Google Pixel Buds A leak teases cheaper wireless earbuds to fight AirPods 3

(Image credit: Regan Coule/Tom's Guide)

The next pair of Google Pixel Buds might not exist the Pixel Buds three, but rather the Pixel Buds A — suggesting that similar the rumored Google Pixel 5a, this prepare of true wireless earbuds could be a more affordable model.

A 9to5Google written report claimed to reveal the new earbuds' name, along with its two colour options: white and green.

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Co-ordinate to the written report, the Pixel Buds A will be "almost visually indistinguishable" from the existing Pixel Buds two, only with a choice of all-white or night "forest green" color schemes. This lines upwardly with a contempo leak, courtesy of the FCC certification process, that seemingly revealed two variants of a new Google Pixel Buds model.

Assuming a very similar pattern to the Pixel Buds ii, information technology sounds like you can expect similar features such every bit replaceable in-ear tips and wings to aid hold the earbuds in place. Touch controls, activated by borer the exterior of each earbud, also seem like a given for the Pixel Buds A.

This does raise the question of where Google would find the toll savings to make a lower price more viable. Perhaps the Pixel Buds A case won't support wireless charging, like the Pixel Buds 2 case does. Or perhaps the earbuds won't accept the IPX4 water resistance of the current model.

The Pixel Buds 2 currently cost $179, so in that location should be enough jerk room for Google to make a more affordable alternating to challenge the best inexpensive wireless earbuds without needing to lower standards on sound quality or bombardment life.

Nosotros've recently seen some very skilful buds below the $150 mark, including some with active noise counterfoil such equally the $99 JLab Epic Air Sport ANC.

The Pixel Buds A could too undercut the Apple AirPods three, though release dates for both pairs of headphones are however up in the air. The aforementioned FCC documents mention confidentiality terms on images that expire in September 2021, so nosotros'd expect to run into the Pixel Buds A before then, while the AirPods 3 is currently tipped to release in the second half of the twelvemonth.

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James is currently Hardware Editor at Stone Paper Shotgun, but earlier that was Audio Editor at Tom'southward Guide, where he covered headphones, speakers, soundbars and anything else that intentionally makes noise. A PC enthusiast, he also wrote calculating and gaming news for TG, ordinarily relating to how difficult it is to discover graphics menu stock.