Google Pixel Buds Pro drops notification reading feature

Users used to touch and hold the Pixel Buds Pro for Google Assistant to read their notifications
An undated image of a person using Google Pixel Buds. — Google Blog
An undated image of a person using Google Pixel Buds. — Google Blog

Google's Pixel Buds Pro has undergone a significant change, discontinuing the "touch and hold" gesture for reading notifications. Google just confirmed this but refused to say why it did that. An update from Google leaves many users puzzled about why they took away the feature.

What's updated in Google Pixel Buds Pro?

Users used to touch and hold the Pixel Buds Pro for Google Assistant to read their notifications. Recently, some started receiving a message that this feature would no longer be available.

App users are being asked to issue voice command "Hey Google, read notifications." This has caused concern among users who relied on the silent notification feature.

According to the tech giant, the move was based on the customers who complained, stating that it "is evaluating further changes to notifications." The reason is not clear; however, Google might be looking forward to finding ways of streamlining management through voice commands.

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Users would now be able to utter the "Hey Google, read notifications" voice command to hear their notifications. Unfortunately, this also means that users would not like it should they have grown to like the almost discreet touch-and-hold gesture.

Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Gemini integration

The upcoming Pixel Buds Pro 2, paired with Gemini, may bring changes to notification management. Apparently, Gemini could read app notifications, and this would eliminate Google Assistant functionality. But whether Gemini would offer feature parity with Google Assistant is unknown.

This change affects Pixel Buds Pro users who rely on the touch-and-hold gesture for notification management. Users would need to adapt to voice commands or explore alternative methods.