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Engadget Logo Engadget Japanese version Maintains sound quality at almost half price ── Google's cheap earphone Pixel Buds A-Series review
Google has announced a new fully wireless earphone, the Pixel Buds A-Series.
As you can see from the fact that it has the same "A" as the low-priced Pixel series, it is a low-priced model of the Pixel Buds (2nd generation) released in 2020.
However, although it is a low-priced version, the basic performance as an earphone has not changed, and it is equipped with a 12mm driver and supports adaptive sound that automatically adjusts the volume according to the surrounding sound. Of course, you can also use the Google Assistant with a microphone.
So is there a cheaper version somewhere? I would like to briefly introduce it while comparing it with Pixel Buds.
Charging case does not support wireless
First of all, the charging case looks almost the same. You can't tell the difference at first glance.
Still, if you open the lid, you can distinguish it. Not only is the coloring different, but the location of the notification LED is also different.
In addition, although there are few differences in the appearance of the case, the specifications themselves are quite different, and the Pixel Buds A-Series does not support wireless charging. Charging is by USB-C only. Also, the case is not waterproof (Pixel Buds is IPX4).
Swipe operation is not supported for earphones
The earphones themselves look the same. It feels light and good to wear on your ears. The product comes with 3 sizes of earpieces.
It looks the same, but it still has different specifications, largely omitting the swipe operation that was on the Pixel Buds. Also, although you can tap, you cannot adjust the volume by swiping. In addition, the wind noise reduction function during calls is not installed.
In addition, the Pixel Buds A-Series does not support the attention alert that is provided as a trial operation function in Pixel Buds, which automatically lowers the volume when it detects a baby's crying, dog's barking, or emergency vehicle siren.
Sound quality is equivalent to Pixel Buds.Bass boost for a crisp sound
The sound quality is important, but in its original state, the bass is not enough, and the overall impression is flat and unsatisfactory. However, if you enable bass boost from the settings, the bass will sound pleasant and the overall sound will be crisp.
With the Pixel Buds, enabling bass boost gave the impression that vocals were muffled, but that wasn't the case. Even though they use the same driver, there may be some changes.
Although there is an adaptive sound that automatically adjusts the volume, it is a pity that active noise canceling is not installed. Certainly, the volume changes naturally according to the ambient noise level, but it is not a substitute for ANC. However, the original Pixel Buds also does not support ANC, so this is a place where it can not be helped.
Although some functions have been removed, the Pixel Buds A-Series has achieved a cost reduction of about half while maintaining the basic performance as an earphone. Since it is made by Google, it has a high affinity with Android devices. A rival called NOTHING ear (1) equipped with ANC has also appeared in the same price range, but I think that it is a model that is recommended for those who are looking for an affordable completely wireless earphone.
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