Google has announced its cheaper alternative to the Pixel Buds, the Pixel Buds A-Series. With its latest wireless earbuds, the company aims to bring the "same premium sound quality" and Google Assistant integration at a lower and more affordable price tag.
To reach the lower price tag, Google has cut some corners, but it has not compromised on the sound quality.
Tuned Sound Quality for "Natural Sound" Output
The Pixel Buds A-Series features custom-designed 12mm dynamic speaker drivers, which Google has tuned to "deliver full, clear and natural sound." For bass junkies, there's also a Bass Boost mode for added bass effect.
While the Pixel Buds A-Series misses out on active noise cancellation, which is understandable given their price tag, they offer a tight and secure seal to passively block as much noise as possible.
To ensure the earbuds don't feel uncomfortable when one wears them for a long time, Google has added a spatial vent to reduce the in-ear pressure. For a comfortable and secure fit, the Pixel Buds A-Series features a shark fin-designed stabilizer arc. The earbuds are IPX4 sweat and water-resistant, so you can wear them even if it's raining or while working out.
As Google notes in its announcement on The Keyword, the Pixel Buds A-Series has Adaptive Sound, which automatically adjusts the volume depending on the surrounding noise. So, if you are running and cross a loud construction site, the Pixel Buds A-Series will automatically increase their volume level to compensate for the loud noise.
The Pixel Buds A-Series uses beamforming mics to focus on your voice while on a call to ensure crystal clear voice quality. This also ensures that the ambient noise does not affect your voice quality negatively.
Google Has Cut Corners to Reach the Lower Price Tag
As for battery life, Google claims the Pixel Buds A-Series provides up to five hours of listening time on a single charge. This can be further extended by up to 24 hours using the bundled case.
The wireless earbuds also support quick charging, so a 15-minute charge will be enough to provide three hours of additional listening time. There's no wireless charging here, so you will have to use the USB-C port on the carrying case to charge the earbuds.
The Pixel Buds A-Series also misses out on swipe gestures as seen on the Pixel Buds, though they do feature tap controls.
The Pixel Buds A-Series feature hands-free Google Assistant integration. This means you will be able to trigger Google Assistant with a simple "Hey Google" command without having to press any button.
Using Google Assistant, you can adjust the volume, control the music playback, read your unread notifications, and more all through your voice. What's even more impressive is that the Pixel Buds A-Series can offer real-time translation in 40 different languages.
Google Pixel Buds A-Series Colors, Price, and Availability
Google will be offering the Pixel Buds A-Series in Clearly White and Dark Olive colors. The Clearly White color comes with gray undertones for an added "twist."
The Google Pixel Buds A-Series is already available to pre-order for customers in the US for $99 and in Canada for $139. For comparison, the Google Pixel Buds retail for $179 in the US.
The earbuds will start shipping starting June 17. Google will further expand the availability of the Pixel Buds A-Series in the coming months.