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Google Pixel Buds A-Series Review

A great Android offering with good sound that won't break the bank
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Google Pixel Buds A-Series Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $99 List
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Manufacturer:   Google
59
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#23 of 31
  • Sound Quality - 40% 6.2
  • User Experience - 20% 7.4
  • Noise Cancellation - 15% 3.8
  • Battery life - 15% 4.3
  • Call Quality - 10% 7.2

Our Verdict

Coming in as one of the more affordable wireless top-ranked earbuds in our lineup, the Google Pixel Buds A-Series have decent performance at a reasonable price. While not top-of-the-line, their sound quality scored similarly to many of their more expensive competitors. If you are in the Android ecosystem, these buds are a breeze to use and very comfortable across the earshape spectrum. Unfortunately, these buds lost a lot of points due to their lack of noise-cancelling prowess and abysmal battery life. For being one of the lower-tech packages in our lineup, they do have decent call quality. All in all, if you have a strict budget and don't care about noise-cancelling or long listening sessions, these are an acceptable option.
REASONS TO BUY
Secure fit
Good value
Adaptive sound
REASONS TO AVOID
No active noise cancelling
IPhones don't get access to all the features

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Price $99 List
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Bottom Line Affordable earbuds that work great with Android phonesLong lasting battery life, impressive water resistance, comfort, and great sound quality make these an easy choiceThese are comfortable with reasonable audio quality at a lower price point than mostThese buds offer an impressive soundstage and sturdy construction — if they fitIf you don't need noise cancelation or top-notch audio, these are a good deal
Rating Categories Google Pixel Buds A... Jabra Elite 8 Active Samsung Galaxy Buds... Jaybird Vista 2 Amazon Echo Buds
Sound Quality (40%)
6.2
7.3
6.4
7.7
5.0
User Experience (20%)
7.4
8.9
7.7
6.4
6.2
Noise Cancellation (15%)
3.8
5.6
6.1
3.6
2.3
Battery life (15%)
4.3
9.1
5.8
5.2
5.0
Call Quality (10%)
7.2
5.8
9.0
8.2
6.7
Specs Google Pixel Buds A... Jabra Elite 8 Active Samsung Galaxy Buds... Jaybird Vista 2 Amazon Echo Buds
Active Noise Cancelling No Yes Yes Yes No
Earbud Location Tracking Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Measured Battery Life 4.5 hr 11.9 hr 7.5 hr 6.3 hr 5.9 hr
Waterproofing IP67 IP68 IPX7 IP68 IPX2
Measured Weight 0.18 oz 0.18 oz 0.19 oz 0.24 oz 0.18 oz
Quick Charging 15 mins = 3 hrs 5 mins = 1 hr 5 mins = 1 hr 5 mins = 1 hr 15 mins = 2 hrs
Charges Per Case 4 3 3 2 3
Wired Charging Port USB-C USB-C USB-C USB-C USB-C
Wireless Charging Option No Yes Yes Yes No
Claimed Battery Life 5 hrs 14 hrs 8 hrs 8 hrs 5 hrs
Charging Carrying Case Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Transparency Mode Yes No Yes Yes No
Multipoint No Yes No No No
In-ear Detection Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Multiple Ear Tips Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Google Pixel Buds A-Series are an average set of earbuds at a below-average price point, making them an ok option if budget is your top priority.

Performance Comparison


google pixel buds a-series - we tested each of our earbuds by utilizing a panel of expert...
We tested each of our earbuds by utilizing a panel of expert listeners and a Bruel and Kjaer 5128-B head.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Sound Quality


A panel of our expert listeners tested these earbuds with an extensive, curated playlist before describing and rating their experience. In the end, we found that the Google Pixel Buds sound dull and unimpressive. While nothing stood out as particularly unbalanced, nothing sounded great either. Overall, these earbuds maintain decent clarity at all volumes with reasonable sound quality, but they lack richness and depth, especially in the mid to high-mid frequency ranges.


Harmonies pop, drums feel punchy, and the bass is rich in songs like “Hypotheticals” by Lake Street Dive. However, when listening to hip-hop like “Want That Old Thing Back” by Notorious B.I.G., the bass feels underwhelming, especially at 2:02.

The mid and treble ranges are where these buds struggle most. Songs like “Fallin'” by Alicia Keys feel subdued, lacking a fully developed range of texture at 0:54 when Keys hits her signature treble notes. While these buds maintain clarity across all genres, nothing feels exciting or exceptional.

Expert Panel Sound Quality Ratings
ProductBassMid-RangeTreble
Best8.79.08.7
Average6.77.16.8
Google Pixel Buds A-Series6.35.56.5
Worst2.03.53.0

Soundstage


Earbuds give us a sense of where music is situated in a three-dimensional space, a feature that's known as their soundstage. Earbuds with the most advanced tech feel like they originate from the world beyond your ears — this is known as a soundstage.

Soundstage Ratings
ProductSoundstage Rating
Best10.0
Average7.4
Google Pixel Buds A-Series7.0
Worst4.0

These earbuds fit and seal well inside your ear, which improves the overall sound. Despite their solid fit, the experience doesn't feel as engaging as we'd hoped. With these buds, you're still aware of your surroundings, which keeps you from escaping into the music. Their soundstage is decent, with some dimension and space, but these earbuds are not a top pick for those looking for an immersive listening experience.

We then tested the sound quality of the Google Pixel Buds A-Series by setting them up in our testing rig and playing a range of frequencies through them, measuring their frequency response. We then compared that data to our GearLab House Curve and scored them based on how closely they followed it. The Pixel Buds A-Series did not shine in this test, and only managed to match up with our preference curve around the high mids — other than that, it deviated quite a bit, especially in the treble and lower bass ranges. All told, the overall listening experience of the Pixel Buds A-Series is fine but not exceptional or exciting.


User Experience


We tested our general experience of the Google Pixel Buds A-Series by first feeling how they fit across a myriad of differing ear shapes. Then, we tested their stability during physical activity, and finally, we scored their app function, customizability, and overall ease of use.

User Experience Ratings
ProductComfortStabilityCustomization
Best10.010.07.5
Google Pixel Buds A-Series8.08.06.0
Average7.375.2
Worst5.04.00.0

Comfort


The Pixel Buds A-Series were very lightweight and unobtrusive for all ear sizes and shapes that we tested. Overall, we found that these earbuds could be enjoyed for hours in any ear shape without noticing them, which is all you can ask for when trying to find that Goldilocks fit.

google pixel buds a-series - by adjusting ear tip and wing sizes you can find your goldilocks fit.
By adjusting ear tip and wing sizes you can find your Goldilocks fit.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Stability


They also passed our activity test with flying colors, staying very well seated and comfortable during mountain bike rides and even handstands. Rest assured, these are great earbuds if physical activity is a top priority for you.

The charging case is also small and unobtrusive, allowing it to be tucked away in a pocket.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Customization


While these earbuds will pair with an Apple device seamlessly via Bluetooth, you need an Android device in order to change any settings, making them hard to recommend for any Apple users. The Android app does have some customizability, allowing for bass eq adjustment, but no other frequency band can be customized. Overall, the Pixel Buds A-Series provides a decent, comfortable experience for the Android user who doesn't need top-of-the-line performance from their earbuds.

Keep in mind that changing settings is an Android device-only feature.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Connectivity


Fresh out of the box, we found that pairing the Pixel Buds A-Series is easy, even with an iPhone (although you do lose out on some adjustability features mentioned below if you're not using an Android). However, we experienced some weirdness while casually listening. We had a few intermittent connection issues, where sound would drop in and out, but we could not reproduce it at will, and thus, the buds lost a few points here. To augment our in-house testing, we also gathered feedback from 1-star Amazon user reviews, keeping track of any that had negative feedback about connectivity. In our analysis, the A-Series earbuds had an issue rate of 0.55%, which is less than average, so you might have better luck than us, especially if you are on an Android operating system.

Reported Connectivity Issues
ProductPercent Cited
Worst3.83
Average1.3
Google Pixel Buds A-Series0.55
Best0.1
We found rates of connectivity issues based on information we gathered from 1-star Amazon user reviews. The Google Pixel Buds A-Series showed a lower ratio of negative feedback compared to other earbuds we tested (analysis conducted 7/23/24).

Noise Cancellation


The Google Pixel Buds A-Series do not have active noise cancellation (ANC), but we ran them through our noise cancelling tests anyway to see how well they can passively block out background noise. We set them up securely in our testing rig, played various background noises, and measured how much of that noise bled through.


As expected, these buds don't block out much no matter how well they're sealed in an ear, making them not a great option if you plan on using them in busy environments.


In our listening tests, we had to crank the buds up quite high to abate any background noise, and even then, we weren't able to completely stop the noise bleed. The takeaway here is that these buds are not for noisy environments, and if you plan on using them at home or in quieter environments, they perform ok.

We used our testing rig to measure how much sound bled past the earbuds passively (these buds do not have ANC).
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Battery Life


To test the battery life of the Google Pixel Buds A-Series, we set them to a control volume (the decibel level we set all our earbuds to for this test) and let them play until they died. Their performance was pretty lackluster overall, but on par with other wireless earbuds at this price point.


The manufacturer claims the Pixel Buds A-Series can last up to 5 hours, and we saw a max playback of 4 hours and 30 minutes in our testing. Notably, you can charge these buds up to four times via their case before the case will need charging, netting you a total of 18 hours of (interrupted) playback. These do not have wireless charging, but you can throw them in the case for a 15-minute quick charge to net you 3 hours of playback time. Overall, if you don't plan on using these for extended periods, they're an ok option for the price.

google pixel buds a-series - a 15-minute quick charge gets you three more hours of playback.
A 15-minute quick charge gets you three more hours of playback.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Call Quality


We stress tested the Google Pixel Buds A-Series call quality ability by setting them up in our testing rig and playing a variety of increasingly intense background noises while recording their microphone.

Call Quality Ratings
ProductSubwayOfficeBaseline
Best9.09.09.5
Google Pixel Buds A-Series6.08.09.0
Average6.77.98.2
Worst2.05.07.0

Under the stress of Subway noise, the microphone struggled a bit, especially with higher-pitched voices, cutting in and out. That said, many calls with other earbuds on the Subway were unintelligible, and these are far better in comparison.

The female voice is harder to hear in this test.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

In an office setting, both voices sound clear. We could hear a bit of typing, but the rest of the background noise is harder to hear.

We could comfortably make calls from the office with the Google Pixel A-Series.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

In a quiet room, the Google Pixel Buds A-Series sounded clear with little to no distortion.

Our Google Pixel A-Series call without background sound.

Ultimately, these earbuds isolate voices well, and we wouldn't deter you from purchasing them based on their call quality, but there are better options if you need crystal clear calls in loud places.

Should You Buy the Google Pixel Buds A-Series?


The word “average” sums up the Google Pixel Buds A-Series well. For an affordable price, these earbuds perform decently across the board. If you're locked into the Android ecosystem and want comfortable earbuds, ok sound, and you don't plan on using them in noisy environments, these are an decent option. These are for the Android user who doesn't want to pay a premium for high-tech features and isn't fussy when it comes to their earbuds.

google pixel buds a-series - a decent overall package for the android user.
A decent overall package for the Android user.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

What Other Earbuds Should You Consider?


At this price point, the obvious Apple competitors are the Apple AirPods 2 and the Apple AirPods 3, which have worse scores (at higher prices) than the Pixel Bud A-Series but function well within the Apple ecosystem. Apple users may still find the Pixel Buds to be a better overall option here. The most direct competition with the Pixel Buds A-Series are the Jaybird Vista 2 buds, which have notably better sound quality and battery life but perform similarly and are nearly the same price.

google pixel buds a-series - these low-profile buds are an ok option at this price point.
These low-profile buds are an ok option at this price point.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Graham Faulknor, Genaveve Bradshaw, and Alex Hocevar-Smith