It’s been a long time since we’ve had an update to the Pixel Buds A-series, but the new Google Pixel Buds 2a earbuds come with upgrades that are actually useful, such as the addition of active noise cancellation (ANC), multipoint connectivity and better sound thanks to an upgraded acoustic design.
Smaller and more comfortable
Design-wise, there’s very little change. Folks familar with how Pixel Buds look like will recognise them immediately. The case itself is shorter and wider, making it nicer to hold in the hand. There’s a pairing button on the rear, and a USB-C port for charging at the bottom.
Fits securely in the ear thanks to the stabiliser fin.
The earbuds feature a twist-to-adjust ear tips similar to that which we’ve seen on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, and it works well at securing the buds when worn. While they are also smaller than before, Google has managed to improve battery life up to 7 hours in the earbuds with ANC on, and a total of 20 hours when including the case.
There’s still no wireless charging for the case, so you’ll have to plug in a cable to charge.
Replaceable batteries... just not by you
The replaceable battery for the charging is a major step forward, on paper. In reality, having to buy the battery replacement makes it hard to appreciate the easy-replace feature.
You’ll need a Torx screwdriver to open the case up.
We tried removing the battery by ourselves, and it was a simple process. All you need is a Torx screwdriver, and the fingers to remove the inner charging slot. Once you unscrew the two screws in the cavity, you get a pull tab that lets you pull out the battery. Once you chuck in a new battery, you do the steps in reverse to put the case together again.
The whole process was incredibly fuss-free, and we thought it was excellent.
Here’s the catch. When we reached out to Google to ask if replacement batteries are available for general retail and purchase, we were informed that Google only provides “replacement for devices under warranty instead of selling them directly”. This was also verified by checking the official Google Store online, which did not have a standalone product listing of the Pixel Buds 2a’s battery.
Pull the green tab to get to the battery
So, that means the batteries are replaceable... but Google will be the ones doing it. Not you. The user still has to send the Pixel Buds 2a in to get the battery replaced. That’s less of a concern if you are happy to risk a replacement with a third-party alternatives, but we do not recommend gambling on batteries for the average consumer.
While we are no strangers to sending devices in for repairs and replacements. Google’s own support page is contrary to the instructions we received: online, the Pixel Buds 2a are supposedly capable of “allowing you to swap out the battery at home”. For Singapore users, that’s probably only true if your home is inside Google’s HQ or its authorised service centres.
The good news is the earbuds’ battery life is excellent. While it does depend on how loud you listen to audio, we got nearly 9 hours of playback with ANC turned on and the volume set at around 35-40% (around 60-70dB according to the Hearing Wellness feature).
ANC, multipoint and more
It’s not just hardware that’s been improved. The Pixel Buds 2a earbuds receive several software-related upgrades. ANC feels effective and could easily dampen low-pitched rumbles, like commuting noises. It’s not as good when trying to block out stronger wind noise, but Pixel Buds 2a still keeps that under control.
The microphones performed as we’d expect. You can use them for voice calls in a pinch, but your voice won’t sound quite as full as it should. However, you should try to take calls indoors or in quiet environments; some background and wind noise still gets through even with Google’s Clear Calling feature enabled.
Multipoint is turned off by default, which you can enable in the Settings. Connectivity is rock solid, with no issues even with 2 standard concrete walls and 10m distance between the earbuds and phone.
You’ll need a Pixel device to get spatial audio.
Pixel phone users also get support for spatial audio. However, it’s just stereo Spatial Audio with no head tracking, since the Pixel Buds 2a lack a gyroscope and accelerometer.
Since it uses the same Tensor A1 chip as the Pixel Buds 2 Pro, the Pixel Buds 2a are able to run Google’s AI and Gemini features. This means you can use the Gemini voice assistant (and Gemini Live) without having to pull out your phone.
Improved audio
Google Pixel Buds 2a in Iris.
Sound quality is definitely improved over the original Pixel Buds A-series, with better detail retrieval and a slight boost in the bass and treble thanks to the new 11mm dynamic driver. There’s plenty of heft in the guitar lines in songs like Yellowcard’s Ocean Avenue. The bassline and lower registers are impactful and thumpy, particularly in songs like Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy and The Weeknd’s Save Your Tears.
For a pair of S$199 earbuds, the instrument separation and spatial imaging are decent. The crowd noise in the live recordings of Eagles’ Hotel California and John Mayer’s Gravity are accurately positioned, but the soundstage overall still feels a little tight. Vocals are presented well, with good tonality and detail, but the treble does feel a little lacking in sparkle and energy.
Overall, Pixel Buds 2a confer an enjoyable listening experience. It’s nothing like the high-end earbuds we’re used to having, since we felt these earbuds could benefit from a bit more smoothness and clarity. However, that’d be nitpicking on a S$199 pair of earbuds.
Conclusion
Google Pixel Buds 2a in Iris.
For affordable midrange personal audio like the Google Pixel Buds 2a, a longer period between each release actually serves it well. The upgrades feel significant while benefiting from lower prices. Yes, it saw a S$50 price increase, but it can be somewhat justified thanks to the addition of ANC, multipoint connectivity, better sound quality and improved battery life.
Other smaller upgrades, like spatial audio, are locked behind needing a Pixel phone. That’s a relatively small quibble since other brands like Apple and Samsung do the same thing with their own ecosystems. If you really wanted spatial audio, it’s more likely you’d buy earbuds from a matching brand, and not from others.
The replaceable case battery would have made the Pixel Buds 2a stand out, as replaceable batteries in devices are now a novelty when they used to be an expected feature. Unfortunately, Google isn’t selling those batteries to consumers in Singapore, which defeats the purpose of having them so easy to swap out. We can only hope Google would change its mind.
Availability and pricing
Google Pixel Buds 2a in Iris.
The new Google Pixel Buds 2a retails at S$199 and comes in the Iris and Hazel colourways. They are available online at the Google Store, Amazon SG, Best Denki, Courts, Harvey Norman, Singtel, Shopee, Lazada and Metapod. They can also be purchased offline at Best Denki, Courts, Harvey Norman, Singtel and Metapod.