Google Pixel Buds 2a evaluate: low-cost earbuds that do not maintain up towards the competitors

Google Pixel Buds 2a: Two-minute evaluate

Google’s audio division has had one thing of a tricky go of it – our checklist of the most effective earbuds appears far, far out of attain, with buds (or Buds) after buds that fail to impress. After the model netted solely three stars in our Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 evaluate, and once more solely three stars from the Google Pixel Buds A, it’s lastly managed to launch a pair of true wi-fi earbuds that aren’t disappointing… if solely as a result of our expectations had been fairly low.

The Google Pixel Buds 2a are a extra reasonably priced different to the Professional 2, and a major improve on the unique A-series buds, bringing options which – if we’re being sincere – the earlier buds actually ought to have already got supplied. Nonetheless, although Google has managed to make a pair of earbuds which might be lastly fairly OK, the corporate hasn’t managed to make buds which might be particularly aggressive within the grand scheme of issues.

Let’s begin with a constructive: just like the previous Pixel Buds, these are good light-weight earbuds that don’t weigh your ears or your pocket down. The match isn’t dependable although, partly as a result of stem-less earbuds don’t lend themselves effectively to stability, partly as a result of the tip materials doesn’t provide a lot friction and partly as a result of Google’s eartip match take a look at invariably did not work.

Upgrades over the Pixel Buds A deliver the 2a up to the mark with business tendencies: they’ve noise cancellation lastly, and a greatly-improved battery life than the 1a’s embarrassing determine. However the characteristic checklist remains to be svelte: the EQ doesn’t provide a lot management over your sound, you possibly can’t management your music from the buds, and the ANC may be very light-touch.

The sound high quality is, for lack of a greater phrase, sloppy. The tuning is simply everywhere, with audio elements tripping over themselves and frequent peaking. Particular person strains might be detailed and clear however they don’t sit collectively effectively in any respect; an orchestra of the world’s finest musicians can nonetheless sound poor if led by a hapless conductor.

I’m used to mid-range earbuds sounding low-cost and cheerful, typically sacrificing audio precision and readability for a enjoyable, energetic or distinguished sound. Google has seemingly determined to go the opposite method, and has in doing so, learnt why not one of the different producers did so.

On the finish of the day, myriad tweaks and enhancements over Google’s lackluster earlier choices make these barely simpler to suggest, however they nonetheless pale compared to many different choices accessible. That’s nonetheless true, simply to a lesser diploma, in case you handle to select them up for a reduced value. All that being stated, in case you’re supplied them as a pre-order or bundle bundle with a Google Pixel cellphone, you might do worse.

Google Pixel Buds 2a at Amazon for $99

Google Pixel Buds 2a evaluate: Value and launch date

Introduced and launched on August 20, 2025Launched for $129.99 / £129 / AU$239Seen reductions since launch

The Google Pixel Buds 2a had been introduced on August 20, 2025, virtually two years to the day after the discharge of the Buds Professional 2.

You should purchase the buds for $129.99 / £129 / AU$239, though they’re the sort of buds that you simply’re simply as more likely to obtain as a bundle or pre-order reward for one thing just like the Google Pixel 10.

That’s a mid-range value, larger than the $99 / £99.99 (round AU$130) first-gen A-series buds, however extra reasonably priced than the $229 / £219 / AU$379 unique asking value of the Buds Professional 2 (in concept – they’ve dropped in value fairly a bit since their 2024 launch).

It’s additionally, sadly for Google, a value which places the buds slap-bang in the course of a very aggressive value level. The buds don’t have a lot to endear them towards the competitors… besides maybe value cuts, as I simply discovered them for $99 / £99 / AU$198 simply months after testing (no, not on Black Friday, throughout a interval devoid of gross sales).

Google Pixel Buds 2a evaluate: Specs

Google Pixel Buds 2a evaluate: Options

ANC is right here, however it’s subtle7/20 hour battery life (ANC on)Not all the options work effectively

A brand new addition Google has granted the Pixel Buds 2a, over their predecessors not less than, is the introduction of Lively Noise Cancellation or ANC. Now, your buds will detect sounds round you and strip them out as a lot as doable. Higher late than by no means, I suppose.

The ANC right here is nothing to put in writing house about. It’s current, eradicating among the main annoyances from environmental or close by sounds, however there are many different earbuds (even at this value level) that do a greater job of maintaining issues quiet. The ambient mode is a bit higher; this characteristic permits choose noises to bypass ANC, so you possibly can hear folks speaking to you or vital beepings (time to unpack the dishwasher). This mode tends to be hit-or-miss at what it permits by way of, however I discovered few faults when testing the Buds 2a.

When it comes to battery life, the buds hit the common I count on from in-ear buds: 7 hours of listening with ANC on or 10 hours with it turned off, with my very own listening matching Google’s predictions. That’s high quality, however a pleasant improve from earlier Google buds with their lacklustre lives. The charging case brings the overall to twenty or 27 hours respectively, which is maybe a bit decrease than on most rival buds I’ve examined, however sufficient for a number of full recharges.

Like all good earbuds (learn: all earbuds), there’s a cellphone app you should use to get some additional performance. It’s referred to as Pixel Buds, though you don’t want it to hearken to music in case you don’t need it. I wouldn’t blame you both; I spent the primary week of my testing time with out it, and after I finally put in it, it didn’t actually change the expertise.

You should utilize the app to toggle ANC mode, flip contact controls on or off (however not change what they do; toggling ANC or awakening Gemini are the one two choices), discover your buds in case you’ve misplaced them, replace the buds’ firmware, arrange multi-point connection and switch in-ear play detection on and off. To date, the usual array of options.

Pixel Buds gives an equalizer, with a five-band {custom} mode or a small vary of presets. It’s a point of management over your sound, however not a nuanced one. This selection additionally gives an eartip seal test, so you possibly can determine which dimension of eartip to make use of, however I attempted this about 10 occasions over the course of every week and never as soon as did it work efficiently. Each single time, it informed me it failed, and that I wanted to be someplace quiet – even when I used to be house alone in the course of the evening. One time, within the wee hours, I even held my breath so my respiration wouldn’t disrupt it. It nonetheless failed.

There’s one characteristic I do like: there’s a listening to wellness take a look at, which is helpful for individuals who fear they’re listening to music too loud, because it tells you your music quantity in dB. Even in case you don’t take into consideration that sort of factor, it’s helpful to know, simply in case you might be damaging your ears unknowingly.

Google Pixel Buds 2a evaluate: Design

Light-weight budsProblems with fitTwo colour choices, IP54

The Google Pixel Buds 2a are among the smallest earbuds I’ve ever examined. They’re in-ear buds with no stem, weighing 4.7g every, and it’s straightforward to overlook they’re in your ear if you’re listening to music.

That’s, once they keep in. Regardless of the small fin to assist the buds wedge in your ear, I discovered the match a bit unreliable, and so they’d typically slip after I was strolling or working. In concept the earbud match take a look at ought to assist me make sure that isn’t the case, however you’ve already examine how effectively it labored out.

There are contact controls in case you press and maintain the buds, and so they’re straightforward sufficient to set off, however they will solely be mapped to toggle ANC or allow your good assistant. You may’t play or pause your music, toggle the quantity or, from what Google’s app suggests, reply a name. These are all basic capabilities of different buds’ gesture controls, and I merely can’t perceive why they’re not in place right here.

The pebble-shaped case is small and light-weight too, weighing 47.6g. It’s a no-fuss case and it’s straightforward to take away the buds, although returning them isn’t all the time as easy: it’s pretty straightforward to place the flawed bud in every ingress, and solely realise your mistake when the case doesn’t shut absolutely.