Google Pixel Buds A test: compact and accessible wireless headphones

Fiche technique Design Application et utilisationQualité audio Autonomie Prix et date de disponibilité ConclusionCommentaires Voir la fiche produitDisponible à99 €

With its pixel buds a-series, Google wants to offer headphones at a price of less than 100 euros, without however sacrificing the advantages of previous models.Successful bet ?This is what we will see in this full test.

Google Pixel Buds A // Source: Frandroid

Last July, after nine months of waiting, Google finally launched its first wireless headphones in France, the Google Pixel Buds.Initially offered at 199 euros, they saw their price drop as you go.Nevertheless, they placed themselves in direct competitors of premium models like the headphones of Sony or Apple.

For its new Pixel Buds has freshly announced, Google has decided to hit hard with a much more accessible price, just 100 euros.What to remain just as attractive?This is what we will see in this full test.

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Google Pixel Buds A technical sheet

Modèle	Google Pixel Buds A
Format	écouteurs intra-auriculaires
Batterie amovible	Non
Microphone	Oui
Compatibilité OS	Android,iOS, Windows
Autonomie annoncée	24 heures
Type de connecteur	USB Type-C
Version du Bluetooth	5.0
Poids	10.12 grammes
Assistant Vocal	Google Assistant
Prix	99 €
	Fiche produit

This test was carried out with headphones provided to us by Google.

A particularly discreet design

The Google Pixel Buds has recalled the classic pixel buds in more ways than one, but it is first of all in the format, the case and the ergonomics of these headphones that parentage is exercised.We will first find an oval charging box, to the texture recalling that of a pebble.The outside rendering is very similar to the previous google headphones.Even the dimensions are extremely close with 63 x 47 x 25 mm, the same size as the pixel buds.Suffice to say that we have a box that goes easily in the pocket and can be stored without problem, even in a small handbag.

The Google Pixel Buds A // Source box: Frandroid

The same goes on the side of the opening of the case, since the lid can open with a simple gesture of the thumb.So much so that we quickly take it to play with in case of stress.The reinforcement also seems rather solid, without any game, and inspires confidence.Note also that the Pixel Buds A case has a USB-C socket as well as a Bluetooth pairing button.

Google Pixel Buds A // Source: Frandroid Google Pixel Buds A // Source: Frandroid

It is by opening the pixel buds housing that we will discover the first difference with the previous models of Google.Where the Pixel Buds sheltered a black interior, it was light gray which was chosen for the white version of the Pixel Buds.Nor will we find LED inside to indicate the condition of the headphones, but only one, outside the case.

The headphones in themselves are in every way similar to the pixel buds.In fact, we will find the same in-ear format with small fins to help fixing the headphones in the auditory pavilion.This results in good support with headphones that hold well in place, even if you are led to run with or if you move your jaw, to eat for example.Note as such that the Pixel Buds A are certified IPX4 and are therefore resistant to rain, splashes or perspiration.

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Google Pixel Buds A // Source: Frandroid

But the most astonishing with the pixel buds has their format.These are certainly in-ear headphones, but endowed with vents.For Google, it is a way of avoiding the plug or suction cup effect that can hinder certain users when they use headphones of this type.Nevertheless, it is difficult to be won over in use as we end up with the worst of both worlds, between open headphones and intra-ear headphones.Indeed, because of the vents, the headphones offer only a poor passive insulation, the ambient sounds passing inside the vents.And people allergic to intra-ear headphones will be just as embarrassed by having tips entering their auditory duct.Not sure that compromises made by Google are most relevant here, but it was already the same concern encountered on the Pixel Buds.

The fact remains that in use, the headphones are very comfortable to wear and that their format does not cause any discomfort, even after several hours of use, in particular thanks to the flexible arches used to maintain them.

A well thought out application

Google headphones obliges, the Pixel Buds A are compatible with the manufacturer's house system, Google Fast Pair, for pairing in Bluetooth.Concretely, when you open the earphones for the first time, a small pop-up window will appear on the screen of your smartphone nearby to invite you to connect the headphones to your phone.

For smartphones that are not compatible with fast peer - because these are older Android models, without google services or simply iPhone - it is possible to press the pairing button for a few secondsback of the case to launch the procedure.Overall, we therefore have a very simple pairing.

Google Pixel Buds A // Source: Frandroid

Once the headphones have been connected to the smartphone, the checks are also done in a rather affluent way thanks to touch panels on each earpiece.It is then enough to type one or more times on the left or right - the controls are identical - to manage your music.Thus, a right or left support allows you to set the music on a break or relaunch the reading.Two supports will go to the next piece and three supports will allow you to go back.Unfortunately, volume control cannot be done using these tactile interactions.It remains possible to modify the volume of your music, but only by going through Google Assistant to La Voix.Suffice to say that in a crowded metro, we would have preferred a more discreet management of the sound volume.

The Google Pixel Buds A Control Tactile // Source: Frandroid

Google Assistant is also particularly well integrated on the Pixel Buds A.By pressing one of the two headphones at length, we can have a reading of the latest notifications received, as well as the current time.It is also possible to know the incoming notifications for your favorite applications.Practical for example to find out what your loved ones are looking to tell you about Messenger, Whatsapp or by SMS without having to get your smartphone out of the pocket.Above all, vocal notifications can be configured so as not to receive certain selected.

In theory, headphones can also be used to take advantage of the instant translation.By pronouncing "Hey Google, help me to speak English", Google Assistant will open Google Translation on your smartphone in conversation mode.In fact, however, the use is much more complex than a translation on the fly of what your interlocutor can say.You must indeed press buttons on the phone screen, so much so that we wonder what is the interest of headphones in this context.The only use is in fact to have the translation in the ears, but we could have this function of the Google Translation application with any other headset or earpiece.

To go further in the use of headphones, Google offers a dedicated application, Pixel Buds.This app will allow you to find your headphones by ringing them, indicate the different tactile controls - without the possibility of modifying them (we can however choose to deactivate them if they are annoying), to update the firmware of the headphonesor activate/deactivate automatic pause.

The two headphones are indeed equipped with infrared sensors that will determine whether you carry them to your ears or not and automatically put the music on a break if you have removed them.

Finally, a final function proposed on the headphones will make it possible to manage the sound transmission.He is not an equalizer integrated into the application, but two modes to increase the bass or to adapt the volume of the headphones according to the ambient noise.We will come back.

Due to the presence of vents, there is no need to indicate that the headphones do not have active noise reduction.On the contrary, their lack of passive insulation can be a brake for certain uses and you will have no trouble discerning - or being embarrassed by - the noise of vehicles or conversations around you.

Regarding the Bluetooth 5 connection.0, it is done and keeps itself without hitch.Once the headphones have been connected to the smartphone, I have not encountered any connection jumps, even with the smartphone in my front and my hand on top, a configuration that tends to cause microcoupures.Even the concern encountered with the first wireless pixel buds - on which a earpiece sometimes lost the connection for no reason - did not concern the pixel buds a that I was able to test.Note also that the Pixel Buds A are not compatible with the Multipoint Bluetooth.So no need to try to connect them simultaneously with your smartphone and a laptop.

Finally, the two headphones can be used independently of each other.If you store the left earpiece in its case, the right earphone will continue to work and vice versa.On the other hand, in this configuration, you will only receive one stereo channel and not the two channels merged into a mono sound.

An audio quality far too average

The Google Pixel Buds A have 12 mm transducers for sound restitution.On the side of the Bluetooth audio codecs, they are however limited to AAC and SBC, the two most common codecs - and causing the most loss - on the market.

To test the headphones, I paired with an Oppo Find X2 Pro and I listened to titles on Spotify in "very high" quality, which corresponds to the OGG Vorbis at 320 kbps.

At first glance, the Pixel Buds has largely highlight the mediums, even if it means sacrificing low frequencies.Problem: mediums are sometimes cluttered, especially at high volume.This results in a fairly unpleasant saturation in the voice, whether it is Bad Guy of Billie Eilish or Come Away with Me by Norah Jones.In the treble, we also feel a strong sibilance far from being pleasant.Concretely, this translates into "S" tones, such as the sound of a cymbal, which are extended by the headphones.

Google Pixel Buds A // Source speaker grids: Frandroid

The bass is there, but clearly in the background.Unfortunately, the Google Pixel Buds application does not allow the sound signature of the headphones individually.Nevertheless, as we saw earlier, Google joined an option "amplification of bass" in the "sound" menu of its application.We strongly advise you to activate it.Admittedly, the option will not make miracles on the saturation of mediums at high volume or on sibilance in the treble, but the serious proposed by the Pixel Buds A, of good quality, make it possible to enhance the overall sound quality of the headphones.The graves are warm, round, precise and clear.We would almost be tempted to wonder why Google did not activate the default option, but it must be said that activating this option will clearly unbalance the sound signature for the benefit of the Graves, which is notSuitable for all styles of music.

The spatialization proposed by the Pixel Buds A is rather correct, without doing miracles.We are far from the sound scene produced by an open helmet, but we still perceive the musicians and the different instruments in the stereo scene.

The audio quality of Google Pixel Buds A is very average // Source: Frandroid

More problematic on the other hand, the dynamics of the headphones are particularly weak.In other words, all sounds are returned with an almost identical sound level, it doesn't matter that they were recorded in pianissimo or fortissimo.Somewhere, it is far from surprising, since this is one of the major faults not only of the audio files compressed with loss, but also AAC and SBC codecs used by headphones.

We saw it earlier, the Google Pixel Buds A do not offer an active noise reduction.Nevertheless, to allow you to take advantage of it even in a noisy environment, Google has integrated an option called "its adaptive".When you activate it, the headphones will automatically analyze the external sound and adjust the sound level to cover the surrounding sounds.In use, it works well enough to cover traffic noises and transitions are very smooth.Nevertheless, one cannot help regret the lack of noise reduction as this function actually automates the fact of increasing the sound when there is too much noise around us ... even if it means damaging theears.

Pour les appels, les Google Pixel Buds A sont dotés de deux microphones avec filtrage spatial. Ils parviennent globalement à bien supprimer les bruits environnants… au détriment de votre voix. Si les écouteurs captent du vent ou de la circulation, ils vont avoir tendance à filtrer un peu trop votre voix tant et si bien qu’elle en deviendra hachée pour votre interlocuteur et que les microphones mangeront les fins de mots. Dans un environnement calme, ce défaut est corrigé, et votre voix deviendra non seulement naturelle, mais bien plus intelligible pour la personne au bout du fil.

Correct autonomy, but a very fast load

The Pixel Buds A battery allows them, according to Google, to operate for five hours with a single load, and up to 24 hours using the load box.

For my part, by launching the music on the headphones one morning at 9:30 am, the headphones were able to operate until 2:44 p.m. before falling both short of battery, an autonomy of 5:14.Over this period, I had pushed the sound volume as much as possible and activated both the adaptive sound and the amplification of the bass.On another session, without activating these two options, there were still 15 % battery in the two headphones after 5 hours of use.What suggest that the five hours communicated by Google are a minimum and that the headphones are able to go up until 5:30 am, even six hours of autonomy depending on the activated options and the volume volume.

The USB-C socket of the Google Pixel Buds A // Source box: Frandroid

The fact remains that today, many wireless headphones allow you to enjoy at least five hours of autonomy.It is therefore a correct result offered by the Pixel Buds A, but in the average of the competition.

For recharge, Google indicates that an hour in the case allows headphones to recover all of their autonomy.By putting them in the 0 % battery case, it would however have taken me 43 minutes for the two Pixel Buds A to be fully recharged.This is, for once, a very good result.

The pixel buds A pixel box can recharge by USB-C using the USB-A cable to USB-C supplied, but is not compatible with the load-free load.

Price and availability of Google Pixel Buds A

The Google Pixel Buds A are offered in two colors: white and gray or white and olive.They are already available at a price of 99 euros.

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