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Google Pixel Buds A-Series, The Affordable Choice for Audiophiles and Tech Enthusiasts

by Samuel Kalenga on Sep 22, 2024

Google Pixel Buds A-Series, The Affordable Choice for Audiophiles and Tech Enthusiasts
The Pixel Buds A-Series are a great buy at a rock bottom price: they’re the wireless earbuds that Google decided to build for those in the Google ecosystem who want a great fit, clear sound, and all-day play on a budget. In this review, we’ll examine the device but also match it against its peer groups - which devices does it compete with, and how does it score? We’ll explore its core features, driving the idea of what is and isn’t important in a good pair of wireless earbuds, look at its performance, and then dig deeper into its hardware design. Is all you see under the hood similar to what everyone else offers, or does the magic truly lie under the hood? Perhaps most importantly, is this a good buy when put against alternatives at the same price point? Let’s find out.

A Comprehensive Examination of the Google Pixel Buds A-Series

To fully understand the Pixel Buds A-Series, let's delve deeper into specific aspects:

Design and Comfort

Simple and unadorned, the new Pixel Buds A-Series have a no-nonsense, get-your-work-done style. They come in three attractive colours: Clearly White, Charcoal and Dark Olive. The earbuds and charging case are light, and Jabra includes three different ear tip sizes, so most people will find them comfortable. In fact, the compact charging case is so small that you can fit it in a pocket or bag for transit.

Sound Quality and Performance

While the sound quality may not offer exceptional depth or precision, for headphones at this price point, the Pixel Buds A-Series is adequate. With a 12mm dynamic driver, the earbuds produce balanced audio signature, clear vocals, well-defined bass with a decent soundstage. The earbuds handle genres like Electronic dance music, odyssey etc., well, while being warm enough to listen to an acoustic ballad or pub rock. The audio quality is even more impressive while listening to podcast or audiobooks with a crystal-clear vocal as they require clarity for a good listening experience.

Battery Life and Charging

The battery life of the Pixel Buds A-Series is wonderful. The battery life of the earbuds allows for up to 5 hours of listening and deliver up to 24 hours listening time with the charging case. Fast charging is loaded into the earbuds. That way, you can top up your battery in a hurry. The case is portable and comes with a charging cord. You can’t charge the case wirelessly.

Features and Functionality

The Pixel Buds A-Series has a wide variety of handy features including musical controls via touch commands to adjust the volume or skip tracks, as well as the ability to take calls through either the touch command or by activating the Google Assistant for call management. The greatest strength of the Buds are their integration – not only allowing for hands free voice control via the Google Assistant to play, pause, make calls or set reminders, but in addition, the integration of the Buds with the entire suite of Google products, especially for those who have sunk their teeth into the Google network.

Water Resistance

With an official IPX4 water resistance rating, the Pixel Buds A-Series will be able to handle the odd burst of rain or bit of sweat when you’re exercising or doing light outdoor activities. They won’t be as sturdy against water as some of the top-end earbuds, which are rated IPX6 or even IPX8, but it will be fine for most everyday use.

Google Pixel Buds A-Series: Weighing the Pros and Cons

After weighing up their strengths and weaknesses, this is my assessment to advise you whether buying the Google Pixel Buds A-Series is the right move for you as your next pair of earbuds. The Pixel Buds have a cool but also slightly odd look, so they might not be for everyone.Using your device, you can easily turn off the voice-activated mode or change other settings as you desire.

Another practical feature of the Pixel Buds A-Series is the case. Even with the earphones inside, it's extremely small and sleek, so it's convenient to carry it around. The Pixel Buds A-Series will allow you to enjoy your music with clear, well-balanced, and vibrant sound. However, there are certain setbacks (as expected). The main disadvantage is that the new generation of earbuds is water-resistant, but it doesn't mean fully dustproof.

Some users have complained about dirt getting inside and affecting the Buds. Additionally, according to various sources online, the case doesn't have a USB C port for charging, which might be inconvenient for those who don't have other sources of power suitable for the Pixel Buds A-Series. Through examining the A-Series Pixel Buds, we can see that they are a good product with fair performance. My verdict would be to buy the Pixel Buds A-Series if you want a safe bet without the fear of being scammed by a retailer.

Pros

    • Price: (1/1) The Pixel Buds A-Series are the cheapest pair of Bluetooth earbuds currently offered by Google, way below similar models from other audio technology brands, which makes it an exceptional selection for the price-sensitive buyer. Excellent SoundQuality Good fit delivers crispright audio that’s well balanced and faithfultosound in a wide variety of listening situations,from music to podcasts and audiobooks.
    • Snug Fit: Including multiple ear tip sizes, the Pixel Buds A-Series will fit most people comfortably, and won’t budge much if at all while you’re vibing. Additionally, the design should allow for extended listening sessions without discomfort.
    • Good battery life: The battery life of earbuds is approx 5 hours without charging and up to 24 hours with the charging case, so you can play your music for a long time.
    • Fast charging (3 hours of charging gives 15 minutes of power). Music solving all the problems that we have. ·IPX4 water resistance means that the Pixel Buds A-series are safe to use in light rain or even during a workout, and you can be safe in the knowledge that they aren’t limited by the weather.
    • Smooth At-a-Glance User Experience: The Pixel Buds A-Series is compatible with Google Pixel phones and most other Android devices, providing a seamless at-a-glance user experience.
Google Assistant Support:
    Google Assistant support is included for voice commands, allowing use of your voice to play music and answer texts, make calls, and set reminders.

Cons

  • Time for some negatives: Noise Cancellation: Without active noise cancellation (ANC), the Pixel Buds A-Series leave users with too much ambient noise. This is a bigger issue for people who use phones while, for example, hopping on a noisy bus or commuting in a crowded train. If they need to drown out the cacophony, the Pixel Buds A-Series will prove less useful.
  • Limited Touch Controls: The touch controls are limited to the earbuds, making it less intuitive and less versatile than other wireless earbuds with full touch control features.
  • No wireless charging: The charging case won’t offer any wireless charging support directly. This is a decision Apple made for the sound bug, as we understand, and it’ll be a drawback for users who want to enjoy the convenience of wireless charging.
  • No Transparency Mode: You won’t find a transparency mode (also called a ‘hear through’ mode) on the Pixel Buds A-Series, unlike many other high-end earbud models. Transparency mode lets you hear everything around you even when earbuds are still in your ears, which can be a bummer if you need to hear what’s going on around you.

Pixel Buds A-Series: Colors, Pricing, and Availability

Pixel Buds A-Series are available in a palette of colours to match your style:
  • Clearly White: A clean white that works well for those who like minimalist styling.
  • Charcoal: A sleek and sophisticated dark gray shade that complements a variety of styles.
  • Dark Olive – a burnt, earthy olive green You cannot go quite as brown or tan as you can grey, though you probably shouldn’t care enough to notice. 
credible value, both in terms of their price and what you get for the money. From a value standpoint, the Pixel Buds A-Series are affordable enough to be an attractive product for those with a tight budget, yet still be considered wireless earbuds.

Where to Buy Google Pixel Buds A-Series

You can purchase the Google Pixel Buds A-Series from various reputable retailers:

  • Google Store: Pixel Buds A-Series at Google Store – Pixel Buds A-Series with fast shipping and 24/7 expert support.
  • Amazon: Amazon is a well-known online retailer that often has the Pixel Buds A-Series in stock at competitive prices, including fast access to delivery.
  • Best Buy: Big box electronics retailer with online and brick-and-mortar presence to buy the Pixel Buds A-Series, always good for hands-on support and advice.
  • Other retailers: Apart from Amazon, you can buy Pixel Buds A-Series from other reliable retailers as well, including online and in-store outlets.

Google Pixel Buds A-Series: Final Verdict

The Google Pixel Buds A-Series are a great value for consumers who are mindful of cost, fit, and sound quality. They’re perfectly situated in the Google ecosystem, and anyone with a Google Pixel phone will thank Google for producing such a perfectly matched budget accessory. No, the Pixel Buds A-Series have some very obvious omissions — no active noise cancellation, and we also would’ve liked to see the transparency mode to counter the ANC’s drowsy effect.

However, the Pixel Buds A-Series don’t skimp on performance either; they remain a very compelling and, dare we say it, fun audio accessory to have. Their comfort, sound quality, and battery life make them a great value, especially when you consider that they’re part of a crowded category of wireless earbuds. Devoted headphone fans are going to be a little harder to please.

They want either the finest sound quality out there (even at high prices) or the newest gadgets and features with a minimum of compromises. General consumers, however, just want something that sounds good and works, and that can be pleasingly cheap if need be. For that crowd, the Google Pixel Buds A-Series are going to be a wonderful companion for people mindful of cost, fit, and performance — they’re perfectly situated for it. Yes, this a crowded category of wireless earbuds. It’s also incredibly competitive, to a fascinating degree.

Related Products

  • Google Pixel Buds Pro: You want the best headphones Google can make for you, holding nothing back – active noise cancellation, transparency mode, fancier design, the works. You’re happy to spend more for them.
  • Google Pixel 6a: Often sold with a package of free Pixel Buds A-Series, this smartphone with Pixel Buds A-Series is a great offer for those who seek the experience of a complete Google ecosystem.
  • Google Pixel 7a: If you also want to pair it with a wireless headset, Pixel Buds A-Series were free with a Pixel 6a for a limited time, so a Pixel 7a could easily be a complete package for the price of most smartphones alone.
Overall, the Google Pixel Buds A-Series are a good option for anyone who want a pair of earbuds that are great value for money; they deliver enough in terms of features, performance and build, and are one of the best in their category on a budget.

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