Short answer: the Penon Vortex. Both are rated 3.6/5 for sound quality (#754 and #698 of 1291 in-ear headphones), and the Penon Vortex costs $199 against $209.99 for the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
Why pick the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: Battery life is strong at 12 hours per charge and 48 with the case, and the earbuds weigh only 0 lbs (4.7 g) each. The tradeoff: A 9.4 dB dip near 4 kHz pushes vocal presence back, and a 7.6 dB peak near 7.9 kHz can make sibilance and hi hats sound edgy.
Why pick the Penon Vortex: A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 69 against the Harman target. The catch: Treble about 2 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, which can sound dull or veiled next to brighter headphones.
Buy the Penon Vortex. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $10.99 less than the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Battery life is strong at 12 hours per charge and 48 with the case, and the earbuds weigh only 4.7 g each.
Amazon $209.99 eBay
A broadly balanced tuning with a preference score of 69 against the Harman target.
Penon Audio $199 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 | Penon Vortex | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $209.99 | $199 |
| Ranked | #698 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones | #754 of 1291 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (median of 1 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 69 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.42 dB standard deviation | 2.54 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.52 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.04 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-5.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | True wireless | Wired (3.5mm / 4.4mm) |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 11mm dynamic | 1 Dynamic (10mm DLC & beryllium-plated) |
| Weight | 0 lbs (4.7 g) per earbud | - |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | - |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (48 with case, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IP54 | - |
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