It’s hard to get overly excited about products that simply do what they’re supposed to—especially when they skip the premium polish. A leaky bathroom faucet is still a bad faucet, no matter how much gold it has on it. Reviewing wireless earbuds in 2025 can feel a lot like that: if a pair can’t deliver solid battery life, decent noise cancellation, and a comfortable, secure fit for under $150, then they’re essentially broken headphones.
That’s what makes Google’s Pixel Buds 2a so refreshing. Sure, they don’t feature multiple drivers, class-leading noise cancellation, or a wireless charging case. But they check every important box for a modern pair of earbuds—and they do it remarkably well. The Pixel Buds 2a include nearly all the key features you’d expect from pricier “Pro” models by Apple or even Google itself. They pair instantly with Android devices, integrate seamlessly with Google Translate and Gemini AI, and offer an impressively comfortable fit. They even perform surprisingly well when paired with an iPhone.
If the AirPods 4 were this good, there’d be little reason for anyone to buy the AirPods Pro 3. For under $129, the Pixel Buds 2a stand out as my top pick for Android users—and really, for anyone who wants reliable, great-sounding earbuds without overspending. They’re the perfect analogy for a well-made, leakproof faucet: simple, reliable, and built to perform flawlessly for everyone.
The Pixel Buds 2a are among the cutest and most comfortable earbuds I’ve tried this year. They feature a slightly smaller version of the in-ear design I loved on the Pixel Buds Pro 2, offering a snug yet lightweight fit. The buds resemble tiny buttons that twist gently into your ears, secured by soft silicone fins that keep them perfectly in place once inserted.
As always, I adore the matte white charging case that comes with Google’s latest buds. It feels less tacky than the glossy finishes on Apple’s and other brands’ cases, and it slides effortlessly into a pocket—almost like a hockey puck gliding on ice. One drawback: there’s no wireless charging, so you’ll need to stick with USB-C. Battery life is solid, offering seven hours of playback on the buds themselves, and with the replaceable (!) battery in the case, you get up to 20 hours with active noise canceling and 27 hours with it off.
I appreciate the slimmer profile of the new earbuds, though I didn’t notice a huge difference in fit in my average-sized ears. When pairing them with my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Google’s app instantly prompted a fit test, and the medium eartips (preinstalled) fit perfectly. Pixel phone owners won’t even need to download the Pixel Buds app, as it’s already built into the system.
The companion app lets you customize everything—from EQ adjustments to button functions on each earbud. The interface is clean, intuitive, and feels very similar to the AirPods experience, just within the Android ecosystem.
Touch controls are straightforward. I set one bud to activate the Gemini assistant and the other to play or pause music. The only odd omission is on-ear volume control—you’ll need to adjust it via your phone or laptop instead. Depending on your habits, this could be a minor inconvenience or a deal-breaker, but for me, it’s just a small quirk—I usually reach for my phone to change the volume anyway.
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 have long been among my go-to travel headphones, thanks to their smooth, pebble-shaped case and superb sound quality. Impressively, the Pixel Buds 2a step into those much pricier shoes with ease, delivering surprisingly rich bass and crisp treble performance.
In The Harmaleighs’ “Don’t Panic,” the soft kick drum lands like a gentle heartbeat, while a subtle, rhythmic acoustic guitar flows beneath a lush horizon of synths and a slightly distorted vocal track. It’s a balanced, immersive sound that captures the emotional core of the song—and shows just how capable these budget-friendly buds really are.
The microphones and noise cancellation on the Pixel Buds 2a are about as good as you’ll find at this price point. You won’t get the complete, vacuum-like silence offered by earbuds that cost two or three times as much, but the 2a gets you about 90 percent of the way there—and that’s impressive. The same goes for transparency mode and call quality; sure, premium models may have slightly more refined mics or processing, but not a single person I spoke to—whether in person or on the phone—noticed any difference. Conversations were clear and natural on both ends.
It’s almost funny to think back to the early days of wireless earbuds, when even maintaining a Bluetooth connection was a miracle. Now, features like multi-point pairing—which lets you connect to your phone and laptop simultaneously—feel effortless. You can seamlessly switch between devices without re-pairing, which is incredibly handy if you’re working on your laptop and need to jump into a call.
Ultimately, the Pixel Buds 2a are the kind of dependable everyday earbuds you don’t have to think twice about. I honestly can’t name another pair that delivers the same blend of design, features, and reliability for just $129. And because they’re made by Google, you can expect solid long-term software support. Even if you don’t own a Pixel or an Android phone, these buds are absolutely worth your attention—there’s simply nothing else at this price that matches their overall value.
