The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize higher sound quality with a more open and natural soundstage, favoring music and TV, and if you don't mind a wired connection, the Philips Fidelio X2HR headphones would be a better choice. However, they are larger, heavier, and less portable, making them less suitable for exercise and travel compared to the Google Pixel Buds A Series. Conversely, the Pixel Buds offer a compact wireless experience with a secure fit for exercise, decent sound quality suitable for calls and gaming due to a low-latency mode, and are optimized for both Android and Apple devices. They're also more affordable but don't match the Philips in overall sound quality and don't deliver as immersive an experience for music listening and TV watching. 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 Google Pixel Buds A Series
Very good for phone calls
Very good for gaming
Good for exercise
Good for air travel
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Philips Fidelio X2HR
Excellent for music
Very good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.4/10
9.3/10
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is excellent for music, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series is only fair.
Gaming
8.6/10
7.0/10
The Google Pixel Buds A Series is very good for gaming, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is good.
Phone Calls
8.5/10
5.0/10
The Google Pixel Buds A Series is very good for phone calls, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.4/10
7.9/10
The Google Pixel Buds A Series is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is good.
TV and Video
7.8/10
8.8/10
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is very good for TV and video, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series is good.
Noise Reduction
4.6/10
2.5/10
The Google Pixel Buds A Series and Philips Fidelio X2HR are both poor for noise reduction, though the Google Pixel Buds A Series is somewhat better.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The Google Pixel Buds A Series has 5 hours of battery life. The Philips Fidelio X2HR does not have a battery.
Cost
$58
$140
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Google Pixel Buds A Series has a price of $58 and the Philips Fidelio X2HR costs $140.
Build Quality
7.4/10
9.0/10
The Philips Fidelio X2HR has excellent build quality, while the Google Pixel Buds A Series has good build quality.
"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."
"This piece is a fantastic option for music lovers searching for premium sound and a snug fit. You should get these headphones if you care about sound quality and want to hear music in a new light. This technology is a great option for high-quality headphones with superb sound reproduction."
Get a great deal on the Google Pixel Buds A Series or the Philips Fidelio X2HR
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.
About Philips
Philips is a Dutch conglomerate and electronics manufacturer with over 130 years of history. Philips makes the Fidelio audio line which includes several models of full-sized wired and wireless headphones, true wireless earbuds. soundbars and wireless speakers.
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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
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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.