When Google announced the Pixel Buds 2A, I was curious whether they could close the gap between budget models and premium earbuds. I tested them for several days, using them for commutes, calls, workouts, and general daily listening. My goal was to see whether the 2A could deliver enough performance to justify buying them instead of stepping up to higher-end rivals.
Design & Build
Putting the Google Pixel Buds 2a into my ears felt light and secure right away. Each bud weighs little, and the “twist-to-adjust” stabilizer (borrowed from Google’s Pro line), lets you lock them in or relax the fit depending on activity. In practice, twisting them a quarter-turn gives a snug seal during walking or light exercise, but I found I sometimes needed to readjust after extended wear.
The case is compact and palm-friendly. It’s a bit more modest in finish than flagship models, but it’s practical. The charging case uses USB-C and is replaceable, which is a small but meaningful step toward longer-term usability. From a tactile view, opening and closing the case feels crisp and the magnets are strong enough to keep the lid secure without being fussy.
Fit and comfort were good overall. I didn’t feel pressure fatigue even after a few hours. One subtle quirk: the stabilizer’s plastic feels slightly springy, and if you twist too aggressively it can shift unexpectedly. Also, while in my ear the buds stayed put during walking or commuting, I wasn’t confident pushing them through heavy workouts or running.
Performance & Features
The audio is clear and balanced for most genres. Mids and vocals shine. The bass is adequate but not deep or heavy. On tracks with dense instrumentation, I occasionally noticed a lack of fullness in the lower end. That said, for podcasts, pop, and most daily listening, it was lively and engaging.
With Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on, ambient bus or office noise recedes noticeably. It doesn’t rival the absolute best from Sony or Bose, but for $129, it’s impressively effective. In quieter environments, I sometimes detected a mild hiss in silent moments, but it faded once music played. If suddenly loud noises (sirens, horns) hit, the reduction is present but not complete.
The transparency / ambient mode works well enough to hear traffic or announcements. It doesn’t flatten sound; voices still feel natural and the sense of outside awareness is decent.
Features & Connectivity
Inside the buds is Google’s Tensor A1 chip, which helps power ANC, fast processing, and some AI features. The 2A supports spatial audio (though without head tracking) and multipoint connectivity to quickly switch between devices. It also pairs seamlessly with Pixel and many Android phones via Fast Pair.
I tested call quality and found it solid in moderate noise (room, office). On windy streets it struggled a bit, but not worse than others at this price. The IR sensor automatically pauses when you remove one bud, which worked reliably.
One notable omission is wireless charging. If you’re used to dropping your case onto a mat, you’ll miss that. Also, a few premium features, like conversation detection (auto switching to ambient mode when detecting speech), aren’t present.
On non-Pixel devices or iPhones, many smart features (voice responses, deep integration) are limited. The experience is functional but stripped down.
Battery / Longevity / Software
Google claims 7 hours of listening with ANC on, and 10 hours with it off. The case offers 20 additional hours (ANC on) or up to 27 total (ANC off). Early in my testing, those numbers held up closely. I got about 6½–7 hours with ANC enabled, and topping off from the case let me stretch usage across a full workday.
Charging is responsive, 5 minutes in the case yields around an hour of playtime. Because the case’s battery is replaceable, long-term viability is better than with sealed units.
Software integration is decent. Updates rolled easily, and toggling ANC / ambient / off modes felt seamless in the companion app (on Android). However, I encountered minor hiccups switching between devices mid-listening—occasionally a lag before reconnecting.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Real Active Noise Cancellation at this price
- Comfortable, light fit with twist-lock stabilizer
- Strong daily battery life and fast partial charging
- Replaceable case battery (rare in this segment)
- Solid integration with Pixel / Android environments
Cons
- No wireless charging
- Bass and depth lag behind premium rivals
- Premium features limited or absent on non-Pixel devices
- Occasional reconnection lag between devices
- Not ideal for strenuous workouts, fit shifts under heavy motion
Verdict
The Pixel Buds 2A deliver more than I expected at their price point. They bring meaningful upgrades (ANC, better battery, smart chip) while retaining comfort and usability. They don’t match premium flagship models in bass depth or advanced features, and cross-platform functionality is limited. But for someone entrenched in Android or Pixel, they offer excellent value. I’d recommend them if you want a solid, future-ready pair of earbuds without stretching into flagship prices.
Overall Score: 8.4 out of 10
