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13th Jun 2021

Tech Corner: Google gambled with the Pixel Buds A-Series, but it paid off

Alan Loughnane

Pixel Buds A-Series

The under €100 earbuds market just got another serious applicant.

Google has launched their new budget-friendly earbuds, the the Pixel Buds A-Series. It should be noted that when we say budget-friendly, we mean they cost less than €100.

Now, name aside – because they do sound like a complicated car or light aircraft – there’s a lot to like about Pixel Buds A-Series.

So what has changed from last year’s Pixel Buds 2? They feature the same likable design as the Pixel Buds 2, with the integrated sport fin and relatively discrete look. They offer balanced, detailed sound and they have really good call quality.

The differences are not instantly apparent, but a deeper gaze will reveal that Google is making a budget play with the A-Series and the only real way to do that is to get rid of some of the high-end features the company thinks people are willing to go without.

There’s no noise cancelling, and there’s no swipe controls for volume which would have been a nice addition but by no means a dealbreaker.

In terms of audio, and I’ve by no means a well-trained ear on these things, but they sound the same as the Pixel Buds 2 – or at least very close to them anyway.

Sound quality is one of the most objective parts of earbuds reviews, but for me, the A-Series hits the bass nicely and vocals were crisp and clear. Overall, the sound is impressive at this price point.

The biggest plus is the seamless integration with Android which combined with the €99 price tag makes them very appealing.

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