Selling for $99 in the US, Google's new Pixel Buds A-Series is $159 in Australian dollars, which undercuts the official RRP of Apple's 2nd-gen AirPods, which is $249 from Apple and $188 from Amazon. It's also cheaper than the official $399 RRP of Apple's AirPods Pro, or the $295 price at Amazon.

That said, the Pixel Buds A-Series doesn't have some of the features of the 2nd-gen AirPods, such as wireless charging, nor does it have the noise cancelling of the AirPods Pro, but they are more affordable, and still deliver what Google says is "premium sound", with "rich sound, clear calls" and Google's hands-free helpfulness via the Google Assistant, along with the real-time translation feature that is powered by Google Translate.

The new comes via Matt Gaskell, Google's Director of Devices and Services in Australia and New Zealand in an official Google blog post.

Gaskell explains that when Google first introduced its truly wireless Pixel Buds, the company was "most excited about how such a small product could pack so much functionality", and says that Google is now "making that same premium sound quality, along with hands-free help from Google Assistant and real-time translation, available at an even more affordable price."

Google is sending members of the tech media review units of these ear buds, and I had hoped mine would arrive before the embargo lifted, but when you're in the middle of a pandemic and lockdown life, with postal services nowhere near as reliable as they were in the past, my Pixel Buds A-Series haven't arrived as yet, but I am certainly looking forward to trying them out.

Wireless headsets, be they from Apple, Samsung, Jabra, Google or a range of other vendors have become an essential part of the connected experience, letting you use your smartphone to make and take calls without a slab of metal encased glass to your ear, to enjoy digital media in privacy, to ask questions of your digital assistant and more, and they naturally free you of the wires that wired headphones often get tangled with.

Today's wireless headsets give you a good amount of battery as well as more battery in the charging case, and if I ever leave my AirPods and AirPods Pro behind, I regret it, because I'm so used to them, and they are so damn useful!

So, what else does Google and Gaskell have to say about the Pixel Buds A-Series?

A premium audio experience

Gaskell's blog post continues, stating: "Our research shows that most people describe great sound as full, clear and natural. This is what guides our audio tuning process and shows up in other devices, like Nest Audio. And Pixel Buds A-Series are no exception. Custom-designed 12mm dynamic speaker drivers deliver full, clear and natural sound, with the option for even more power in those low tones with Bass Boost.

"To experience the full range of the speaker’s capabilities, especially in the low frequencies, a good seal is essential. We’ve scanned thousands of ears to make Pixel Buds A-Series fit securely with a gentle seal. In order to keep the fit comfortable over time, a spatial vent reduces in-ear pressure.

"Each earbud also connects to the main device playing audio, and has strong individual transmission power, to keep your sound clear and uninterrupted.

"Sound quality can also be affected by your environment. The new Pixel Buds A-Series come with Adaptive Sound, which increases or decreases the volume based on your surroundings. This comes in handy when you're moving from the quiet of your home to somewhere noisy like a city street, or while jogging past a loud construction site.

"And your calls will have great sound too. To make sure your calls are as clear as they can be, Pixel Buds A-Series use beamforming mics to focus on your voice and reduce outside noise, making your calls crystal clear (though of course, overall call quality depends on signal strength, environment, network, and other factors). Once your call is over, quickly get back to your music with a simple “Hey Google, Play my music.”

Here's one of Google's promo videos about the Pixel A-Buds:

Stylish and hardworking

Gaskell's blog post continues: "For Pixel Buds A-Series, we wanted to bring back the iconic Clearly White, but added a twist with new gray undertones.

"Pixel Buds’ design is inspired by the idea that great things can come in small packages: Pixel Buds A-Series include up to five hours of listening time on a single charge or up to 24 hours using the charging case. And with the ability to get a quick charge — about 15 minutes in the case gives you up to three hours of listening time — you can keep listening anywhere.

"They’re comfortable enough for those long listening sessions, and don’t worry if some of that time is devoted to a sweaty workout or a run in the rain: The earbuds are also sweat and water-resistant (IPX4)".

Here's another Google promo video:

Hands-free access to the best of Google

Gaskell adds: "Google Assistant is built right into the Pixel Buds A-Series. You can get quick hands-free help to check the weather, get an answer, change the volume, or have notifications read to you with a simple “Hey Google.”

Added accessories

We're told that "to help protect your new Pixel Buds A-Series, there is now the Tech21 EvoSlim — a lightweight case to shield your smallest tech from drops and scratches. It is made with a built-in microbe-reducing formula and has an easy-to-attach carabiner to help keep your Pixel Buds A-Series safe and close to hand. Available on the Google Store soon.

"Pixel Buds A-Series are now available for pre-order in Australia from the Google Store, arriving to customers from August 25. Pixel Buds A-Series will be available online from August 25 at JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, and Officeworks, and available at Optus and Vodafones later this year. Pixel Buds A-Series will also be available online at Telstra from August 27. For more country availability and waitlist options, visit g.co/pixelbudsaseries."

So, I'll have more to say once I've had a chance to test the Pixel Buds A-Series, but quality wireless sound has never been more affordable, no matter which smartphone operating system you use, and if you aren't already a wireless user of ear buds, now sounds about as good a time as any to try them out and see what they sound like for yourself!