Pixel Buds A-Series reviewed

We look at the new Pixel Buds A-Series and their latest ear buds. You can order them and learn more about them here.

Pixel Buds A-Series reviewed

Members of our office were excited to see these arrive, and there was even some competition to open them up. They promptly disappeared and were given a good road testing. First up, out of the box, they are charged and ready to go. This is not actually a given for all types of ear buds coming in to us. It is never a deal breaker, but it certainly makes life easier when the gear is all charged and lined up to be used. Positive marks for the Pixel Buds in this regard.

Next up the usability scored pretty well, it, as you might expect, works well with it’s own Google Pixel phone series, but it also plays well with other Android phones also. There are also three sizes of ear bud settings too, for varying sizes of ears, which is smart and logical, as not all ears are the same size. There is also a small clip / hook for the upper part of your ear to help ensure it remains in your ear. Our most enthusiastic tester said at times they even forgot it was there, and then tried running, playing football and even cartwheels. None of these activities shook the ear buds lose, so again it scored well in this regard.

In terms of battery life, it definitely lasts longer than the previous iteration, so this seems like a win too. Overall this release seems like it could be a successful one.

10. details about Pixel Buds A-Series

1. With custom-designed 12 mm dynamic speaker drivers, Google Pixel Buds
A-Series deliver the full, clear and natural sound that you have come to expect
from Pixel Buds. The optional bass boost toggle delivers even more oomph when
you need it.

A unique hybrid acoustic design combines the best of in-ear and earbud styles.
The eartips gently seal the ears to isolate loud outside noises and deliver
powerful sound. The spatial vents reduce that plugged-ear feeling, and let
through just the right amount of environmental sound so that you can stay
aware.

2
Iconic, comfortable design

Pixel Buds A-Series follow the iconic Pixel Buds design language. They sit almost
flush with the ears for a low profile look, so they’re not easily knocked out when
putting on a hat or removing a jacket, and you can wear earrings without worry.
The charging case is small and pocketable. Soft and smooth, it even doubles up
as the ultimate fidget toy. Pixel Buds A-Series will come in 2 colours: Clearly
White and Dark Olive.

Because everyone’s ears are shaped differently, we scanned thousands of ears
to create a design that’s comfortable for as many people as possible. Eartips in
three sizes ensure that your earbuds can be customised to best fit your unique
ear shape. Each earbud’s stabiliser arc gently tucks in the ear, and together with
the soft-fit eartip, help Pixel Buds A-Series stay put securely and comfortably
even when you’re exercising.

3 ‘Hey Google’

Talk to Google Assistant hands-free to start your workout music, play a podcast
or send a quick reply – just say ‘Hey Google’ or touch and hold either earbud
while you speak.

4 Just €99 Rich sound, clear calls and hands-free help from Google, all in an iconic
flush-to-ear design. Pixel Buds A-Series are available for just €99.

5 Clear calls

Pixel Buds A-Series have dual beamforming microphones that focus on your
voice when you’re talking. These features help you sound crystal clear on calls
even in noisy conditions, like on a noisy street or in a home with roommates.

6 Adaptive Sound

Adaptive Sound dynamically and subtly adjusts the volume as you move
between quiet and noisy environments, so you don’t have to constantly raise or
lower the volume. This comes in handy if you’re moving from the quiet of your
home to somewhere noisy like a city street.

Adaptive Sound adjusts for sustained noise, rather than one-off background noise, to ensure a non-disruptive listening experience. And if you manually adjust the volume,
Adaptive Sound will be temporarily disabled to respect your settings.

7 Real-time translation

Get real-time translation right in your ear while using a Pixel or Android 6.0 or
newer phone. Say ‘Hey Google, help me speak Japanese’ to start a conversation.

Whether you’re finding your way around foreign countries or connecting with multilingual family and friends for the holidays, you can easily understand and be understood.

8 Touch controls

Important controls are a touch away, so you don’t have to pull out your phone.
Tap your earbud once to play/pause, twice to skip or three times to rewind.
Controls are identical on both earbuds, making gestures easy to remember. To
change the volume, just say ‘Hey Google, turn up/down the volume’.

9 Water- and sweat-resistant

Google Pixel Buds A-Series are water and sweat resistant, so rainy days and
sweaty workouts are no problem.

10 Battery life

Get 5 hours of listening time on a single charge or up to 24 hours with the case.
A 15-min charge in the case gives you up to 3 hours of listening time and an hour
will give you a full charge.

See details below

Google Assistant requires a Google Assistant-enabled Android 6.0 or newer device, a Google Account and an Internet connection. Data rates may apply. Subscriptions may apply. For available languages and minimum requirements, go to g.co/pixelbuds/help.

Call clarity is dependent on network carrier, signal and connectivity. Physical obstructions, weather conditions, call type and other factors may also affect clarity. Actual results may vary.

Adaptive Sound requires an Android 6.0 or newer device to enable the feature. To prevent possible hearing damage, avoid listening at a high volume for prolonged periods of time.

Requires a Google Assistant-enabled Android 6.0 or newer device, Google Account and an Internet connection. Data rates may apply. Translation is not instantaneous. For available languages, go to g.co/pixelbuds/help.

Pixel Buds A-Series (earbuds only) have a water protection rating of IPx4 under IEC standard 60529. Water resistance is not a permanent condition and may be compromised by normal wear and tear, repair, disassembly or damage.

All listening times are approximate and were measured using music playback with pre-production hardware and software, with fully charged Pixel Buds A-Series and case. Case is used to recharge Pixel Buds A-Series when their batteries are depleted. Charging times are approximate. Use of other features will decrease battery life.

Battery life depends on device, features enabled, usage, environment and many other factors. Actual battery life may be lower.

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