I'm more excited by the Google Pixel Buds 2a than I expected — here's why

(Image credit: Google)

You might think that, given my general proclivity for luxury cans and expensive speakers, the likes of the Google Pixel Buds 2a would fall below my interest. That couldn't be further from the truth, but I'm still surprised by how much I'm looking forward to getting Google's affordable buds in my hands (and ears) for testing.

They might cost more, but they seem to address every single criticism you could have levelled at the old model. More battery, ANC and a better fit all seem to be worth the extra $30 in my mind. I'm interested to see just how good they can be, given the strength of some of the competition at that price as well.

Finally, the AirPods 4 and their non-ANC variant loom large over the Pixel Buds 2a; and I'm looking forward to stacking the two head-to-head to see which buds come out on top. Let's take a deeper dive.

Great price, great specs

I generally try to keep tabs on what cheap earbuds look like — after all, they're the bread and butter that keeps the space delicious. Google's Pixel Buds 2a have made me prick my ears up and really pay attention, however. They seem to be about as fully featured as they come, with plenty of great-looking specs that make them a solid option to add to your pocket.

There's now ANC, something we've been asking for from Google's buds since the release of the A-series. It's powered by the same chip as the Buds Pro 2 as well, so I'm pretty sure we're going to get some very solid noise canceling out of them.

I can't wait to see what improvements Google has made to the sound as well. The old buds fell down in a couple of key areas, so it's nice to see that Google has apparently made steps in both the treble and the bass regions.

The battery improvements, too, make me excited for the buds. They're going to have seven hours of ANC on time and 10 hours of ANC off playtime. That's pretty good battery life, not just for the price — it beats out more expensive options like the AirPods Pro 2.

Then there's the fit, which Google has taken from its more expensive "Pro" buds. They twist into place, and sit snugly for comfortable wear all day. That's a darn sight better than the fit of the old buds, which could fall out if you weren't careful.

These spec increases all bring them up to par with Sony's excellent WF-C710N, our pick for the best earbuds under $150 in our best earbuds buying guide. But there's one contender that they're really going to fight against — and the results could be interesting.

The AirPods over the hill

The AirPods 4 without ANC sit at the same price tag — that's arguably the biggest competitor to the Pixel Buds 2a. On paper, I think the Google Pixel buds look like the better buy at first glance. They've got ANC, for one, something you'll have to pay a whole $50 more for in AirPods land.

The fit is far more up my street as well, with those silicon eartips and twist to fit motion that seems like a more secure option than the more open AirPods 4. But there's the elephant in the earbuds room. Mobile OS compatibility.

Both sets of earbuds are going to work with Android and iOS, but they've got equally walled gardens that they need to protect. There are features, like head-tracked Spatial Audio, that the AirPods will only use with Apple devices. The Gemini features and Android fast pairing of the Google Pixel Buds 2a that will only work with Android devices.

There are going to be a couple of things that it will come down to in the end, then. How do the features work with your chosen operating system, and which earbuds have more for the opposite OS? It could be easy to say "The AirPods are the best for Apple users, and the Pixel Buds are the best for Android," but I'm not sure it's going to be that simple, given the surrounding physical designs and battery life specs.

Until I get the Pixel buds in hand, that fight remains a mystery — but I can't wait to see which comes out on top.

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Tammy and her generous collection of headphones have found a new home — Tom's Guide! After a two-and-a-half-year stint as iMore's resident audiophile, Tammy's reviews and buying guide expertise have more focus than ever on Tom's Guide, helping buyers find the audio gear that works best for them. Tammy has worked with some of the most desirable audio brands on the planet in her time writing about headphones, speakers, and more, bringing a consumer focussed approach to critique and buying advice. Away from her desk, you'll probably find her in the countryside writing (extremely bad) poetry, or putting her screenwriting Masters to good use creating screenplays that'll never see the light of day.

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