The Pixel Buds 2 (left) have a metal nozzle, an extra sensor and three charging pins instead of two, compared to Pixel Buds A (right).
David Carnoy/CNETIt's a battle of the buds: Google's new Pixel Buds A are now available for preorder at just $99, offering a more affordable wireless headphone option for Android users compared to last year's Pixel Buds 2. But the lower price point comes at a cost: The Pixel Buds A lose features that some users may not be happy about.
Pixel Buds 2, which originally sold for $179 but are now available for less, feature wireless charging and the ability to swipe on the earbud for volume control. The Pixel Buds A, meanwhile, only offer USB-C charging and lack the volume swipe controls -- instead, you need to use adjust volume on the device you're streaming from or ask Google Assistant to do it for you. The A-Series also doesn't include the Buds 2's Attention Alerts feature, which can detect ambient sounds like a baby crying or a dog barking and alert you while you're wearing the buds.
In our testing, the sound quality appeared to be the same across both sets. The Buds A are also about 20% lighter than the Buds 2 across the earbuds and the carrying case.
Here's how the Pixel Buds A compare to the Pixel Buds 2 in terms of specs.
Pixel Buds A-Series vs. Pixel Buds 2
|
|
Pixel Buds A-Series | Pixel Buds 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 | $179 |
| Colors | clearly white, dark olive | clearly white, almost black, quite mint, oh so orange |
| Weight | 0.18 ounces | 0.19 ounces |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C, wireless charging |
| Battery life (between in-case charges) | up to five hours | up to five hours |
| Active noise cancellation | no | no |
| Passive noise reduction | yes | yes |
| Wind reduction | no | yes |
| Adaptive sound | yes | yes |
| Attention alerts | no | yes |
| Sweat and water resistant | yes | yes |
| Swipe for volume control | no | yes |
| In-ear detection | yes | yes |
| Google Assistant | yes | yes |
