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Airpods (2nd generation)
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Pixel Buds A Series
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What we think

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The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

If you prioritize call and meeting quality or plan to use your earbuds during exercise, the Google Pixel Buds A-Series with better mic quality and sweat-proof certification would be your choice. For more regular phone use and seamless integration with Apple devices, the Apple AirPods (2nd generation) may suit you better, though they are known to be slightly more expensive. The Pixel Buds A-Series also offer low latency mode, making them suitable for gaming and watching videos without noticeable audio delay. Sound quality for music is slightly better in AirPods, but Pixel Buds offer better noise isolation and a longer battery life on a single charge. Both support AAC codec for high-quality audio and lack active noise cancelling, but only Pixel Buds A-Series offer app controls customization for a more personalized experience. Give Feedback

this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Airpods (2nd generation)
  • The Apple Airpods (2nd generation) has no clear advantages over the Google Pixel Buds A Series.
Advantages of the Google Pixel Buds A Series
  • Very good for phone calls
  • Very good for gaming
  • Good for TV and video
  • Good for exercise

Key differences

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Music

5.8
Airpods (2nd generation)
Pixel Buds A Series
6.4
The Google Pixel Buds A Series is only fair for music, while the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) is poor.

Gaming

4.8
Airpods (2nd generation)
Pixel Buds A Series
8.6
The Google Pixel Buds A Series is very good for gaming, while the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) is poor.

Phone Calls

6.9
Airpods (2nd generation)
Pixel Buds A Series
8.5
The Google Pixel Buds A Series is very good for phone calls, while the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) is only fair.

TV and Video

5.4
Airpods (2nd generation)
Pixel Buds A Series
7.8
The Google Pixel Buds A Series is good for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) is poor.

Noise Reduction

2.5
Airpods (2nd generation)
Pixel Buds A Series
4.6
The Google Pixel Buds A Series and Apple Airpods (2nd generation) are both poor for noise reduction, though the Google Pixel Buds A Series is somewhat better.

Battery

4.0 Hours
Airpods (2nd generation)
Pixel Buds A Series
5.0 Hours
The Apple Airpods (2nd generation) has 4 hours of battery life. The Google Pixel Buds A Series has 5 hours of battery life.

Cost

$89
Airpods (2nd generation)
Pixel Buds A Series
$58
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The Apple Airpods (2nd generation) has a price of $89 and the Google Pixel Buds A Series costs $58.
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Key similarities

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Podcasts and Audiobooks

8.1
Airpods (2nd generation)
Pixel Buds A Series
8.4
The Google Pixel Buds A Series and Apple Airpods (2nd generation) are both very good for podcasts and audiobooks.

Build Quality

7.6
Airpods (2nd generation)
Pixel Buds A Series
7.4
The Apple Airpods (2nd generation) and Google Pixel Buds A Series both have good build quality.

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How the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) and the Google Pixel Buds A Series compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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Apple Airpods (2nd generation)Google Pixel Buds A Series
Apple Airpods (2nd generation)Google Pixel Buds A Series

GENERAL

Price
$89
$58
Brand
AppleGoogle
Release Date
March 1, 2019June 1, 2021
Form Factor
EarbudsEarbuds
Connectivity
WirelessWireless

SOUND

Music Score
5.9/106.4/10
Phone Calls Score
7/108.5/10
Gaming Score
4.9/108.7/10
TV and Video Score
5.5/107.8/10
Exercise Score
5.8/107.4/10

PERFORMANCE

Battery life
4 Hours5 Hours
Wireless charging
YesNo
Charging time
0.5 Hours1.3 Hours
Bluetooth version
55
Case Battery Life
2424

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
NoNo
Noise Reduction Score
2.5/104.6/10
Virtual Surround
NoNo
Android App
NoYes
iOS App
NoNo
Mic Quality
6.5/108.5/10

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
7.6/107.4/10
Comfort score
7.6/108.2/10
Size
SmallMedium
Weight (headset or single earbud)
4 Grams5.1 Grams
Microphone style
IntegratedIntegrated

Shopping

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Apple Airpods (2nd generation)

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Google Pixel Buds A Series

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Sound Guys

Jasper Lastoria | October 2022
"For the person who doesn’t want to think about their earphones while using them, Google has created the Pixel Buds A-Series. For a reasonable price, Google packs in a bevy of features like touch controls and a good fit into this Android-friendly set of earbuds to make productivity and life easier."

Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods (2nd generation) or the Google Pixel Buds A Series

About Apple

Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.

About Google

Mainly known as the most popular search engine on the planet, Google is a multinational technology company that also offers a variety of audio-oriented products. Beside their smart speakers under the Nest product line, Google offers several models of true wireless earbuds under the Pixel line, some of which happen to be an affordable but very powerful option for those already in the Android ecosystem.

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Why trust us

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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
123,200
Recommendations made
18,480
Consumer hours saved

About the Earbuds or Headphones team

Joe Golden, Ph.D

CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Luis Torres

Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.

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