this adds any extra security. As far as I can tell, it doesn’t tuck into the curves of my ears when I “twist to lock in” as Google suggests. But, once I found the best ear tip size for me, a secure fit wasn’t an issue as the Pixel Buds Pro 2 stayed in place just fine. What’s more, the tiny footprint kept things comfy for long wear sessions, which hasn’t always been the case for Google’s earbuds.
There’s still a robust suite of onboard controls on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, but the smaller-sized earbuds will require some adjustments to your taps. Since the buds aren’t as big, the touch panel offers less real estate. This means you’ll need to be more precise with your fingers, which took some time for me to master. If there’s an upside to larger earbuds, it’s that you don’t have to be as accurate with your control inputs to get them to register.
Gemini AI and Tensor power
Billy Steele for Engadget
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are Google’s first earbuds with a Tensor chip. Apple has always been keen to discuss the audio processor inside AirPods by name, but this is the first time I can remember Google doing the same. Thanks to the Tensor A1, the company says it can provide ultra-low latency audio processing, including multi-path signal handling. Google says it created a “highway lane” for music so that it’s unbothered by the processing required for ANC. The chip’s efficiency also allowed the company to increase battery life (slightly) despite the overall reduction in earbud size.
Google is hyping the Pixel Buds Pro 2 as the first earbuds to work with Gemini AI. But, since Gemini has replaced Google Assistant on the Pixel 9, that’s a bit like saying they’re built for Assistant. Clearly, all Pixel Buds share that ability, so you’ll want to look past the marketing-speak. It’s true that the Pixel Buds Pro 2 work with Gemini for hands-free help with more complex tasks than Assistant and Gemini Live is here for more conversational interactions. Of course, you don’t need the earbuds to use any of this, as you can just use a Pixel 9 on its own.
Tensor and Gemini aren’t the only notable features on the Pixel Buds Pro 2. You’ll also get Conversation Detection, Hearing Wellness tracking, multipoint Bluetooth and the ability to customize the long press option (only two choices there though). You can also automatically switch between devices linked to your Google account, which won’t be tremendously convenient if you prefer Pixel phones and MacBook Pros. Inside the Pixel Buds app, which is also accessible from the Bluetooth settings menu, you’ll see battery levels and get ANC controls if you need to change those from your phone.
Pixel Buds Pro 2 sound quality
Overall sound quality on the original Pixel Buds Pro was an improvement over the Pixel Buds (2020) and the A-Series, both of which lacked sufficient low-end tone. There’s plenty of bass on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 when a song demands it, but it’s not constant or overbearing. Google says it redesigned the entire audio system to overhaul the acoustics and drivers for maximum efficiency. Its goal was to pass the audio signal to your ear as cleanly as possible so you get accurate, immersive sound without having to make further adjustments.
I’m not sure the audio is a huge leap over the Pixel Buds Pro, but there is a noticeable improvement. That bass performance thumps when a Deftones alt-metal track or Kaytranada’s electronic hip-hop beats demand it. There’s not as much nuance to the low-end tone as on the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4, which are my current pick for best overall sound quality. There’s enough to get the job done though, so the Pixel Buds Pro 2 remains a significant sonic improvement over Google’s more affordable earbud models, especially when you factor in the crisp highs and adequate mid-range on display here. The synth-heavy tracks on Justice’s Hyperdrama, for example, envelope you with gritty, textured riffs and driving beats.
If you do feel the need to make audio adjustments, Google offers a full 5-band EQ in the Pixel Buds settings. There are also five presets, but none of those sound great. In fact, I think they all make things worse. There’s also the ability to tweak the volume balance, if you need the volume to be louder in one ear than the other.
Unlike the Pixel Buds Pro, this model is shipping with Spatial Audio ready to be put to work. However, there are some big caveats here. First, the immersive sound requires a Pixel 6 and up, and it doesn’t work with A-Series devices. What’s more, Spatial Audio is only available on compatible video apps. You won’t be able to use it for music. And when it comes to Netflix, the streaming service requires that you also turn on head tracking. Google should’ve made things straightforward here, but instead, it’s a mess. It’s a solid addition if it works when you want it, but there will certainly be times when that’s not the case.
ANC performance
Billy Steele for Engadget
For the ANC setup on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, Google says it cancels twice as much noise thanks to its so-called Silent Seal 2.0 system. The company explains that it does this by blocking a wider variety of sounds than it did on the previous model, including higher frequency distractions. It’s true that the Pixel Buds Pro 2 perform well with low-to-mid-range noise, blocking the constant roar of a car interior (passenger seat, obviously), loud fans and more.
Where the Pixel Buds Pro 2 still struggle is with things like human voices. To be fair, lots of earbuds and headphones stumble trying to block out a noisy neighbor. Unless you’ve got music or a podcast going, you’ll be able to hear nearby conversations, albeit moderately muffled.
Call quality
For calls, Google once again employs AI to make things sound better. And that applies to both ends of the call. The company says its Clear Calling feature has been improved, further reducing background noise on your end and any would-be distractions near the person you’re talking to when the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are paired with a compatible Pixel phone.
The earbuds do a good job of blocking background noise on their own. Even when you record a voice note or do some other activity that doesn’t use Clear Calling, the AI-powered system reduces the roar to where you can barely hear it. What’s more, Clear Calling doesn’t just apply to phone calls, it works with apps like Google Meet and some third-party software (over Wi-Fi). And while I don’t think the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will make you sound pristine, the heavy lifting they do (with the aid of a Pixel phone) to keep you clear of background commotion is commendable.
Battery life on the Pixel Buds Pro 2
Google promises up to eight hours of battery life on a charge with ANC enabled on the Pixel Buds Pro 2. When you factor in the case and the buds, you’re looking at up to 30 hours of noise-canceling use. During my tests, I didn’t keep ANC on the entire time, but I also used transparency mode during calls and times I needed to listen out for my kids or the doorbell. I got just over eight hours with the volume at around 50-75 percent, which varied depending whether I was streaming from my Pixel 9 or MacBook Pro.
The IPX4-rated Pixel Buds Pro 2 case supports both wired and wireless charging, so you’ve got an alternate option there. What’s more, a 15-minute rest in the case will give the earbuds enough juice to last for up to three hours.
The competition
Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the best-sounding and most comfortable option in Google’s earbud lineup. This makes them the best choice if you’re into all of the integrations for Pixel phone owners. If you can live without all of that stuff, you’ll find better sound quality and more advanced features elsewhere. Sony’s WF-1000XM5 is my current top pick, thanks to the fit, audio performance, ANC quality and other tools the company offers. You’ll get Speak-to-Chat automatic pausing for short convos and DSEE Extreme upscaling to recover detail that’s typically lost to Bluetooth compression. There’s also the ability to automate sound settings based on activity or location.
If pure sound performance is what you’re after, Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 4 is the best bet. These earbuds don’t have the robust feature set that Sony has amassed, but the audio quality is the best in my opinion. The company also recently added Auracast support and a Find Headphones feature that’s akin to Google’s Find My Device.
Wrap-up
Like the Pixel Buds Pro were in 2022, the second version of Google’s pricier earbuds are the best the company has to offer. They’re more expensive than their predecessor, but they’re also more powerful, more comfortable and last longer. There are some confusing caveats with Spatial Audio and the onboard controls may take some getting used to, but the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are an improvement in the places where it really matters. The same truth remains as it did two years ago though: these are earbuds built for Pixel phone die-hards, so if you’re not one of those, you can find better audio performance and expanded features elsewhere.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/pixel-buds-pro-2-review-tiny-earbuds-with-big-sound-and-a-direct-line-to-gemini-170016328.html?src=rss
Google’s Pixel Buds series has always been a worthy companion for its Pixel phones. The company only lacks a set of over-ear headphones to offer similar options to what Apple provides for iPhone users. Of course, Google got a later start than its rival, but like its Silicon Valley counterpart, the company has designed its earbuds to work best with its own devices. You’ll need both a phone and earbuds from Google to get the best features. That’s unlikely to change anytime soon.
Like Apple, Google is now on version 2.0 of its Pro-series earbuds. The first model debuted in 2022, and delivered active noise cancellation (ANC) for the first time on a set of Pixel Buds. There were notable features missing at launch, like spatial audio, so the inaugural set of Pixel Buds Pro weren’t yet at their full potential. With the Pixel Buds Pro 2 ($229), Google has its ducks in a row, shipping its new flagship earbuds with a powerful Tensor chip for the first time and providing a hands-free conduit to Gemini AI. There’s a new design, longer battery life and updated acoustics, but once again, the company is asking you to pay more than the previous version for all of the new features.
Design
The first thing that struck me about the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is how small they are. While a 27 percent size reduction doesn’t sound like a huge drop, it certainly is here. This model is tiny compared to the previous one, and Google shaved 1.5 grams off of the overall weight as well. The result is a much smaller earbud that sits more comfortably and securely in your ear.
Google redesigned the overall shape here, too. To help trim down the overall size, the IP54-rated Pixel Buds Pro 2 are now more compact rather than elongated like their predecessors. Like many audio companies, Google says it analyzed millions of ear scans to arrive at this new shape. Additionally, the company conducted “real-life wear tests” to make sure the earbuds wouldn’t fall out easily.
To keep the buds in place, Google opted for a “twist-to-adjust stabilizer” on the back. Everyone’s ears are different, and on mine, I don’t feel like this adds any extra security. As far as I can tell, it doesn’t tuck into the curves of my ears when I “twist to lock in” as Google suggests. But, once I found the best ear tip size for me, a secure fit wasn’t an issue as the Pixel Buds Pro 2 stayed in place just fine. What’s more, the tiny footprint kept things comfy for long wear sessions, which hasn’t always been the case for Google’s earbuds.
There’s still a robust suite of onboard controls on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, but the smaller-sized earbuds will require some adjustments to your taps. Since the buds aren’t as big, the touch panel offers less real estate. This means you’ll need to be more precise with your fingers, which took some time for me to master. If there’s an upside to larger earbuds, it’s that you don’t have to be as accurate with your control inputs to get them to register.
Gemini AI and Tensor power
Billy Steele for Engadget
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are Google’s first earbuds with a Tensor chip. Apple has always been keen to discuss the audio processor inside AirPods by name, but this is the first time I can remember Google doing the same. Thanks to the Tensor A1, the company says it can provide ultra-low latency audio processing, including multi-path signal handling. Google says it created a “highway lane” for music so that it’s unbothered by the processing required for ANC. The chip’s efficiency also allowed the company to increase battery life (slightly) despite the overall reduction in earbud size.
Google is hyping the Pixel Buds Pro 2 as the first earbuds to work with Gemini AI. But, since Gemini has replaced Google Assistant on the Pixel 9, that’s a bit like saying they’re built for Assistant. Clearly, all Pixel Buds share that ability, so you’ll want to look past the marketing-speak. It’s true that the Pixel Buds Pro 2 work with Gemini for hands-free help with more complex tasks than Assistant and Gemini Live is here for more conversational interactions. Of course, you don’t need the earbuds to use any of this, as you can just use a Pixel 9 on its own.
Tensor and Gemini aren’t the only notable features on the Pixel Buds Pro 2. You’ll also get Conversation Detection, Hearing Wellness tracking, multipoint Bluetooth and the ability to customize the long press option (only two choices there though). You can also automatically switch between devices linked to your Google account, which won’t be tremendously convenient if you prefer Pixel phones and MacBook Pros. Inside the Pixel Buds app, which is also accessible from the Bluetooth settings menu, you’ll see battery levels and get ANC controls if you need to change those from your phone.
Pixel Buds Pro 2 sound quality
Overall sound quality on the original Pixel Buds Pro was an improvement over the Pixel Buds (2020) and the A-Series, both of which lacked sufficient low-end tone. There’s plenty of bass on the Pixel Buds Pro 2 when a song demands it, but it’s not constant or overbearing. Google says it redesigned the entire audio system to overhaul the acoustics and drivers for maximum efficiency. Its goal was to pass the audio signal to your ear as cleanly as possible so you get accurate, immersive sound without having to make further adjustments.
I’m not sure the audio is a huge leap over the Pixel Buds Pro, but there is a noticeable improvement. That bass performance thumps when a Deftones alt-metal track or Kaytranada’s electronic hip-hop beats demand it. There’s not as much nuance to the low-end tone as on the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4, which are my current pick for best overall sound quality. There’s enough to get the job done though, so the Pixel Buds Pro 2 remains a significant sonic improvement over Google’s more affordable earbud models, especially when you factor in the crisp highs and adequate mid-range on display here. The synth-heavy tracks on Justice’s Hyperdrama, for example, envelope you with gritty, textured riffs and driving beats.
If you do feel the need to make audio adjustments, Google offers a full 5-band EQ in the Pixel Buds settings. There are also five presets, but none of those sound great. In fact, I think they all make things worse. There’s also the ability to tweak the volume balance, if you need the volume to be louder in one ear than the other.
Unlike the Pixel Buds Pro, this model is shipping with Spatial Audio ready to be put to work. However, there are some big caveats here. First, the immersive sound requires a Pixel 6 and up, and it doesn’t work with A-Series devices. What’s more, Spatial Audio is only available on compatible video apps. You won’t be able to use it for music. And when it comes to Netflix, the streaming service requires that you also turn on head tracking. Google should’ve made things straightforward here, but instead, it’s a mess. It’s a solid addition if it works when you want it, but there will certainly be times when that’s not the case.
ANC performance
Billy Steele for Engadget
For the ANC setup on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, Google says it cancels twice as much noise thanks to its so-called Silent Seal 2.0 system. The company explains that it does this by blocking a wider variety of sounds than it did on the previous model, including higher frequency distractions. It’s true that the Pixel Buds Pro 2 perform well with low-to-mid-range noise, blocking the constant roar of a car interior (passenger seat, obviously), loud fans and more.
Where the Pixel Buds Pro 2 still struggle is with things like human voices. To be fair, lots of earbuds and headphones stumble trying to block out a noisy neighbor. Unless you’ve got music or a podcast going, you’ll be able to hear nearby conversations, albeit moderately muffled.
Call quality
For calls, Google once again employs AI to make things sound better. And that applies to both ends of the call. The company says its Clear Calling feature has been improved, further reducing background noise on your end and any would-be distractions near the person you’re talking to when the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are paired with a compatible Pixel phone.
The earbuds do a good job of blocking background noise on their own. Even when you record a voice note or do some other activity that doesn’t use Clear Calling, the AI-powered system reduces the roar to where you can barely hear it. What’s more, Clear Calling doesn’t just apply to phone calls, it works with apps like Google Meet and some third-party software (over Wi-Fi). And while I don’t think the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will make you sound pristine, the heavy lifting they do (with the aid of a Pixel phone) to keep you clear of background commotion is commendable.
Battery life on the Pixel Buds Pro 2
Google promises up to eight hours of battery life on a charge with ANC enabled on the Pixel Buds Pro 2. When you factor in the case and the buds, you’re looking at up to 30 hours of noise-canceling use. During my tests, I didn’t keep ANC on the entire time, but I also used transparency mode during calls and times I needed to listen out for my kids or the doorbell. I got just over eight hours with the volume at around 50-75 percent, which varied depending whether I was streaming from my Pixel 9 or MacBook Pro.
The IPX4-rated Pixel Buds Pro 2 case supports both wired and wireless charging, so you’ve got an alternate option there. What’s more, a 15-minute rest in the case will give the earbuds enough juice to last for up to three hours.
The competition
Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the best-sounding and most comfortable option in Google’s earbud lineup. This makes them the best choice if you’re into all of the integrations for Pixel phone owners. If you can live without all of that stuff, you’ll find better sound quality and more advanced features elsewhere. Sony’s WF-1000XM5 is my current top pick, thanks to the fit, audio performance, ANC quality and other tools the company offers. You’ll get Speak-to-Chat automatic pausing for short convos and DSEE Extreme upscaling to recover detail that’s typically lost to Bluetooth compression. There’s also the ability to automate sound settings based on activity or location.
If pure sound performance is what you’re after, Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 4 is the best bet. These earbuds don’t have the robust feature set that Sony has amassed, but the audio quality is the best in my opinion. The company also recently added Auracast support and a Find Headphones feature that’s akin to Google’s Find My Device.
Wrap-up
Like the Pixel Buds Pro were in 2022, the second version of Google’s pricier earbuds are the best the company has to offer. They’re more expensive than their predecessor, but they’re also more powerful, more comfortable and last longer. There are some confusing caveats with Spatial Audio and the onboard controls may take some getting used to, but the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are an improvement in the places where it really matters. The same truth remains as it did two years ago though: these are earbuds built for Pixel phone die-hards, so if you’re not one of those, you can find better audio performance and expanded features elsewhere.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/pixel-buds-pro-2-review-tiny-earbuds-with-big-sound-and-a-direct-line-to-gemini-170016328.html?src=rss
You do not need a PS5 Pro. The Pro is Sony’s latest version of the PS5, offering more power and storage, faster Wi-Fi, and expanded support for tricks like advanced ray tracing, all for the audacious price of $700. That’s nice, but if you already have a PS5, you do not need to rush out and snag the new console. The PS5 Pro is similar to the Steam Deck OLED in this way: It’s a noticeable upgrade, but its existence doesn’t diminish the appeal of the original model. The PS5 you’ve had for years remains very cool and impressive, and if you’re content with it — or if you don’t have the cash to spare — maybe just stop reading right here and go play Astro Bot with your bliss intact.
Now that it’s just us, let’s really get into it. If you regularly play PS5 games and can afford to waste (at least) $700 on a more powerful console with extra gills, you absolutely should get a PS5 Pro.
The PS5 Pro will ship on November 7 with a 2TB SSD, Wi-Fi 7, faster memory, improved rendering capabilities, and support for VRR, advanced ray-tracing and “8K gaming.” With the Pro, Sony has introduced a proprietary upscaling system called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, which fills out details at the pixel level using machine-learning technology in a similar fashion to NVIDIA’s DLSS. There’s also PS5 Pro Game Boost, an enhancement suite that can apply to backward compatible PS4 games, stabilizing or upgrading their performance on the fresh hardware. Sony says this can also improve the performance of supported PS5 titles.
These upgrades theoretically mean players no longer have to choose between a premium resolution and high, consistent framerates, so long as the game you’re playing is updated to take full advantage of the console. On the standard and Digital Edition PS5s, players generally pick between Performance mode, which activates 60 fps or 120 fps at a lower resolution, or Fidelity mode, which offers crisp resolution at 30 fps. The Pro, thanks to the increased power and upscaling system, can easily handle simultaneous 4K output and 60 fps, and then some.
PS5 Pro games
In action, this means games look and feel exceptional on the PS5 Pro. I played a handful of titles on the Pro over two hours at Sony’s San Mateo studio, and many of the setups included a second screen with the game running on existing PS5 hardware, for comparison’s sake. Overall, the standard PS5 games never looked bad, but the Pro screens definitely looked better.
More than anything though, the Pro games felt better. Hopping from 30 fps on the standard PS5 to 60 fps on PS5 Pro — at the same or an even higher perceivable resolution — was all the convincing I personally needed. The Last of Us Part II Remastered offered a poignant demonstration of this difference: I played for a minute in Fidelity mode at 4K/30, and then swapped over to the Pro at 4K/60, and the shift instantly felt right. I questioned how or why I’d ever played a game at 30 fps in my life. Why choose between image quality and framerate when you can have both, you know?
Each developer approached the Pro’s power from a bespoke angle. With Spider-Man 2, for instance, Insomniac was focused on improving draw distance and upgrading the resolution of far-away objects in expansive cityscapes. The result is a crisply detailed web-slinging experience around downtown Manhattan with none of the slight fuzziness that the standard version offers. Hogwarts Legacy developers at Avalanche Software wanted to improve the game’s lighting and reflections, and they did: The Pro version presents a castle filled with slick stones and vibrant stained glass rainbows that ripple realistically as the player moves.
F1 24, meanwhile, can now handle ray-tracing at 4K/60 during races, and the team at Codemasters built new fences and implemented more realistic, auto-generated reflections on the tracks. The difference between ray-tracing and none is stark, and the game’s Performance mode can hit 4K at 120 fps on the Pro, rather than maxing out at 1440p on current models. A new Resolution mode outputs in 8K/60, but to experience that one, you’ll first have to get your hands on an 8K TV.
As with the last generation of upgraded consoles — the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro — a lot of the responsibility for making the PS5 Pro worthwhile lands at the feet of publishers and developers. At yesterday’s State of Play event, Sony announced a second batch of titles that will be upgraded for PS5 Pro, including Stellar Blade, Alan Wake 2, Resident Evil Village and Dragon Age: Veilguard. That's a solid start, but anyone spending $700 on a console will rightfully expect many more upgrades over time.
Talking with all of the developers at the event, there was a shared sentiment: This is an exciting era of experimentation and customization, and the Pro represents a chance for studios to create the definitive console versions of their games. We’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Pro improvements — and, therefore, the future of console experiences in general.
Designwise, the Pro is big, but then again, so is every version of the PS5. It looks enormous next to the updated Slim PS5, but side on and standing vertically, the Pro is the same height as the launch PS5 and it’s only as wide as the current Slim version. This makes for an elongated, skyscraper kind of aesthetic that only highlights how intrusive the console truly is, but if you’re a PS5 player, this is nothing new. The black gills slicing through the top half of the Pro do little to dispel the visual heft, but on top of providing necessary ventilation, they nicely mirror the look of the wider PS5 line.
Jessica Conditt for Engadget
The stand that allows the Pro to be positioned vertically is sold separately and costs $30. There’s also an option to add an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive to the new console, just like the Digital Edition, and that costs $80. So if you’re in the market for the full Pro package, you’ll have to throw down $810.
It’s a beastly price tag for a beastly console, but thankfully that descriptor applies to performance as well as appearance.
Sony is mining a niche market with the Pro, targeting dedicated PS5 players who happen to have money to burn. It’s not for everyone, and Sony will need to convince lots of developers to support this small audience. But for the type of console player who doesn’t balk at dropping $200 on a controller or $700 on a console — me, for instance — it feels like a worthwhile upgrade.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/ps5-pro-preview-i-dont-need-it-but-i-want-it-150042508.html?src=rss
We first covered the Samsung 990 Evo SSD in January and noted its speed and efficiency. Just eight months after its release, Samsung has now revealed its 990 Evo Plus SSD. The company claims it’s 50 percent faster than the previous model and is suitable for gaming, business and creative tasks.
Samsung says the drive uses its 8th generation V-NAND technology, with a maximum sequential speed of 7,250MB/s for the 990 Evo Plus’ 4TB model and a write speed limit of 6,300 MB/s. The SSD has a nickel-coated heat shield to prevent overheating and the company says it’s 73 percent more efficient. For those looking for the random read and write speeds, they’re 1,050K IOPS and 1,400K IOPS, respectively.
Other than the 4TB model mentioned above, the SSD can come in 1TB and 2TB models. All three come with Samsung Magician Software and are capable of AES-256-bit full disk encryption.
All the new drives will be available this fall from select retailers and Samsung’s official website. The 1TB model will sell for $110, the 2TB model for $185 and the 4TB model costs $345.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/samsungs-new-990-evo-plus-ssd-is-50-percent-faster-than-its-predecessor-164354770.html?src=rss
We first covered the Samsung 990 Evo SSD in January and noted its speed and efficiency. Just eight months after its release, Samsung has now revealed its 990 Evo Plus SSD. The company claims it’s 50 percent faster than the previous model and is suitable for gaming, business and creative tasks.
Samsung says the drive uses its 8th generation V-NAND technology, with a maximum sequential speed of 7,250MB/s for the 990 Evo Plus’ 4TB model and a write speed limit of 6,300 MB/s. The SSD has a nickel-coated heat shield to prevent overheating and the company says it’s 73 percent more efficient. For those looking for the random read and write speeds, they’re 1,050K IOPS and 1,400K IOPS, respectively.
Other than the 4TB model mentioned above, the SSD can come in 1TB and 2TB models. All three come with Samsung Magician Software and are capable of AES-256-bit full disk encryption.
All the new drives will be available this fall from select retailers and Samsung’s official website. The 1TB model will sell for $110, the 2TB model for $185 and the 4TB model costs $345.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/samsungs-new-990-evo-plus-ssd-is-50-percent-faster-than-its-predecessor-164354770.html?src=rss
Meta has secured deals with several actors, including Kristen Bell, John Cena and Judi Dench, to use their voices for the Meta AI chatbot, Reuters reports. Users will be able to talk to the chatbot while listening to answers in the voice of their favorite celebrities. Other celebrities include Awkwafina and Keegan-Michael Key, a source told Reuters.
Besides these five voices, the source also said that there are more generic voice options if users prefer them. All voices will be available this week in the US and other English-speaking regions, though the source didn’t give any other specific locations.
The news follows a report from last month which claimed Meta was negotiating with actors to secure the rights to use their voices for its AI projects. Now, the deals have reportedly been struck, and the chatbot found when using Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp could feature these famous voices soon. The company had intended to finalize agreements before the Connect conference, where Reuters’ source says it will announce the new voice options.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/metas-ai-chatbot-will-soon-speak-in-the-voices-of-john-cena-and-other-celebrities-160603365.html?src=rss