When Google launched its budget-friendly A-series earbuds back in 2021, Mashable’s reviewer had a hard time thinking of earbuds that offered better value for what you get. Now, Google has revealed the Pixel Buds 2a, which arrive with the affordable price tag of $129.99. The new buds were announced ahead of the Made By Google event, where the company also unveiled the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and the new Pixel Watch 4.
With the release of the Google Pixel Buds 2a on Aug. 20, the mid-range earbuds are striving to stand out yet again: they will be the first earbuds in the A-series to come with active noise cancellation. Though they’re $30 more than the launch price of Google Pixel Buds A, at this price, they’re one of the most affordable options available for active noise-cancelling earbuds from a major brand. The earbuds are available in two colorways: hazel and iris.
Google Pixel Buds 2a features
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable
Though the active noise cancellation is the most major upgrade on the Pixel Buds 2a, it’s far from the only one. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect with these earbuds:
Mashable Light Speed
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Active noise cancellation with Silent Seal 1.5
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Transparency mode
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Seven hours of playback with ANC on, 20 hours of charge in case
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Tensor A1 chip for clearer audio and access to Google Gemini features
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11mm dynamic speaker driver
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Stereo spatial audio
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Custom equalizer
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IP54 water and sweat resistance
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Twist-to-adjust stabilizer for earbud fit
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Replaceable batteries in charging case
As I mentioned above, these earbuds will cost $129.99, which is a price increase over the $99 Pixel Buds A. Of course, the Pixel Buds A only had passive noise cancellation, no spatial audio, and a shorter battery life at five hours per charge.
While $130 isn’t the lowest price you can find on ANC earbuds — we’ve been impressed by what EarFun and Raycon have to offer for under $100 — it is on the low-to-mid end of the price range from a bigger brand. The Sony CF-710 earbuds, Amazon Echo Buds, and Samsung Galaxy Buds FE clock in at $130, $120, and $99, respectively.
What else is new with the Pixel Buds 2a?
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable
Compared to pricier Pixel Buds, the Buds 2a have ever-so-slightly worse battery life and do without wireless charging, same as the original Pixel Buds A. Minus a full color-wrapping on the earbuds, the design is aesthetically very similar. Ultimately, these look to be a promising pair of budget-friendlier earbuds — we’ll see if they hold up in our incoming full review.
Pixel Buds 2a: Pre-order information
As of this writing, the Pixel Buds 2a are not yet available for pre-order, but we expect that to change soon. We’ll update this story as soon as they’re listed online; however, a Google spokesperson says that these wireless earbuds won’t be available to ship until Oct. 9.
