I remember when I first bought the Pixel Buds A series. I told myself I don’t really need Active Noise Cancellation. I used them every day for my commute, office calls and even just listening to music. They were simple, they worked and I was happy.
Google launched the Pixel Buds 2a and suddenly, ANC became an affordable option for many. I found myself staring at my old buds, wondering if I was missing something. After using both, I realised that while both look similar, the experience of the Pixel Buds 2a vs Pixel Buds A is actually quite different.
If you’re wondering whether to stick with your old Pixel Buds A or upgrade to the new Buds 2a, I’ve been in that same place too. After using both for weeks, the difference becomes clear when you’re walking through a noisy street or when you are sitting in a crowded cafe.
Specification Table
| Specifications | Pixel Buds A-Series | Pixel Buds 2a |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancellation | No | Yes (Silent Seal 1.5) |
| Transparency Mode | No | Yes |
| Driver Size | 12mm Dynamic | 11mm Dynamic |
| Processor | Standard | Google Tensor A1 |
| Buds Battery | Up to 5 Hours | Up to 7 Hours (ANC On) / 10 Hours (Off) |
| Case Battery | Up to 24 Hours | Up to 20 Hours (ANC On) / 27 Hours (Off) |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 (Buds) | IP54 (Buds) / IPX4 (Case) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 |
| Color | Clearly White, Dark Olive, Charcoal and Sea | Iris, Hazel |
| Price | $80-$99 USD | $129 USD |
The Real Upgrade List of Pixel Buds 2a
When I first opened the 2a, I wanted to see if the upgrade was just marketing talk. After a few days, these are the changes that actually mattered in my daily routine:
- Active Noise Cancellation: This is the biggest feature. The 2a finally blocks out that annoying noise of air conditioners or public buses.
- Transparency Mode: With the transparency mode, I don’t have to take out my buds while ordering coffee.
- Smarter Brains: As it comes with a Tensor A1 chip, everything feels faster from pairing to using Gemini.
- Multipoint Connectivity: It helps me to connect my laptop and my phone at the same time, but the Series A lacks this feature.
- Battery Durability: The Buds 2a have an IP54 rating, which means they can handle dust and sweat much better than the Pixel Buds A-series.
Design and Comfort
It might sound weird, but what I personally feel is that when something is sitting in your ear for 4-5 hours, a few grams also makes a lot of difference. The Pixel Buds A-series weigh about 5.6 grams per earbud, while the Pixel Buds 2a weigh around 4.8 grams each.
While comparing Pixel Buds 2a vs Pixel Buds A, the most noticeable physical change is the wingtip. On the A-series, it was a fixed rubber wingtip and on the Buds 2a, it’s a bit more refined twist-to-adjust. I wore the 2a during a three-hour flight and honestly, I forgot that I was wearing it as it didn’t cause me any ear fatigue.
The Pixel Buds A come with an IPX4 rating, whereas the Pixel Buds 2a come with an IP54 rating for the Buds and the case itself is IPX4 rated, which means the case is stronger than the A-series.
ANC and Transparency
Let’s be honest, the main reason anyone looks at Pixel Buds 2a vs Pixel Buds A is for Active Noise Cancellation.
In my usage, the ANC on 2a is good but not at a flagship level. It’s perfect for blocking out the low-frequency noise, like the noise of an air conditioner, but it won’t work with high-frequency noises like the noise of an airplane engine. It will, however, make your music much clearer in a noisy office.
The Transparency Mode was the real surprise for me. It sounds very natural. Some cheap earbuds make outside noise sound like they are coming through a walkie-talkie or in simple words, I can say they sound a bit robotic. But Google’s Silent Seal Technology keeps things sounding crisp, which is a massive jump.
Sound Quality
When I switched between the two, the difference in sound was subtle, as it was not noticeable. The A-series sounded a little bass-heavy to me, while the 2a sounds more balanced.
The Pixel Buds 2a come with 11 mm dynamic drivers, where as Pixel Buds A-series come with 12 mm dynamic drivers.
The Buds 2a uses the Tensor A1 chip to sound great. It is the same chip that is used in expensive Pro 2 models.
With this chip, the processing is low-latency that means if I’m watching a movie or playing a game, the sound hits my ears exactly when it happens on screen. The A-series sometimes had a tiny lag that was annoying once I started noticing it.
The Buds 2a support Spatial Audio, which creates a surround sound effect. When I watch a movie, it feels like the sounds are coming from all around me, not just inside my ear. This is something that the A-series simply can’t do.
One thing I like about the Buds 2a is that Google finally gave us a 5-band equaliser. On the A-series, you basically just have a more bass toggle. On Buds 2a, I can manually adjust the treble, mid and bass to exactly how I like.
Mic and Call Quality
When you compare Pixel Buds 2a vs Pixel Buds A, you might be surprised to see that they actually use a similar number of microphones, but the tech behind them has evolved.
Both Pixel Buds 2a and Pixel Buds A series use dual beamforming microphones in each earbud. They do a decent job of finding your voice, but they struggle when things get noisy.
Both use two microphones per earbud, but in Pixel Buds 2a, they are backed by the Tensor A1 Chip. This chip acts like a tiny sound engineer in your ear, actively filtering out background noise so your voice stays focused.
The Pixel Bud 2a comes with wind-blocking mesh covers. On a windy evening walk, this mesh physically blocks the wind before it even hits the mic.
The 2a also comes with Clear Calling and uses Google AI to identify and reduce noises like a barking dog.
Battery and Charging
The battery life was always the weak point of the Pixel Buds A-Series, as it comes with 5 hours of listening time. The case gives a total of 24 hours of battery life with the case.
In Pixel Buds 2a with ANC on, the buds give a listening time of 7 hours, while the case gives a total of 20 hours of power. Whereas, if you turn off ANC, the Buds 2a gives you a listening time of 10 hours while the case gives a total of 27 hours. A total pro for Buds 2a in the Pixel Buds 2a vs Pixel Buds A comparison.
However, neither of these comes with wireless charging, but both support fast charging through USB-C.
Connectivity
The Pixel Buds A series uses Bluetooth 5.0 while the Pixel Buds 2a uses Bluetooth 5.4. It supports Bluetooth Super Wideband, which means the audio on your calls sounds much more natural and high-definition.
The Pixel Buds 2a are easy to set up and also support Multipoint connectivity, which means I can connect two devices at the same time. It also supports Google Fast Pair, which means the second you flip the lid open near an Android phone, a Connect button pops up.
Both buds work with the Find My Device network, but the Pixel Buds 2a have improved location tracking.
Price and Availability
The Pixel Buds A are not available officially, but they can be purchased at discounted prices between $80-$99 USD from Amazon and Best Buy.
The Pixel Buds 2a is priced at $129 USD and is available for purchase on Google’s official website and offline stores, Best Buy and Amazon.
Final Verdict
If I had to choose between the Pixel Buds 2a vs Pixel Buds A today, I’d choose the Pixel Buds 2a with my eyes closed. Even though the A series earbuds are classic, the addition of ANC and a better battery life make the 2a feel high-tech. While the price gap isn’t noticeable, the experience gap is huge.
You can choose the Pixel Buds 2a because they come with Active Noise Cancellation, which can help you to block out the noise of the bus or even the noise in a cafe. If you are a working professional, this is going to be the best for you as it comes with Multipoint. Which means it can connect to your laptop and phone at the same time. It also comes with a better battery that can actually survive a full workday.
