The Pixel Buds Pro will be available for preorder on July 21 and in stores on July 28. The Buds Pro have more features than last year’s A-Series, but they cost $199. Should you spend more or stick with the $99 Pixel Buds A-Series?
Price and availability
- Pro: $199.99 / £179 / €219
- A-Series: $99 / £99.99 / €99
The Google Pixel Buds A-Series cost $/£/€99 and feature the Google Assistant. Retailers sell them. Pixel Buds Pro cost $199/£179/€219 and are new. They’re not yet available, but you can pre-order them on July 21. Some vendors may still sell the older Pixel Buds, but we wouldn’t pay more than $/£/€99 for them.
Outlook and design
Pixel Buds Pro are designed differently than Pixel Buds. Due to audio and tech upgrades, the earbud form has altered.
The Pixel Buds Pro have larger, more bulbous casings than the dot-like design of the original Pixel Buds. 5.3g earphones are heavier than 6.2g. More earbuds will protrude, although the difference is modest.
Due to larger earbuds, the Pixel Buds Pro case is larger. They appear similar from distance. Buds Pro is flatter and rounder. The cover and earphones combined actually weigh less than the 2020 Pixel Buds. This is presumably due to larger internal batteries.
Sound and voice quality
The Pixel Buds Pro offer active noise cancelling while the Pixel Buds A-Series don’t. The Buds Pro can muffle background noises, which can help you focus while working from home or commuting. The Pixel Buds A-Series don’t offer much passive noise isolation, so this could be a refreshing adjustment.
Pixel Buds Pro have an optional transparency mode for times you wish to hear your surroundings or converse with someone. Pixel Buds A-Series lack this feature. Google claims Pixel Buds Pro will enable head tracking later this year. The upgrade will make some content more immersive by recreating a surround-sound experience without multiple speakers. The Pro also features Volume EQ, which automatically adjusts highs, mids, and lows as you vary the volume.
The Pixel Buds Pro should function well on calls, according to Google. Google believes your voice should be clear thanks to noise suppression and wind-blocking mesh shields. Pixel Buds Pro each have three microphones. The Pixel Buds A-Series only have dual beamforming mics, yet they work effectively in noisy conditions.
Connectivity
Pixel Buds Pro include multipoint Bluetooth connectivity. The earphones can instantly transition between laptops, TVs, iPads, Android and iOS phones. Both have Fast Pair, so you can easily pair Bluetooth devices with Android items. Fast Pair lets you turn on the headphones near the device and pair them by tapping a notification. Both earbuds function with iOS, but their features are best on Android. There’s no Pixel Buds app for iOS, so Apple users can’t modify parameters like EQ.
Battery and charging performance
- Pro: 11 hours listening, 31 hours total; 7 hours listening, 20 hours total with ANC
- A-Series: 5 hours listening, 24 hours total
Both headphones’ cases charge via USB-C, but only the Buds Pro wirelessly (as did the second-gen Buds). Battery life varies. Buds A-Series last 5 hours, but Buds Pro last 11 hours. Even with ANC, the Buds A-Series lasts longer. The Buds A-Series case offers 24 hours, while the Buds Pro case offers 31 hours, dropping to 20 hours with ANC. The Buds Pro are the battery-life champs.
IF to choose only one
Comparing a $99 pair of headphones to one that costs twice as much is unfair. Google hasn’t produced a new phone since the A-Series, so the analogy is apt.
The Pixel Buds Pro have Active Noise Cancelation, a Transparency mode, Multipoint connectivity, and audio switching. All of these capabilities are expected in the best wireless earphones, and Google has delivered.
Google decided to omit ANC from the Buds A-Series, but made up for it in other ways. Adaptive Sound automatically adjusts your media’s sound to blot out the world without ANC.
Wipe gesture navigation is back on the Buds Pro, something we missed on the A-Series. You may tap to answer calls, pause music, or skip tracks, but there’s no volume swipe. These gestures can be customized with the Pixel Buds Pro app on your Android phone.
Google’s design modifications have led to another improvement. Pixel Buds (2020) and Buds A-Series were comfy for many. The compact design sealed your ear to reduce noise. The integrated wing tip prevents earbuds from falling out.
Google preserved the flat touchpad and “G” branding on the Pixel Buds Pro. The end. Instead, we have a larger (and heavier) design that nevertheless seals well.
“Not all ears are the same,” Google notes, so earbuds may not stay in during exercises. If your Buds Pro keep slipping out, replace the provided silicone ear tips with Comply Foam ones.
Google’s larger design allows for a bigger battery. With ANC enabled, battery life is 7 hours; without it, it’s 11 hours. With the charging case, you get 31 hours of battery life.
Should you upgrade?
The Pixel Buds Pro have better battery life, ANC, and future-proofing than the A-Series. The Pixel Buds Pro has capabilities including Spatial Audio, which is coming in a later release. The Pixel Buds A-Series won’t be upgraded, so you may have FOMO if you continue with your current earphones.
Even if Pixel Buds Pro’s ANC wasn’t fantastic, its seven-hour battery life vs. the A-Series’ five-hour battery life is important. You may charge the Buds Pro in the case for an extra hour of listening time.
The A-Series isn’t bad. Smaller design and wing tip make these comfy. Some may prefer the smaller size and Adaptive Sound over the Buds Pro’s ANC.
But consider the expense. Outsiders can choose between $100 and $200 earbuds. In a market with several outstanding options at varying price points, consider the Nothing Ear (1) or the Sony WF-1000XM4s.
Pixel Buds Pro is the overwhelming winner over Pixel Buds A-Series, despite some shared DNA. If you’re ready to retire your two-year-old earbuds, you won’t be disappointed.
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