Google Pixel Buds A-Series: Price, News, Release Date, and Specs

A more affordable pair of Pixel Buds

By
Tim Fisher
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Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University

Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the SVP and General Manager of Lifewire.

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Updated on August 21, 2021
Reviewed by
Ryan Perian
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Reviewed by Ryan Perian
  • Western Governors University
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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Google’s first wireless earbuds were released in 2020, and an upgraded, cheaper pair arrived in June 2021. The Pixel Buds A-Series address cutout issues seen in older versions of the earbuds. They're available in three colors.

Pixel Buds A-Series Release Date

Google revealed the Pixel Buds A-Series on June 3, 2021.

News of a new pair of Pixel Buds first arrived in March 2021 by 9To5Google. Soon after, Google themselves inadvertently leaked an image of the earbuds in an email, and then a few months later tweeted about the earbuds.

Google Pixel Buds A-Series Price

At $99, the A-Series Pixel Buds are a cheaper alternative to the previous $179 pair. They became available for pre-order in the US and Canada the same day they were announced, on June 3, 2021.

You can order them from the Google Store in Charcoal, Clearly White, or Dark Olive.

Google Pixel Buds A-Series Features

One major change between these buds and the previous generations is that these shouldn't have the same connection issues. Where the original Pixel Buds would establish a connection to your phone via just one earbud and then relay the signal to the other earbud, this pair connects both to your phone.

Here are some other noteworthy features:

  • Touch controls so you can tap to answer calls, play and pause music, and skip tracks.
  • Adaptive Sound increases/decreases the volume based on your surroundings.
  • IPx4 water protection rating so you don't have to worry about rain or sweat ruining them.
  • Google Translate (including real-time translations) and Google Assistant are accessible via voice commands if you have an Assistant-enabled Android 6.0+ device and internet connection.
  • Beamforming microphones focus on your voice and reduce outside noise.
  • Find My Device lets you hear your Pixel Buds ring if they’re close or view their last known location on a map.

Pixel Buds A-Series Specs and Hardware

Pixel Buds A-Series Specs
Earbud Size:  0.81 x 1.15 x 0.69 inches 0.18 oz
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
Audio: 12mm dynamic speaker driver Passive noise reduction Spacial vent for in-ear pressure reduction
Voice: Dual beamforming microphones
Battery: 5 hrs; 2.5 hrs talk time With charging case: 24 hrs; 12 hrs talk time 15m charge delivers 3 hrs, or 1.5 hrs talk time
Charging: USB-C
Sensors: Capacitive touch sensors Single IR proximity sensors Motion-detection accelerometer
Colors: Charcoal, Clearly White, Dark Olive
Requires: Any Bluetooth 4.0 device; Android 6.0+ for more features

The Latest News About the Pixel Buds A-Series

You can get more smartwatch/wearable news from Lifewire. Here are some early rumors and other stories about these Pixel Buds:

FAQ
  • How do you pair the Pixel Buds A-Series?

    If you use a Pixel phone or a phone running Android 6.0+, you can fast pair it with the Pixel A-Series buds. Open the charging case with the buds still inside, then press and hold the pairing button in the back until the white status light starts flashing. A pop-up notification on your phone guides you through the rest of the setup process. Everyone else can manually pair the buds using the above steps, but they won't receive a notification. They need to go into Bluetooth settings and tap Pair new device to finish the setup.

  • Where can you buy the Pixel Buds A-Series?

    You can order them directly from the Google Store, or you can purchase them from third-party retailers like Best Buy and Walmart.

  • How do you wear the Pixel Buds A-Series?

    To get the right fit, gently insert the bud into your ear and rotate it back and forth until it stays put and feels comfortable. The stabilizer arc should be tucked into your ear, not poking out. You can also swap out the ear tips for larger or smaller-sized ones if you need a better fit.

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