Google Pixel Buds In Ear (Image credit: Christine Romero-Chan / iMore) The fit is nice like Mentos in your ears Carman, Ashley (October 4, 2017). "Google's Pixel Buds are the company's first wireless headphones". The Verge . Retrieved December 12, 2022. Your Google Pixel Buds Pro will last up to 11 hours before needing a charge and up to 31 hours total listening time with the wireless charging case. With Active Noise Cancellation on, you can get up to 7 hours of listening time, and up to 20 hours of total listening time with the charging case. 1 Schoon, Ben (May 29, 2020). "Pixel Buds: Growing number of users report audio cutouts w/ Google's earbuds". 9 to 5 Google . Retrieved December 12, 2022.

Google says its research shows that “most people describe great sound as full, clear and natural. This is what guides our audio tuning process.” We’re perfectly happy to report that this is what we hear from these little buds. There is none of the somewhat harsh and wearing treble for which previous Pixel Buds were criticised, and the bass is decently fast and snappy without being overbearing.Li, Abner (October 7, 2022). "Google quietly releases Pixel Buds A-Series in a new color". 9 to 5 Google . Retrieved December 13, 2022. For Google Pixel Buds: An orange light at the top between the earbuds will appear while the lid is open, indicating that one or both your earbuds are charging. Pixel Buds can charge with the charging case lid open or closed.

The Pixel Buds A-Series LED light will indicate status of the earbuds or case depending on if it’s opened or closed: Holding your finger on the ‘G’ logo on the surface of the earbud invokes Google Assistant for commands and questions when connected to an Android phone. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian Rayome, Alison DeNisco (June 5, 2021). "Pixel Buds A vs. Pixel Buds 2: Every spec compared". CNet . Retrieved December 13, 2022.

What should you get instead of the Google Pixel Buds A-Series?

We don’t fancy the next song in the playlist, so a double tap on the left earbud moves us on to John Martyn’s Small Hours. It’s a fine test of a speaker’s (or headphones’) dynamic ability, with frequent shifts in volume, but the Series-A cope well, delivering the music faithfully. There is perhaps just a touch more detail in the midrange from those Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus rivals, but the Pixel Buds are overall a well-rounded listen. a b c d e "Google Pixel Buds review: the future shouldn't be this awkward". The Verge . Retrieved November 17, 2017. For not a huge outlay, you get everything the pricier Pixel Buds 2 provided as far as Google Assistant abilities go, but with an all-round sound performance that stands up there with the best in the market at this price. Though they’re aimed primarily at Android owners, we can quite happily recommend the Google Pixel Buds A-Series to iOS users too, if they are in the market for some comfortable, reliable, good-sounding in-ears.

a b Schoon, Ben (May 21, 2022). "Pixel Buds Pro have to make up for Google's biggest earbud mistakes". 9 to 5 Google . Retrieved December 12, 2022. a b c Martonik, Andrew (June 9, 2021). "Google Pixel Buds 2020 review: These AirPods competitors were worth the wait". Android Central . Retrieved December 12, 2022. In the box: 2 earbuds, charging case, additional eartips, USB-A to C cable, user guide, warranty and legal information. Li, Abner (August 20, 2020). "[Update: Best Buy] Google Pixel Buds (2020) in other colors start going on sale". 9to5Google . Retrieved October 30, 2020.For an iOS device it’s a more old-school process, but still easy enough. Once you’ve pushed the button on the charging case, with the lid up, find the earbuds on the device’s Bluetooth settings, and pair them from there.