So you‘re trying to pick between Google‘s shiny new Pixel Buds Pro and their budget-friendly A-Series buds? As a wireless audio analyst and Pixel Buds enthusiast myself, I get asked this a lot. You‘ve come to the right place!
Allow me, your trusty headphones guru, to be your helpful guide to deciphering the similarities and differences across Google‘s two main Pixel Buds models. In this detailed feature face-off, we‘ll compare audio quality, battery life, design, pricing and more across the board.
My goal is to arm you with enough insider knowledge to confidently choose the best bud for your needs and budget. Let‘s dig in!
Let‘s Start With Some Context…A Quick History of Pixel Buds
Before we pit the Pixel Buds Pro vs A-Series head-to-head, some quick historical context…
Google first unleashed their original Pixel Buds back in 2017 alongside the very first Pixel smartphone. The initial reaction from critics? Meh.
Reviewers praised neat Google Assistant integration but panned uncomfortable fit, connection issues, mediocre battery life and steep pricing. Not an amazing debut, but the Pixel Buds journey had only just begun!
Fast forward to 2020 and Google tried again with their 2nd generation Pixel Buds, refining the design and audio quality. But battery life barely hit 5 hours, and lack of active noise cancelling was a sore omission.
Then in mid 2021, Google basically said "Aight folks, you want affordable earbuds without all the bells & whistles? We got you covered!" Enter the Pixel Buds A-Series – retuned drivers and better battery in a budget-friendly package.
Finally in 2022, the Pixel Buds Pro were unleashed as Google‘s unabashed AirPods Pro killers, stuffed with premium audio tech and high-end finishing. No more playing Mr. Nice Guy!
Okay, now that you‘re caught up on Pixel Buds history, let‘s scrutinize how the A-Series and Pro measure up today…
Pixel Buds Pro vs A-Series: Key Specs Comparison
I prepared this handy dandy specs chart to summarize core hardware differences at a glance:
| Pixel Buds Pro | Pixel Buds A-Series | |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | July 28, 2022 | June 17, 2021 |
| Drivers | Custom-designed 11mm dynamic drivers | 12mm dynamic drivers |
| Noise Cancelling | Active noise cancellation + Silent Seal adaptive ear tip fit | None |
| Battery Life | Up to 11 hrs with ANC on, 31 hrs total incl. wireless charging case | Up to 5 hrs, 24 hrs total with USB-C case |
| Microphones | 2 high SNR + 1 low distortion mic per bud | 1 high SNR mic + 1 voice accelerometer per bud |
| Multipoint | Yes – connect to phone & computer simultaneously | No – can only connect to 1 device at a time |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 + Google custom audio stack | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes – Qi certified | No |
| Waterproof | IPX4 sweat/water resistant | IPX4 sweat/water resistant |
Okay, specs listed – now let‘s analyze how these hardware differences actually impact real world experience…
Audio Quality: Pro Buds Sound Way Better Than A-Series
I‘m just gonna come out and say it – thanks to cutting-edge drivers and noise cancelling tech, audio fidelity blows the A-Series out of the water on the Pixel Buds Pro!
See, Google designed new custom 11mm dynamic drivers specifically for the Pro buds, tuned to pump out richly textured lows, sparklingly detailed highs and lushly vibrant mids. Translation? Music just sounds freaking incredible.
Combine those hi-fi drivers with the Pro‘s stellar Active Noise Cancellation, and your favorite artists will sound like they‘re performing a private show inside your head! External noise gets shut out completely so you become engrossed entirely in sonic bliss.
The A-Series buds still sound okay with their modest 12mm drivers, but lack any noise cancelling functionality whatsoever. Jam them in on the subway and prepare for a tinnitus-inducing cacophony of squealing rails and passenger chatter blended with your music. No thanks!
Oh and the Pros‘ Volume EQ smartly tailors tuning based on your volume level. So crank it up loud or low for crystal clarity. Plus there‘s a customizable 5-band equalizer! The A-Series serve you flat, lifeless audio by comparison.
When it comes to pure listening fidelity, the Pros unequivocally dominate here. If you want rich, vibrant soundscapes free of external distractions, you gotta go Pro baby!
Battery & Charging – No Contest, Pros Crush again!
Okay onto battery life, another easy win here for the Pixel Buds Pro with nearly double the listening time per charge compared to the A-Series – up to 11 hours with ANC on. Turn noise cancelling off and runtime stretches even longer to 31 hours with the charging case!
The A-Series taps out at a measly 5 hours tops per charge, barely enough for a cross-country flight or extended workday without recharging. Even factoring in the case only gets you 24 hours total. Weak! And get this – the case itself only supports old-fashioned USB-C cables.
Meanwhile the Pro case adds 20+ hours and leverages wireless charging via any common Qi pad! Just plop the Pro case down on a Pixel Stand or 3rd party charger and watch your power get replenished sans cables. That‘s the future, baby!
For road warriors and office warriors alike, longer battery = less disruption. Here the Pros deliver in spades while the A-Series come up painfully short. Savvy shoppers need those extra Pro hours!
Design & Ergonomics – Identical Yet…Different
Squinting side-by-side, you‘d probably struggle to visually distinguish Pixel Buds Pro from the A-Series. Like close cousins, their stemmed silhouette and matte plastic finish looks remarkably alike.
In hand, the A-Series feel a smidge lighter at about 5 grams per bud vs 6.2 grams for the Pros. But we‘re talking fractions of an ounce difference – during two hours of jamming, your ear muscles probably can‘t tell.
Comfort-wise, both share the same interchangeable eartips so you can wedge tips in to properly plug your ear canal. And their smooth rounded curves nestle into ears for fatigue-free wearing over time. No complaints!
However (isn‘t there always a but!)…I will award one ergonomic win to the A-Series. See those little stabilizer arcs below the tips? They discreetly hook under ears for extra grip security. So no worries about buds sliding loose on your post-yoga cardio days!
The Pixel Buds Pro forego those stabilizer fins, so during intense training there‘s a slight risk of Pro buds dislodging if jostled hard. A small distinction for sure – but worth knowing!
All in, unless you‘re rocking sweaty exercise routines, negligible physical differences. They even share identical IPX4 water/sweatproof ratings if you get caught in afternoon showers!
Now for features…that‘s where we observe BIG discrepancies emerge!
Features & Perks: Pros Pack Punch, A-Series Stuck in Economy
Okay folks, ready to separate the men from the boys when it comes to premium capabilities? Features is where Pixel Buds Pro emphatically flex their first-class muscles, while the nearly featureless A-Series slum it with the riff-raff back in steerage!
Let‘s explore the key highlights:
Noise Cancellation & Transparency – Pro Exclusive Concierge Service!
Remember, only the Pro buds boast Active Noise Cancellation via tiny mics continuously sampling environmental sounds and cancelling out crap you don‘t want to hear.
But wait, there‘s more! Transparency Mode lets you amplify surrounding noises at will through the Pro buds. Why‘s this awesome?
- Chilling with music when barista yells your name? Transparency Mode pipes their voice right into your ears!
- Traffic rumbling but want to remain present? Transparency Mode keeps you aware!
- Coworker start jabbering but don‘t want to lose your musical zen? Switch off Transparency, turn on NC and ahhhhh sweet silence.
This twinned superpower completely alters your aural reality on demand. Feel like hanging out alone in a bustling cafe? The Pixel Buds Pro conjure your personal cone of calm!
For the A-Series peasants still rocking last year‘s buds, no such audio sorcery exists. Enjoy eavesdropping strangers and roaring buses blended nauseatingly with Taylor Swift!
Multipoint Bluetooth – Simultaneously Connect Across Devices
Here‘s another fancy Pro trick…Thanks to Google‘s tricked-out audio chip, Pixel Buds Pro can maintain Bluetooth connections with TWO separate devices at once!
That means seamlessly bounce phone calls between earbuds paired with your phone plus laptop without re-pairing each time. Magic!
Again the A-Series still chug along on older silicon without multipoint talents. Plan on manually repairing each time you switch listening between phone and computer. Annoying!
Other Features – Google Perks Intact
As fellow Google fans know, Pixel Buds share some standard features regardless of model:
- Touch controls outside each bud for tap/swipe music playback, Assistant
- Always-on Google Assistant for voice commands & help
- Fast Bluetooth Pairing with Android/Chromebook devices
- "Find My Buds" tracking for hunting down lost earbuds
- Live translations of foreign languages through your phone
- In-ear notifications from messaging apps
So plenty of inherent Pixel Bud goodness even at the A-Series level. But the Pro buds take it to 11 with noise mastery and high-tech connectivity!
Pixel Buds Pricing – Get What You Pay For!
We‘ve clearly established the Pixel Buds Pro dominate sonically and feature-wise. But how much extra are we talking for the premium ride? Let‘s break it down…
The Pixel Buds A-Series first hit the scene at $99 as Google‘s value play. And frankly that‘s STILL an amazing deal landing you crisp audio and baseline Assistant smarts for just under Benjamin. Heck I might buy you a pair myself!
Comparatively, the souped-up Pixel Buds Pro unsurprisingly demanded a higher toll when launched at $199. More than 3X the computing horsepower and triple the microphones costs extra!
But for shoppers serious about noise handling, multipoint bluetooth flexibility and bass-thumping fidelity, I‘d argue the Pros earn their keep. We‘re talking hundreds of hours both cancelling distractions and augmenting reality through expertly engineered soundscapes.
That‘s just $0.50 per day over the course of a year. Throw in wireless charging case portability plus future spatial audio updates, and Pixel Buds Pro offer seriously great bang for buck even at 200 bucks.
So how much better listening, focusing and immersing does that $100 premium equate to in your life? Could be worth 10X the price!
Decision Time! Which Pixel Buds Do YOU Need?
We‘ve covered a TON of ground comparing Pixel Buds Pro and A-Series chops. Let me drop some final knowledge before you decide…
For budget-focused shoppers wanting solid basics without lavish audio fineries, the $99 A-Series remain a fabulous choice even 18 months later. Reliable controls, good enough sound and leading Google integration make ‘em great value earbuds.
For folks craving best-in-class ANC, fidelity and seamlessness, the $199 Pros take Pixel Buds to an entirely new tier as Google‘s new gold standard. Seriously impressive maturation!
In my humble opinion, if you can pony up to the Pro tier through current sales, I couldn‘t recommend them more enthusiastically. Truly phenomenal performance befitting their prestigious name.
But even the A-Series hold their own just fine for casual users, staying competent as Google‘s budget-friendly Pixel Buds gateway.
Either way as a fellow wireless audio nut, I hope I‘ve equipped you to decide which Pixel Buds model fits the shape of YOUR ears and needs! You really can‘t go wrong.
For you, what‘s MORE important: saving $100 or having maximum noise cancelling flexibility? What scenarios do you need your earbuds to handle? How would tricked out Pro features improve your regular routines?
Ask yourself those Q‘s – then pull the trigger! Your new aural companions await…👂🔊🎧
Let me know which Pixel Buds you picked up or if any other questions come up!
