Bass performance is another area where mid-range headphones struggle, but the 2a holds its own here with respectable performance. Under Deftones private music, retained the deep growl of Stephen Carpenter’s 7- and 8-string guitars. The atmosphere was not limited to Abe Cunningham’s use of the bass drum. And it’s not just about the rough genres: Ruston Kelly’s acoustic guitar has plenty of deep tones Pale, through the window.
Another big plus of the Pixel Buds 2a is the hearing health updates, which help you maintain healthy listening habits. In the Pixel Buds app, you’ll see your current hearing and exposure levels, as well as comparisons over the past 24 hours and seven days. You can also choose to receive volume notifications so you’ll be notified if you exceed your limit. The Pixel Buds Pro 2’s hearing care tools are more comprehensive, but it’s nice to see level monitoring in a mid-range pair of earbuds. It sure is better than nothing.
Possible problems with Pixel Buds 2a
Beyond the more robust ANC performance, there are many differences between the Pixel Buds 2a and the Pixel Buds Pro 2. These are almost all the advanced features that the more expensive model offers, even though both sets share the same Tensor A1 chip. Among them, there are three important tools that the 2a lacks: adaptive sound, loud noise protection and call detection. The first two are new additions to the Pixel Buds Pro 2 in recent weeks, but they offer automatic adjustments that maintain audio performance or support hearing health.
You also can’t use head gestures to answer calls or texts like you can with the Pixel Buds Pro 2. And for Gemini users, the ability to chat with Google’s AI in noisy environments isn’t available on the 2a either. With these cheaper headphones, you can still talk to Gemini Live, but you have to be careful with the ambient noise level.
Another big difference between the 2a and the Pro 2 has to do with the battery and charging. The biggest issue here is that the Pixel Buds 2a case doesn’t support wireless charging. Battery life on the Pro model is eight hours with ANC off or 12 hours with ANC on. Before 2a it’s seven or ten o’clock. During my tests with the Pixel Buds 2a, I easily spent a full workday using the earbuds with a combination of ANC and transparency modes. This is what I would consider “normal” use, with the first setting used for focus time and the second for calling and monitoring my playful Cocker Spaniel.
While the Pixel Buds 2a have what Google calls “clear AI-powered calling,” they don’t have the same beam-forming microphones and voice accelerometers as the Pro 2. As a result, voice performance suffers on the cheaper model. It’s perfect for casual calls and last-minute discussions at work, but for situations where you’re recording audio or leading a discussion, you need something better.
Finally, the Pixel Buds 2a do not have built-in volume controls. This is the biggest problem for me. In 2025, having to use my phone or keyboard to adjust the volume of my music or podcasts is annoying (I’m looking at you, AirPods 4). I understand that Google had to sacrifice some features to sell the 2a for $129, but it’s a simple device that I’d really like.
Summary
You can certainly use them with an iPhone or Galaxy device, but like the Pixel Buds Pro, you’ll get the most out of them if you have a Pixel phone. Like previous Google models, these are designed to connect to Gemini Live and you’ll miss out on some key features if you use the 2a with a non-Pixel device.
If you have a Pixel phone, you’ll find a lot here, including powerful sound, a comfortable fit and respectable battery life. There are still limited resources available for hearing health, and the addition of ANC is a welcome change. The best Google has to offer in the Pixel Buds is still exclusive to the Pro 2, but the 2a is an ideal audio companion for most Pixel phone owners.