Secure, comfortable in-ear fit that stays put during running, workouts, and head movement
Sound quality and noise cancellation praised as better than AirPods Pro 2, Bose, Sony, and Samsung Galaxy Buds in head-to-head comparisons
Long-time owners report zero issues and rock-solid reliability over a year or more of daily use
Owners complain about
Fit is inconsistent across owners, a large group reports the buds loosen or fall out during movement, the opposite experience of those praising the fit
Microphone quality is poor for calls, with callers repeatedly saying they can't hear the wearer or that they sound "far away"
Hardware reliability problems, owners frequently go through 2-5 replacement pairs under warranty for the same recurring defects
✓Pixel phone owners who want deep Assistant/ecosystem integration and easy pairing
✓Runners and gym-goers needing a secure twist-to-lock fit that stays put during movement
✓Casual listeners who value comfort and all-day wear over critical audio fidelity
✓Buyers upgrading from the original Buds Pro who want better fit, ANC, and battery
Skip it if
Anyone who takes frequent phone calls, given widespread mic/call-quality complaints
Multi-device users on Windows PCs or non-Pixel phones facing pairing and switching issues
Get the Soundcore Space A40 if
✓Budget shoppers wanting solid ANC and battery life without a premium price
✓Side sleepers who need small, low-profile buds that stay comfortable overnight
✓People with small ear canals who struggle to get a secure fit elsewhere
✓Owners willing to run custom EQ or chase firmware updates for better bass
Skip it if
Bass-heads expecting punchy low end straight out of the box
Buyers who need long-term durability, given reports of battery fade and single-ear failure
What Soundcore Space A40 owners think
Most owners who stick with the Space A40 point to the fit and the battery as the reasons why, calling them comfortable enough to sleep in and able to run for days between charges, with ANC and overall value rounding out the appeal at this price. A meaningful minority pushes back hard on the sound, describing bass that is thin or absent, especially before certain firmware updates, and ranking the tuning behind other Soundcore models like the Liberty 3 Pro and 4NC. A smaller group also reports batteries fading within a year or two, sometimes down to one working bud, plus scattered complaints about fit and inconsistent ANC. The split lands along expectations: buyers focused on comfort and battery come away satisfied, while anyone chasing bass or long-term reliability tends to leave disappointed.
What Pixel Buds Pro 2 owners say
“although the PBP2 are not the best at anything, they do everything pretty well and nothing terribly. I kept them over Sony, Technics, Samsung, Bose, OnePlus, Huawei, Jabra, Anker.”
“The biggest issue I have with these is the microphone quality. For example in a Discord voice call I get alot of complaints that my friends don't hear me at all.”
“They are great for the price one of the ones I miss most (I lose a lot of buds) and have a soft spot for. Extremely ergonomic fit, and the NC isn’t bad either.”
“It’s probably the most comfortable in-ears I’ve ever worn before, and I liked that they kinda went against the grain by having a more neutral sound out-of-the-box”
“These were definitely not the best choice in earbuds. Sound and ANC are pretty bang average for the price. The only good thing about them really is the battery life, even the fit is poor on me.”
Pixel Buds Pro 2 vs Soundcore Space A40: frequently asked questions
Is the Pixel Buds Pro 2 or the Soundcore Space A40 better?
Real owners lean toward the Pixel Buds Pro 2: 45% of 240 owners recommend it, vs 31% of 61 for the Soundcore Space A40.
Who should get the Pixel Buds Pro 2?
Owners point the Pixel Buds Pro 2 at pixel phone owners who want deep Assistant/ecosystem integration and easy pairing, and runners and gym-goers needing a secure twist-to-lock fit that stays put during movement.
Who should get the Soundcore Space A40?
Owners point the Soundcore Space A40 at budget shoppers wanting solid ANC and battery life without a premium price, and side sleepers who need small, low-profile buds that stay comfortable overnight.
What do owners complain about?
The most-cited downside of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is fit is inconsistent across owners, a large group reports the buds loosen or fall out during movement, the opposite experience of those praising the fit. For the Soundcore Space A40, it's bass is thin, washed out, or missing entirely for many owners, especially before certain firmware updates.