Earbuds · Model guide · Maker specs
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
Get Pixel Buds A-Series only if you find a pair well under its $99 launch price and don't need noise cancelling.
Product images
Google Pixel Buds A-Series, from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Get Pixel Buds A-Series only if you find a pair well under its $99 launch price and don't need noise cancelling. Google's 2021 earbuds have a 12 mm driver, an IPX4 rating and up to 5 hours of listening, or 24 with the USB-C case. Pixel Buds 2a and Pro 2 add Silent Seal noise cancelling and Tensor A1, and iPhone owners miss the features that need Android.
Who it is for
- Android owners on a tight budget who want Google Assistant and Fast Pair in their ears, and can find a pair below the $99 launch price.
- People who find sealed earbuds stuffy, or who like to hear traffic on a run. A spatial vent eases pressure in the ear and keeps you aware of what's around you.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants noise cancelling. The A-Series has passive noise reduction only; Pixel Buds 2a and Pro 2 add Silent Seal.
- iPhone owners. The full feature set needs an Assistant-enabled phone running Android 6.0 or newer, plus a Google Account.
- Qi pad owners. The case charges over USB-C only; Google's 2020 Pixel Buds and Pixel Buds Pro have Qi cases.
What sets it apart
- A custom 12 mm dynamic driver, paired with a spatial vent that relieves in-ear pressure.
- Up to 5 hours of listening from the buds and 24 counting the case, and a 15-minute top-up buys up to 3 hours.
- A 5.06 g bud in three tip sizes, with an IR sensor that pauses playback when you take a bud out.
Caveats
- It's a 2021 design, and Google's store has moved on to Pixel Buds Pro 2 and 2a (as of 19 September 2026).
- Google gives no multipoint, spatial audio or codec details for the A-Series.
Key specs
In the same order on every earbuds page, so you can compare pairs.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | In-ear with eartips and a spatial vent for pressure relief and awareness | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Fit / tips / wings | Eartips in three sizes: small, medium (attached), large | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Driver / acoustic architecture | Custom 12 mm dynamic driver; spatial vent; passive noise reduction | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Active noise cancellation | No; passive noise reduction only | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Transparency / ambient | No named mode; the spatial vent keeps some awareness of your surroundings | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Battery — buds | Up to 5 hours of listening or 2.5 hours of talk; 15 minutes in the case gives up to 3 hours of listening or 1.5 hours of talk | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series)Google's figures are approximate, from pre-production hardware and software, and the features you use shorten them. |
| Battery — with case | Up to 24 hours of listening or 12 hours of talk | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Charging | USB-C on the case; USB-C to USB-A cable in the box; 15-minute fast charge in the case | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Wireless charging | Not listed; USB-C case with a Hall sensor (Qi is listed for the 2020 Pixel Buds, Pro and Pro 2) | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Water / dust — buds | IPX4, earbuds only (IEC 60529); not permanent | Pixel Buds Help; Google Pixel blogNo dust rating is given, and the buds aren't for swimming. |
| Water / dust — case | Not rated | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0; pairs with any Bluetooth 4.0 or newer device | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Microphones / calls | Dual beamforming microphones | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| On-bud controls | Capacitive touch for music, calls and Google Assistant | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Sensors | Capacitive touch; IR proximity sensor for in-ear play and pause; Hall effect sensor in the case | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Weight — one bud | 5.06 g | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Weight — case | 42.8 g empty; 52.9 g with earbuds | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Dimensions — one bud | 20.7 × 29.3 × 17.5 mm (0.81 × 1.15 × 0.69 in) | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Dimensions — case | 63 × 47 × 25 mm (2.48 × 1.85 × 0.98 in) | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Finishes | Clearly White, Dark Olive, Charcoal, Sea (availability varies) | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Phone / OS compatibility | Any Bluetooth 4.0 or newer device; full features need a Google Account, an Assistant-enabled Android 6.0 or newer phone and internet; Gemini needs current Pixel Buds software and Android 10 or newer | Pixel Buds Help |
| Find / Fast Pair / UWB | Fast Pair and Find, as in Google's general Pixel Buds help; no UWB | Pixel Buds Help; Google Store how-to pages |
| Companion app / firmware | Pixel Buds app or Android settings; firmware updates from Google | Pixel Buds Help |
| US launch price | $99 (US); pre-orders in the US and Canada, arriving by 17 June (2021) | Google Pixel blog (A-Series launch) |
| Price band | Budget (under $100 at launch) | Based on the $99 launch price |
| Announced | 3 June 2021 (Google's “just $99” launch post) | Google Pixel blog |
| Availability | Google's 2021 budget Pixel Buds; as of 2026-09-19 the Google Store leads with Pixel Buds Pro 2 and 2a | Google Store; Pixel Buds Help |
Google Pixel Buds A-Series extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passive noise reduction | Yes; no active noise cancelling or Silent Seal | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Spatial vent | Relieves in-ear pressure and keeps some awareness of your surroundings | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
| Model | Pixel Buds A-Series, not Pixel Buds (2020), Pro, Pro 2 or 2a | Pixel Buds Help |
| In the box | Earbuds; charging case; eartips (S, M, L); USB-C to USB-A cable; Quick Start Guide | Pixel Buds Help (A-Series) |
Google’s budget Pixel Buds, without noise cancelling
Google launched Pixel Buds A-Series on 3 June 2021 at $99. It skips active noise cancelling: you get a custom 12 mm driver, passive noise reduction from the tips, and a spatial vent that keeps pressure from building up in your ear.
Five years on, newer Pixel Buds have moved past it. Pixel Buds 2a adds Silent Seal noise cancelling, Tensor A1 and IP54 buds, and Pixel Buds Pro 2 has Silent Seal and Tensor A1 as well. The A-Series still makes sense at a real discount, for someone who just wants Google’s earbuds for music and calls.
Battery and charging
Google’s approximate figures:
| Mode | Pixel Buds A-Series |
|---|---|
| Listening | Up to 5 hours |
| Talk | Up to 2.5 hours |
| Listening with the case | Up to 24 hours |
| Talk with the case | Up to 12 hours |
| 15 minutes in the case | Up to 3 hours of listening or 1.5 hours of talk |
Calls drain it twice as fast as music: 2.5 hours of talk per charge against 5 of listening. Google bases these figures on pre-production hardware and software, and the features you use shorten them.
Controls, calls and phones
Capacitive touch handles music, calls and Google Assistant, and dual beamforming microphones pick up your voice. The buds connect over Bluetooth 5.0, and Google’s Pixel Buds app, or Android’s own settings, takes care of setup and firmware.
Gemini came later. Google now lists it for Pixel Buds with current Pixel Buds software and Android 10 or newer, and it wasn’t part of the A-Series launch.
Price and colors
The A-Series cost $99 in the US at launch, with pre-orders in the US and Canada and deliveries by 17 June. It came in Clearly White, Dark Olive, Charcoal and Sea, though not every color everywhere. Google has sold it below list before, so compare the going price with Pixel Buds 2a before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Google Pixel Buds Help — requirements and specifications (A-Series table) — accessed 2026-09-19
- Google Pixel blog — Pixel Buds A-Series (just $99) — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Does Pixel Buds A-Series have noise cancelling?
No. The tips give passive noise reduction, and a spatial vent relieves pressure in your ear while keeping you aware of your surroundings. For active noise cancelling, Pixel Buds 2a and Pro 2 have Silent Seal.
Should I buy Pixel Buds A-Series or Pixel Buds 2a?
Get 2a if you want noise cancelling: it adds Silent Seal and Tensor A1, and its buds are rated IP54 instead of IPX4. The A-Series is worth it only at a clear discount, and only if passive isolation is enough for you.
Does Pixel Buds A-Series work with an iPhone?
Only for the basics. Any Bluetooth 4.0 or newer device can pair with it, but Assistant and Google's other features need Android 6 or newer, a Google Account and an internet connection.
Can the Pixel Buds A-Series case charge wirelessly?
No. It charges over USB-C, and a USB-C to USB-A cable comes in the box. The 2020 Pixel Buds and Pixel Buds Pro are the Google earbuds with Qi cases.
Is Pixel Buds A-Series water resistant?
Only the buds. They're rated IPX4 under IEC 60529, Google says that protection isn't permanent, and the case has no rating.
Official product page: Google Pixel Buds A-Series. Tech specs: Google Pixel Buds A-Series specs.