Google Pixel Buds A Series 2 wishlist: All the features I want to see

Google is relatively new to the wireless earbuds game. For example, it has only released five earbuds over the past seven years. The company’s first edition, the Google Pixel Buds, launched in 2017. These host a bulky design, a high price tag, and an impractical charging case. Google’s latest iteration, the Pixel Buds Pro 2, offer users a more pleasing and broader mix of high-end features than their predecessors. However, the Google Pixel Buds A Series are the company’s middle ground and its first attempt at producing affordable earbuds. These buds also fix many of the connectivity issues of the original Pixel Buds. Given they launched in 2021, it seems an appropriate time to get excited about the Google Pixel Buds A Series 2.

If Google is to compete with Apple, Sony, and Bose, it must bring improvements to the Google Pixel Buds A Series 2 before their anticipated release. Here are all of the upgrades I want to see.

Active Noise Canceling

Active noise canceling provides a level of privacy many people enjoy when commuting to work. Consequently, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are an excellent companion for frequent travelers. Given the company can implement good noise canceling, I hope it brings ANC to the updated A Series buds. This would help to attenuate low-frequency sounds that are often too difficult to cancel with passive isolation alone. The original Pixel Buds A Series fall foul of this, struggling to isolate frequencies below 4kHz. Noise canceling would allow Google to do away with its wonky Adaptive Sound technology.

It is also worth remembering that ANC is more than just a nice-to-have feature. Blocking out external sounds helps users play music at lower volume levels. This protects our ears from noise-induced hearing loss and makes them less prone to ear fatigue during long listening sessions. Given virtually all new earbuds include ANC technology, I expect the Google Pixel Buds A Series 2 will adopt it.

The aptX Bluetooth codec

Given the Google Pixel Buds A Series are targeted heavily toward Android, it is a significant misstep not to include the aptX Bluetooth codec. SBC works fine as a reliable backstop, and AAC provides good-quality audio for iOS. However, the lack of aptX means Android smartphone owners miss out on high-quality wireless connectivity. The updated A Series buds will need the aptX Bluetooth codec from day one to be a competitive choice.

Notably, there are not many budget earbuds that currently support aptX connectivity. The Google Pixel Buds A Series 2 could stand above the rest, providing Android users up to 352kbps, 48kHz/16-bit audio streaming. It is also a more reliable connection than SBC and AAC, especially when pairing with older Android devices.

A dust-resistant IP rating

More earbuds wear water and dust-resistant IP ratings than ever before. Based on Google’s previous iteration, it is almost certain the Google Pixel Buds A Series 2 will enjoy IPX4 water resistance. However, I hope the company will also include a dust-resistant IP rating. This would make the next-gen earbuds more appealing to athletes and workout enthusiasts. In particular, those who enjoy beach sports and climbing walls would worry less about damage from sand and chalk. It would also make Google’s next budget buds more suitable for those living in harsher climates.

A custom EQ

You do not have to be an audiophile to want more control over how your music sounds. However, while many other earbud brands have nailed the implementation of custom EQs, Google continues to miss the mark with the Pixel Buds A series. To this day, users can only customize the bass response of their Pixel Buds A Series. The Pixel Buds Pro and Buds Pro 2 are the only Google earbuds to host a five-band custom EQ.

The Google Pixel Buds Pro also include a handful of EQ presets within the app. These include Default, Light Bass, Heavy Bass, Balanced, Vocal Boost, Clarity, and Last Saved. I hope Google will provide its Pixel Buds A Series 2 with a custom EQ and many handy presets at launch. This is especially important, given that the original A Series buds’ default frequency curve is better suited for speech than music.

A louder and more bassy sound profile

While Google fixed the volume output of the Pixel Buds A Series in firmware version 233, the earbuds substantially lacked volume below 400Hz at launch. Additionally, treble frequencies above 3kHz undulate and sound unnatural, and the mids lack volume. The result is an overall sound profile that lacks oomph. Problematically, increasing the volume to hear more bass and mids also increases the treble.

I expect that Google will up its game with the release of the Google Pixel Buds A Series 2. In particular, I would prefer a frequency response that follows our target preference curve more closely at launch. That means producing more volume below 750Hz and rolling back some treble frequencies around 5kHz and 9kHz.

Will there be a Google Pixel Buds A Series 2?

Google is a leading player in the smartphone arena. I see no reason why the company will let its foot off the gas with its complementary wireless earbuds. While there’s been no official announcement from Google yet, I expect the Google Pixel Buds A Series 2 will be released soon. Google launched its most recent flagship earbuds, the Pixel Buds Pro 2, as recently as September 26, 2024. They are the company’s most accomplished buds to date. However, their inflated price tag will leave many price-conscious fans by the wayside. With other brands offering more for less, Google will want to remain competitive by updating its affordable Pixel Buds A Series with a feature-rich upgrade.

There’s no word on whether or not they will be called the Pixel Buds A Series 2. We could perhaps see a shift to a Pixel Buds 2a branding to match the equivalent A series of budget Pixel phones.

• Google Pixel Buds A Series — June 17, 2021
• Google Pixel Buds Pro — July 28, 2022
• Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 — September 26, 2024

Historically, Google has favored spring and summer releases when refreshing its earbuds category. For example, the Google Pixel Buds A Series came to market in June 2021, while the Google Pixel Buds Pro launched in July 2022. However, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 threw tradition to the wind and launched on September 26, 2024.

While the company enjoys a two-year window before updating its earbuds, the time between each release is increasing. For example, the Google Pixel Pro were released one year after the Google Pixel Buds A Series. Conversely, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 came to market two years and three months after their predecessor. Taking the average time between each release, we should have seen the Google Pixel Buds A Series 2 launch in 2024. Unfortunately, there was no mention of the Google Pixel Buds A Series 2 at Google I/O 2024. We will have to wait for an official announcement from Google for concrete details.

Should you wait for the Google Pixel Buds A Series 2?

The original Google Pixel Buds A Series remain on sale from the company’s website and stand proud as some of the best wireless earbuds for under $100. However, given that the next-gen upgrade are expected to cost more at launch than their predecessor, it is reasonable to question whether the Pixel Buds A series 2 will be worth it.

That said, the Google Pixel Buds A Series ($94 at Amazon) have proven themselves to be an excellent and affordable set of earbuds. Not only are they comfortable, but the addition of ear wings helps the buds remain secure during exercise. The buds also offer an IPX4 water resistance rating for sweatier workouts and the “Hey Google” voice assistant works seamlessly with Android to control your listening experience. If you are already part of the Google ecosystem, then the Pixel Buds A Series are a great choice. However, if you use an iPhone, you’ll miss out on important updates and features. These include Google Assistant, bass boost, and in-ear detection. The SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs also leave those looking for a more stable and higher-quality connection in the lurch.

If budget buds that house decent ANC are at the top of your agenda, grab the EarFun Air Pro 4 ($89.99 at Amazon.) These buds reduce the loudness of external noise by an average of 75% and have excellent passthrough mode when you need to converse. The sound quality is significantly more pleasing than the Pixel Buds A Series, and there are 30 EQ presets to pick from in the EarFun Audio app. Battery life lasts nearly nine hours on a single charge, with the case profiting a few extra charge cycles for 41 hours of total playtime. Those in a bind can fast charge two hours from a 10-minute top-up. The earbuds are comfortable, support Bluetooth 5.4, and connect via the LDAC or aptX Bluetooth codecs.

Those looking for a pocketable and robust IP-rated option should check out the JLab JBuds Mini ($39.99 at Amazon.) These earbuds sport an IP55 water- and dust-resistant rating to guard against the elements. They are also extremely friendly on the wallet, enjoy decent isolation, and enjoy handy features within the JLab app. The last includes a 10-band custom EQ, a volume limiting function, and vital firmware updates. Battery life lasts nearly six hours on a single charge, with a 15-minute top-up yielding one hour of listening time. Sound and microphone quality may not be the best, but it’s hard to argue with this price tag and form factor.

Those embedded in the Apple ecosystem should consider the Apple AirPods 4 ($129 at Amazon.) A notable upgrade on their predecessors, these earbuds deliver improved comfort, a portable design, and Apple’s H2 chip. The last is vital for receiving spatial audio with head tracking, Siri interactions, and improved sound quality. Apple also upgraded the Ingress Protection rating of its latest buds, profiting from an IP54-rated exterior. The earbuds also support Find My when you lose them, and the case can be charged via USB-C. Battery life lasts over six hours, with the case providing a total listening time of up to 30 hours. Those worried about battery degradation will enjoy Apple’s Optimized Charging feature.

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