Google’s affordable Android earbuds are now even cheaper
Google has been making its Pixel Android phones for a decade now, but its earbuds are not as well known. That’s a shame, because the Pixel Buds range has a lot going for it against the might of Apple’s AirPods, especially for Android users.
Right now, the Pixel Buds 2a, the latest wireless earbuds from Google, are on sale at Amazon for £97.61, a solid 24 percent discount on their usual £129 RRP.
I’ve tested the Pixel Buds 2a extensively, and they offer a lot of premium features including active noise cancellation (ANC) , transparency mode and water resistance, plus they can last for up to seven hours of battery life on a charge with ANC on.
They’re also very comfortable, with a rounded bud design that sits securely in the ear thanks to several tip sizes in the box plus fixed wing tips on each bud that lock into place with a twist. I actually find these cheaper Pixel Buds 2a have a better fit than the pricier Pixel Buds Pro 2.
Once you’re used to it, it’s preferable to simply relying on shoving silicon tips into your ears and hoping for the best. And if you misplace the buds in their cute pebble-like charging case, you can locate them thanks to Android’s Find My app, in which they appear just like your other devices on a map.
I find the simplicity of the Buds 2a refreshing, alongside their balanced sound for most genres of music and great battery life. They are also very unobtrusive, and one of the few without the AirPods-like stem design. Call quality is OK, though it’s not great on most wireless buds.
They work best when lodged in your ears playing music, which you can adjust the sound of using the EQ tool via the Pixel Buds app on Android, or if you’re on a Pixel phone, via the Bluetooth settings.
Using the Buds 2a with a Pixel phone gets you some exclusive features such as spatial audio, but simple Bluetooth connections work to any Android phone – they will also work with an iPhone, but you won’t get any smart features such as hands-free access to Google’s latest AI smart assistant Gemini.
Other colours of the Pixel Buds 2a are on sale for £109 at Amazon, but the hazel colour is cheaper at £97.61, a great deal on very good true wireless earbuds with noise cancellation.
