Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police
By
Ben Khalesi
Published 4 minutes ago
Ben Khalesi covers the intersection of artificial intelligence and everyday tech at Android Police. With a background in AI and data science, he enjoys making technical topics approachable for those who don’t live and breathe code. Ben is currently based in Sydney and has four years of professional writing experience across technology and digital industries. Outside work, he enjoys traveling, bouldering, and playing the latest AAA games.
Sign in to your Android Police account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recapWhen Google brought back its budget-friendly A-Series earbuds, everyone assumed they’d stick to the same sharp pricing that made the originals so easy to recommend.
The Google Pixel Buds 2a landed in October 2025 with a new design, ANC, and the Tensor A1 chip. On paper, it all looks like a decent step-up. But after a few weeks of using them every day, the Pixel Buds 2a are heading back to the Google Store.
At $130, they fall into classic middle-child territory.
They are too pricey to count as a true budget pick, but not good enough to hold their own against the discounted premium options around them, and the day-to-day use is full of compromises Google really should’ve sorted out by now.
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Why I'd choose the Pixel Buds Pro 2 over the 2a again and again
Sometimes there's value in value, but not this time
Posts By Mark Jansen Sep 15, 2025The Pixel Buds 2a’s awkward spot in the market
The original A-Series earbuds nailed the budget formula at $99. They didn’t try to punch above their weight. They were reliable, good enough, and an entry into Google’s ecosystem.
The Pixel Buds 2a walk into a more competitive market, retailing at $130. The higher price tag, even with ANC added, ends up hurting the 2a’s core value.
At triple digits, Google pushes the 2a into a bracket against rivals such as Nothing Ear (a) and Samsung Galaxy Buds3 FE with better hardware and lower prices. This price jump was a misread of the market.
At $130, Google is betting that its brand name and the Tensor A1 chip can carry the product. That only works if shoppers ignore the weak points, and in today’s economy, they don’t.
Another nail in the 2a’s coffin is Google’s own pricing. With Black Friday 2025 just around the corner, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are going for about $170.
The 2a dropped to roughly $100, but the Pro 2 is a much better deal thanks to stronger ANC with Silent Seal 2.0, wireless charging, and longer battery life.
Anyone thinking long-term should pick the Pro 2 without hesitation.
Comfort issues hold back the Pixel Buds 2a
Comfort is everything when you’re wearing earbuds all day. The 2a’s twist-to-adjust stabilizer fin is definitely an improvement over the last generation.
However, it still locks into your ear’s concha with constant pressure, which can get uncomfortable after a while, and I’m still not a fan. Comfort is subjective here.
Google went with a shallow fit here. The nozzle doesn’t go deep into your ear canal. This fit feels great at first since it avoids that plugged-up or underwater feeling you often get with deeper earbuds.
That said, this shallow fit brings its own issues. Passive noise isolation suffers, making it less effective at blocking outside noise.
Since the ANC technology in these uses Silent Seal 1.5, which isn’t as powerful as the Pro 2’s system, you’re forced to tighten the stabilizer fin to create a better seal.
This results in constant pressure that can get quite uncomfortable over extended listening sessions.
Pixel Buds 2a ANC doesn’t meet expectations
ANC is the big selling point Google uses to justify the higher price, but the way it’s done in the 2a feels more like a strategy to upsell customers to the Pro series. The 2a uses Silent Seal 1.5, which is a step-down from the Pro 2’s Silent Seal 2.0.
With a good seal, 2a’s ANC does a decent job blocking steady, low-frequency sounds like the hum of a train or a far-off air conditioner. Where the ANC really lets the 2a down is with high-frequency noise.
The shallow fit weakens passive isolation, so the active cancellation often gets overwhelmed by sudden sounds like conversations, café noise, or keyboard clicks.
If you need reliable noise-canceling in busy environments, the 2a doesn’t deliver the full experience. It’s more basic noise reduction, which doesn’t quite cut it at this price.
Skipping Qi wireless charging hurts the Pixel Buds 2a value
Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police | mundissima / Shutterstock
The missing Qi wireless charging is probably the easiest feature gap to call out at this price. The Pixel Buds 2a case doesn’t support it, and that’s no accident. It’s yet another way for Google to segment the lineup and encourage upgrades to pricier models.
So when you consider Google’s push for a seamless wireless ecosystem — think Pixel phones, Pixel Stands, and Qi mats — forcing users to plug in with USB-C feels like a step in the wrong direction.
Without swipe volume control, Pixel Buds 2a fall short
What frustrates me most about the Pixel Buds 2a is the control setup. They only use capacitive tap sensors and skip the swipe gesture for volume control that the Pro series offers.
When you want to adjust the volume, you often have to grab your phone or smartwatch. Voice commands are an option if you don’t mind people giving you weird looks.
What should make your life easier actually ends up being a pain, forcing you to grab another device. That’s especially annoying since many competitors include volume controls directly on their earbuds at this price.
Google’s branding inflates the Pixel Buds 2a value
Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police
Google packed the 2a with custom 11mm drivers and the high-end Tensor A1 chip, promising advanced sound processing. But in reality, the audio quality doesn’t quite live up to the price, and the AI features are unnecessary.
The Tensor A1 chip helps with fast processing for low-latency audio and ANC, but it doesn’t make listening all that special. You’ll likely enjoy the Pixel Buds 2a for casual listening, but if you’re picky about sounding like me, you might notice some issues.
They boost bass and low mids for warmth, but the upper mids and highs can be uneven, making vocals and instruments sound muddy, while cymbals and other highs sometimes feel sharp or piercing.
Combine this with the missing support for codecs like LDAC or aptX, and the overall audio is not that impressive.
What you’re really paying for is the so-called Google Tax. Google really pushes the hands-free Gemini assistant, promising it can help you with emails, directions, or even brainstorming.
But honestly, you’ll often find it faster and less frustrating to just grab your phone and tap the screen instead. Google’s big marketing push around Gemini barely adds real value. Meanwhile, core hardware problems like no Qi charging go mostly ignored.
Skip Pixel Buds 2a and either buy up or buy down
If you’re shopping for the best true wireless earbuds in November 2025, skip the Pixel Buds 2a. If you’re in the Pixel ecosystem, upgrade to the Pixel Buds Pro 2 at the discounted price of about $170.
That small extra cost gets you far better noise cancellation, handy volume swipe controls, and more battery life. For those looking to get the most bang for their buck, the Pixel Buds 2a don’t quite cut it.
Right now, you can get the Nothing Ear (a) for close to $60, which comes with LDAC high-res audio support, ANC, and over twice the battery life.
The Pixel Buds 2a constantly forced compromises throughout the day. I’ll be sending them back to the Google Store this week. They’re just not the right fit for my ears or the 2025 TWS market.
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Source: Nothing Ear (a)
Nothing Ear (a)
Battery Life
10 hours (buds), 42.5 hours (case)
Microphones
3 per bud
Supported codecs
AAC, SBC, LDAC
Bluetooth
Yes
Price
$99
IP Rating
IP54 (buds), IPX2 (case)
$99 at Amazon
$99 at Nothing
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Source: Google
Like
Follow
Followed
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2
Battery Life
8 hours with ANC (30 hours with case)
Noise Cancellation
Yes, active
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.4
Microphones
Yes
IP rating
IP54 (Earbuds), IPX4 (Case)
Supported codecs
AAC, SBC
The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 features an enhanced design, new audio drivers, and new AI features.
$230 at Amazon $230 at Best Buy Expand Collapse
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