The balanced, clear sound that easily distinguishes between different elements of a track - and doesn’t prioritise one frequency over another - of last year’s buds returns for the new model. AirPods are still a good choice for anyone deep in the Apple ecosystem, but for everyone else, Pixel Buds A-Series are the way to go.More importantly, the audio output of the Pixel Buds A-Series is the same as the 2020 Pixel Buds, which are $80 more. They sound better, have a more accessible design, deliver identical battery life, and cost nearly $60 less. It's a lot of small stuff on its own, but it all results in AirPods being the most convenient earbud experience for Apple enthusiasts.įor most shoppers, Pixel Buds A-Series stand out as the better overall choice. AirPods can also be used with Apple TV, allowing users to watch their favorite show privately without disturbing others in their house. Have a friend with AirPods that wants to listen to the same song? Audio Sharing allows two pairs of AirPods to listen to the same audio stream - with each getting independent volume control. Thanks to the H1 chip inside of AirPods, pairing and switching between Apple devices is as seamless as it gets. Given that Pixel Buds A-Series are so good, why should anyone consider spending more for AirPods? In the end, it all comes down to how deeply entrenched someone is in the Apple ecosystem. Both earbuds get up to 5 hours of continuous listening time, up to 24 hours of total battery life, and come with hands-free access to voice assistants (Google Assistant for Pixel Buds, Siri for AirPods).
Elsewhere, Pixel Buds A-Series deliver a very similar experience to what's offered with AirPods.
GOOGLE PIXEL BUDS A SERIES DRIVERS
The 12mm drivers deliver sound that's richer, more immersive, and generally more enjoyable. The in-ear fit is a lot more accessible to people with varying ear sizes/shapes, and because they form a proper in-ear seal, Pixel Buds sound much better than AirPods. This results in a couple of advantages for Pixel Buds.
Additionally, there are built-in wings to make the fit as snug as possible. Users can swap out the gel ear tips at any time to customize their fit. By comparison, Pixel Buds A-Series are a noticeable step up. Not only that, but the lack of any in-ear seal results in a fairly unimpressive listening experience. It's good for casual use and doesn't require much thought, but it also results in some folks simply not being able to comfortably wear AirPods. AirPods feature a one-size-fits-all approach, with the earbuds simply resting in people's ears. Pixel Buds A-Series Are A Better Value - Hands Down Despite that big of a difference in price, Pixel Buds A-Series manage to match (if not best) AirPods in more ways than one. Pixel Buds A-Series are available for just $99, which is considerably less than the $159 asking price of AirPods. Taking a look at AirPods and Pixel Buds A-Series as Apple and Google's lowest-end earbuds, Google has a big upper hand when it comes to price. The $179 asking price wasn't for everyone, however, so Google launched Pixel Buds A-Series as a much more affordable variant of them. Pixel Buds 2 came out a few years later in 2020 and proved to be a better product in just about every regard. The first-gen Pixel Buds launched in 2017, and unfortunately, were largely considered a flop. On the other hand, Google has yet to have its Pixel Buds take off in the same manner. Apple has also continued growing the AirPods family in the years since, launching AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and the current baseline AirPods. AirPods debuted in September 2016, and despite some initial backlash, they've since become some of the most iconic and popular earbuds on the market. AirPods have established themselves as the go-to earbuds for iPhone users, Pixel Buds A-Series have an impressively low price, and deciding which pair to buy can prove to be quite a challenge.ĭespite being two of the largest tech giants on the planet, Apple and Google have seen vastly different levels of success with their wireless earbuds. Between AirPods and Pixel Buds A-Series, Appleand Google have two of the most compelling wireless earbud offerings on the market.