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When it comes to wireless earbuds, the super expensive "Pro" models usually get all the cool features, leaving the more budget-friendly feeling like a "less-than" alternative where buyers will surely experience FOMO for the primo pair.
Google is changing that with their new Pixel Buds 2a.
These are the first earbuds in Google's more affordable A-Series to get Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), a feature that's usually reserved for the pricey stuff. After spending some time with them, I can say they pack a serious punch for their price.
Let's dig into what makes these buds a big deal.
The Good Stuff
- Active Noise Cancellation: Finally, an A-Series with ANC to block out the world.
- Immersive Sound: They have redesigned acoustics and a customizable EQ for great audio.
- Comfy Fit: A new "twist-to-adjust" stabilizer and multiple eartip sizes mean they'll stay put.
- Super Smart: Gemini is built-in, ready to help you with all sorts of tasks.
The Not-So-Good Stuff
- Pricey-ish: Better deal than Pros, but a bit high for "budget-firnedly" consumers.
- Touch and Tap Controls Takes a few days to master if you customize controls.
- No Wireless Charging Must plug in via USB C to top up the battery.
Silence the World (Or Let it in)
The headline feature here is Active Noise Cancellation, and it's pretty impressive. The Pixel Buds 2a have 1.5 times as much noise cancellation as the original Pixel Buds Pro. So, if you're trying to focus at the office or just want to tune out the rumble of the bus, a long press on the earbud will get you in the zone.
Of course, sometimes you need to hear what's going on. A quick press-and-hold gesture switches you over to Transparency mode, letting you hear your surroundings without taking the buds out.
It's all powered by Google's Tensor A1 chip. Think of this chip as the brain of the earbuds. It processes audio super quickly, adapting to your environment millions of times per second to make sure your music sounds smooth and clear, even with ANC working hard in the background.
All these functions just being a tap away is great; however, it does take a bit of time to get used to all the possibilities. You can customize each individual earbud (left earbud tap does something different than right) which adds versatility if you want it, but also complexity for those are good at rembering how they programmed the buds.
Sound That's All Yours
Great noise cancellation doesn't mean much if the audio is garbage. Luckily, that's not the case here. Google says they re-engineered the entire audio system, from the speakers to the acoustics, to deliver really clean, immersive sound right out of the box.
But the best part is that you can make it your own. In the Pixel Buds app, there's a full five-band EQ, so you can tweak the sound exactly to your liking or just pick from a few presets. Want more bass? You got it.
A Fit That Actually Fits
Earbuds that are constantly falling out are the worst. Google clearly put a lot of thought into the design of the Pixel Buds 2a to make sure they're both comfortable and secure. They're smaller and lighter than ever, and the shape was designed after analyzing data from 45 million different ears!
Out of the box, they come with medium eartips, but you'll also find extra-small, small, and large sizes included. It's worth trying a couple to see what feels best, and you might even need a different size for each ear.
Once you have the right tip, you just place the bud in your ear and give it a little twist. This engages the new twist-to-adjust stabilizer, which helps lock it in place. It's a simple thing that makes a huge difference that was first introduced on the Buds Pro 2 in August of 2024 and has been inherited by the budgety brother.
Your Assistant is in Your Ear
Having Gemini, Google's AI assistant, built right in is super handy. You can just say, "Hey, Google," or customize a press-and-hold gesture to ask for help. Note, if you've not played around with Gemini lately here's a quick catch up on what you're missing out on.
I found myself using it to find nearby restaurant hours, and summarize my unread text messages when I was working in my hard/garage most often. If you have Gemini Live, it's an excellent way to interact with Google's AI assistant when you need quick info. The combination of Gemini Live and the Pixel Buds 2a really makes you feel like you're living in the future.
Battery Life and Final Thoughts
So, how long do they last? With ANC turned on, you'll get about seven hours of listening time on a single charge. The charging case bumps that up to a total of 20 hours. That's more than enough to get you through a couple of workdays.
If you happen to misplace them, the new Find Hub feature in the Find My Device app can show you their location on a map or make them ring if you're close by.
Google Pixel Buds 2a
The build quality and battery life of the Pixel 2a give you a feature-rich experience at a lower price. The A-series devices are known best for their affordability, and $179 is a bit on the high end for a budet-friendly earbud. For anyone looking for a great option to keep their accessories in the Pixel/Google ecosystem, the Pixel Bud 2a earbuds pack a lot of greatnesss into a well-designed earbud.
Overall, the Pixel Buds 2a are a fantastic package. They bring premium features, like high-performance ANC, great customizable sound, and helpful AI smarts, to a more accessible price point. If you've got a Pixel phone and want a pair of earbuds that work seamlessly with your device without breaking the bank, these are an easy recommendation.
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