A review of Pixel Buds A-series in India

Google unveiled the Pixel Buds A-Series in India in 2021 at a starting price of Rs 9,999, though these are now available for Rs 7,899 on TataCLiQ.

Unlike the two previous Pixel TWS earbuds, the Pixel Buds A Series is a budget take on Google's infamous Pixel earbuds. India's sub-10K true wireless earbuds market is highly competitive, with brands like Sony, JBL, Skullcandy, Oppo, LG, Samsung, OnePlus, and Jabra vying for the top.

The charging case weighs a light 8 grams, with a matte white finish. The case is oval and has a glossy finish on the inside. The flipping hinge design and the magnetic clasp also seem sturdy. The case is made of plastic and has a pairing button at the back and a USB Type-C port at the bottom.

The buds can easily fall out of the case if not opened properly, so you'll have to be careful here. The earbuds are primarily made of plastic and weigh just 5 grams. The outer layer of the buds has a matte finish, while the inner part is glossy. The Google logo is placed on the touch-sensitive outer layer of each bud.

Both earpieces have an in-canal fit as well as fixed rubber ear hooks for a comfortable listening experience. I found the earbuds to be quite comfortable even after prolonged use. At times, it did feel like the earbuds were slipping out, but they didn't even while cycling. The buds have IPX4 rating for water and sweat resistance. The comfort and durability offered by the Pixel Buds A Series are quite satisfactory, though the fit could be better.

The Pixel Buds A-Series has touch controls on the outer area of each bud. The touch-sensitive area can be used to do everything from controlling playback, answering calls, and invoking the Google Assistant. The touch-response was pretty good, though it's a shame that volume can't be adjusted using these controls. The Pixel Buds A-Series offers an even better hands-free experience.

Pixel Buds Features

The affordable Pixel Buds A-Series also comes with an Adaptive Sound feature that gradually adjusts playback volume depending on the ambient sound in the vicinity. The feature works well when a vehicle zooms down the road or in the middle of traffic. However, if you don't find the feature adequate, you can manually turn off the feature through the app. Apart from checking the touch controls, there's not much you can do on the Pixel Buds app.

Battery life

Google says the Pixel Buds A-Series can deliver up to five hours of battery life, taking the total up to 24 hours with the case. The buds offer excellent battery life. I used the buds for three hours continuously with around 30 percent of the battery life still intact.

Pixel Bud

However, that doesn't mean that the buds are without flaws. There's no ANC support, which often comes with several other TWS earbuds in the segment. The lack of wireless charging is also a let-down. Lastly, there's no EQ in the app, and touch controls cannot be customised. The Pixel Buds A-Series does a lot of things right and very little wrong. In my experience with the buds, there is little to complain about. In the areas where it matters, like sound, comfort, voice assistance, and battery life, the Pixel Buds A-Series gets things spot on and is worth considering.