Quick review
The good
The not-so-good
Small and circular, the Pixel Buds 2a aim to offer a round sound and a round price. Are they the new value-driven benchmark?
It’s been three years since Google decided to add an entry to its “A” series of Pixel Buds, a pair that felt like an attempt at a more mid-range offering, and brought some of what made the Pixel Buds interesting to a new audience.
Three years is a surprisingly long stretch for headphones and earbuds, and in that time, the game has changed. The offerings are wide and varied, and Google has competition.
So three years on, is the Pixel Buds A-series even worth mentioning, and is there something to make the Pixel Buds 2a stand out? There might be, and price might be it.
Design and features
A little like Google’s previous Pixel Buds “a” series, but with a slightly different design, the Pixel Buds 2a adopts the idea of less being more, at least in the way of an improved aesthetic.
Little buds with a smaller ear-wing of sorts, they’re reminiscent of the Pixel Buds Pro without being the same device. They lose the obvious wing at the top, replacing it with a style that’s less pronounced.
Inside, there’s an 11mm driver and some noise cancellation technology designed to work with two microphones, plus a proximity sensor on each bud to handle pause and play when you take them out.
In-use
A touchpad sits on the outside covering taps for control: tap once for pause and play, and more times for track changes, as Google delivers an approach to usability that’s quite common for earbuds.
The fit is a little bit different, however.
Opting for a design that’s less about seal and stability, and more about somewhat comfy and light, the Pixel Buds 2a are a pair destined to divide.
When this reviewer first threw them in, he wasn’t impressed. It was like trying to turn a screw in place to fit the grooves, but missing each time. Nothing catches the way you think it should, and the earbuds feel like they were both firm and ready to fall out at a moment’s notice.
Sadly, these aren’t as stable or comfortable we’d necessarily like. It’s a weird feeling that not all will want.
Like other earbuds, they fit with a bit of a but: there are earphone tips and stabilisers that try to do a good job, but don’t quite nail the landing.
Much like how earbuds can divide even the most ardent of wearers, the Pixel Buds 2a does the same. They’re not quite as stable as Google’s other earbuds, and feel like a weird mish-mash of earbud and earphone.
Some will like them, others will not.
Performance
Fortunately, the sound is a little better, faring well with our sound test, which you can try out for yourself.
Running through the electronic of Tycho and Daft Punk, we found a relatively balanced sound with some decent punch in the lows, plus some surprisingly meaty bass. The pop sounds of Carly Rae Jepsen and Ariana Grande told us the Pixel Buds 2a weren’t really warm, but just closer to being balanced with a touch more heft where it was needed.
Not all tracks did, however; the bass in our Charlie Puth test track rolled with the punches, while the guttural bass in FKA Twigs” Two Weeks” was lacking. There was bass, sure, but just not the overall depth of bass we’ve come to expect.
Tracks without that need for strong bass performed well, though, providing decent balance amidst a fairly wide soundstage.
Hard rock from the Deftones and Rage Against the Machine were surprisingly spacious and balanced, even if the detail could feel a little off, while tracks from David Bowie and Paul Simon were balanced and well-rounded, too.
Overall, the Pixel Buds 2a deliver a nice round sound.
Noise cancellation
Noise cancellation is not fantastic, though. It’s more like noise quelling.
Throughout our time with the Pixel Buds 2a, we found that a lot gets through. Traffic get through. Transport gets through. It’s a struggle to work out just what the Pixel Buds 2a are cancelling, if anything. It’s a relatively basic level of ANC, that’s for sure.
It doesn’t matter if you’re walking near a fairly quiet road or a fairly busy road, or even if you’re sitting on a train. The noise comes in, with the active noise cancellation barely flexing any of these words.
They’re not competing with the best ANC earbuds this year, that’s for sure.
Why the Pixel Buds 2a cancellation sounds so rudimentary could be any number of things, but we suspect the fit has to do with it.
Battery
The battery is another area that appears to lag behind, especially as earphone and earbud makers appear to be pulling away positively.
With noise cancellation switched on, the Buds 2a will provide up to 7 hours before needing a charge, usually running for 6 to 7, with almost three charges for 20 in total. That’s not a stellar amount for a pair of earbuds these days, though if you switch ANC off, you’ll find a few hours more, closing 27 maximum in total.
You can find better from other noise cancelling pairs, even slightly older ones, if you look.
Value
The price, however, is one of the better aspects, hitting an Australian tag of $239 for a pair of somewhat premium earbuds.
When you compare the Pixel Buds 2a to what’s out there from major brands, it makes these buds seem like stellar value on paper alone.
What needs work?
Trying to work out the balance of what makes a good inexpensive earbud proposition is clearly what Google has tried in the Pixel Buds 2a, and we’re not quite sure the company has pulled it off.
The sound is there and the value, too, and Google has even delivered a similar design between its other models.
But the ANC doesn’t seem quite as rounded while the fit can confuse. Add to this a lack of wireless charging and a battery life that needs work, and it’s difficult not to see the Buds 2a as the Buds Pro 2’s poorer cousin. There’s no pro in the name, just that same number, but these are not remotely the same product.
There isn’t even any wireless charging in the package, while the 20 hours maximum for the case with ANC switched on is on the low side for noise cancelling earbuds.
What we love
Google definitely got the price right, though, delivering the “Google” name and quality sound for a decent price.
It’s hard to argue with a $239 starting price with a small amount of noise cancellation built in. You can certainly find similar ANC for less in lesser known brands, but few with a name as big as “Google” hit below $250 when not on sale.
Pixel Buds 2a vs the competition
The price is clearly one of our favourite aspects, but Google’s Pixel Buds 2a aren’t alone in attempting to offer great value noise cancelling buds for a fraction of the price of other models.
While their $239 price tag is impressive, it’s not that far from other models, such as the Beats Studio Buds+ for $30 more, or the 2nd-gen Bose QuietComfort Earbuds for $50 more. These aren’t staggering differences for Android-compatible earbuds.
Look around and you might even find the recently replaced Beats Fit Pro for not much more, Sennheiser’s Accentum True Wireless pair, or even a variation of Galaxy Buds 3 or FE. There are definite options about the place, that’s for sure.
Do a little more research, and you may even find Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 for not much more, arguably the better option in just about every way.
The most obvious competitor also isn’t far from Google’s price tag, the $279 Apple AirPods 4 ANC. These stellar earbuds from Apple are a great option, but miss out on one vital feature Pixel buyers will need: Android support.
Only one Android phone variety has considered AirPods support, with Nothing’s phones include an experimental AirPods compatibility layer, while everyone else has to miss out.
That puts Apple’s pair well and truly out of the options for Android owners, and means that if you’re looking to compare the Pixel Buds 2a, keep Apple’s options away from your choices and picks (unless you’re thinking of switching to an iPhone).
Final thoughts (TLDR)
While the package isn’t perfect, it’s nice to see Google attempting a pair of ANC buds for what would normally be the budget or mid-range. Not everything has to be the high-end where devices like the Pixel Buds Pro normally suggest.
Essentially the non-pro Buds, the Pixel Buds 2a feel like they target buyers of the Pixel 8a and Pixel 9a, or even this year’s best all-rounder Pixel to consider, the Pixel 10.
In some ways, the 2a are this year’s rounder buds, offering a round design, round price tag, and round sound.
Translated, the Pixel Buds 2a are just good enough for most people, especially if what’s being looked for is a pair of AirPods for Android. These are close in idea, even if the AirPods 4 ANC delivers it better.
For Android people, the Pixel Buds 2a are a fine compromise, especially if you can only buy a pair with a name you know. Otherwise, there are better choices.
