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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Focal Bathys offers superior sound quality, soundstage, and active noise cancelling, making them ideal for an immersive music experience and air travel. However, the Bathys are considerable heavier and less portable than the Google Pixel Buds A Series, which are better suited for everyday use such as calls, meetings, and exercise due to their lightweight design and higher mic quality. While the Bathys come with a higher price tag and are optimized for higher fidelity audio, the Pixel Buds A Series are more budget-friendly and offer features like sweat resistance and optimization for Android devices. Therefore, if you prioritize premium sound and noise isolation for critical listening, choose the Focal Bathys, but for versatile, everyday use with good quality and lower cost, the Google Pixel Buds A Series would be the better choice. 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 Focal Bathys
- Very good for music
- Excellent for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Google Pixel Buds A Series
- Very good for phone calls
- Good for exercise
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.0
6.4
The Focal Bathys is very good for music, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series is only fair.
Gaming
9.3
8.6
The Focal Bathys is excellent for gaming, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series is very good.
Phone Calls
5.2
8.5
The Google Pixel Buds A Series is very good for phone calls, while the Focal Bathys is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.2
8.4
The Google Pixel Buds A Series is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Focal Bathys is only fair.
TV and Video
10.0
7.8
The Focal Bathys is best in class for TV and video, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series is good.
Noise Reduction
8.3
4.6
The Focal Bathys is very good for noise reduction, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series is poor.
Battery
31.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Focal Bathys has 31 hours of battery life. The Google Pixel Buds A Series has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$699
$58
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Focal Bathys has a price of $699 and the Google Pixel Buds A Series costs $58.
Build Quality
9.0
7.4
The Focal Bathys has excellent build quality, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series has good build quality.
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How the Focal Bathys and the Google Pixel Buds A Series compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Bathys | Google Pixel Buds A Series |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$699 | $58 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | June 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 6.4/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.4/10 | 8.7/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 10/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.6/10 | 7.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 31 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 1.3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 24 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 4.6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 350 Grams | 5.1 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Focal Bathys
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Christian Thomas | May 2023
"As much as I hesitate to recommend a headphone that sells for $800 USD, if you’re looking for the best sound quality you can find in the ANC space: it’s the Focal Bathys."
Google Pixel Buds A Series
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Dig into reviews and images
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 Focal Bathys or the Google Pixel Buds A Series
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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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.
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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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