The Pixel Buds A-Series discard a few features to give you a way better price. It’s a trade-off that is totally worth it, but only if you’re an Android user.
When Google launched its second-gen Pixel Buds in 2020, it created something of a conundrum for buyers of true wireless earbuds. On the one hand, their tiny size, wireless charging, comfortable fit, and excellent integration with Android and Google Assistant made them an attractive choice. But on the other hand, for the price ($179), it felt like Google had left out some important features, like active noise cancellation (ANC), transparency (ambient sound), and the ability to use their standout skills with Apple’s iOS devices. One year later, those choices put the Pixel Buds into an even deeper corner as new products like the $199 JBL Tour Pro+, $120 Amazon Echo Buds 2, $95 1More ComfoBuds Pro, and $130 Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro have all trotted out great sound, ANC, and transparency. Clearly, Google has some work to do if it wants the Pixel Buds to remain competitive. But in the meantime, the search juggernaut has a new strategy: If you can’t beat ’em, drop your price. That’s the apparent philosophy behind the new $99 Pixel Buds A-Series. They look identical to the $179 Pixel Buds, and with a few exceptions, that’s true of their features too. But Google did have to cut some fat to get to the A-Series’ highly affordable price. Did it go too far? Let’s check ’em out. One of the things Google got right with the previous Pixel Buds was their size and shape. They’re incredibly compact, and that goes for the buds as well as their charging case. The A-Series preserves it all, effectively delivering AirPods Pro-level portability and convenience for $149 less than Apple’s iconic buds. The case is wonderfully smooth, easy to open and close, and the Pixel Buds snap into their charging sockets with perfect precision. But the AirPods Pro have wireless charging capabilities, and that has been stripped out of the A-Series case, replaced by a magnet.
