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7.9 / 10
SCORE Google Pixel Buds 2A $129 at Google Pros Lightweight design with comfortable, secure fit
$100 less (list price) than Pixel Buds Pro 2, they feature the same strong sound quality and look the same in your ears
Smaller charging case with solid build quality and a replaceable battery
Decent noise canceling Cons Not everybody will get a tight seal with the included ear tips
Missing some features found in the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and performance is a step behind
Though mostly appealing, they don't necessarily rise above the competition in this price range
Like Samsung's "fan-edition" FE products, Google's A series models are more budget-friendly, leaving off a few features and a premium design element or two while not delivering quite the performance.
Case in point: Google's Pixel Buds 2A ($129, £129, AU$239), which are essentially a "light" version of Google's excellent flagship Pixel Buds Pro 2 ($229). They look pretty similar to their step-up sibling and serve up very similar sound quality, but they look and feel a tad cheaper and don't offer the same noise-canceling or voice-calling performance.
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