Google’s Pixel Buds A-Series: Affordable Audio Power
Excellent in-ear audio doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg
After years of testing and wearing of different Bluetooth earbuds, I’ve come to the conclusion that the best ones are those that you forget about. You hear the sounds but the hardware that produces them fades into the background.
Apple’s well-crafted and snuggly fitting $249 AirPods Pro fit that description, as does the much more affordable Google Pixel Buds A-Series. Granted, Google’s in-ear earbuds are not entirely on the same innovation plane as Apple’s in-ear leaders. The case doesn’t offer wireless charging and the buds lack noise cancelling and spatial audio. These are reasonable concessions for audio hardware that, at $99, is significantly cheaper than AirPods Pros and the original AirPods.
The look
At this point, there’s not much anyone can do to differentiate their Bluetooth earbuds case. Like most, Google Pixel Buds A-Series looks like a dental floss case. Unlike some, it has a matte finish with a wonderful, smooth feel. There’s a USB-C charging port on the bottom and a button on the back to commence Bluetooth pairing. As I noted above, there’s no wireless charging but the case does have one nifty hidden feature: It’s magnetic. I noticed this by accident when I…
