Finally, *A* Replaceable Battery! - Pixel Buds 2a

Quick Overview

The Google Pixel Buds 2a feature a user-replaceable Li-ion battery in the case, a significant step toward repairability, although the earbuds themselves appear glued shut; the sound profile is bassier than the previous generation but still has a scooped midrange, and the ANC performance is better than the previous model but not class-leading, with the app offering customization for touch controls and EQ.

Key Points: The Pixel Buds 2a charging case features a replaceable 1600mAh Lithium-ion battery, secured by two tiny screws. The earbuds themselves appear to be glued shut, making the actual earbud components non-user-replaceable. The sound profile is warmer with more bass than the previous generation, but the midrange is still scooped, and the treble is slightly overcooked. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) performance is improved over the previous model but still trails competitors like the AirPods Pro 2. The companion app allows customization of touch controls (single tap, double tap, press and hold) and offers an equalizer with presets like Heavy Bass, Light Bass, Balanced, Vocal Boost, and Clarity. The earbuds offer 1 hour of listening time from just 5 minutes of charging. The case carries an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance.

Context: The video provides a teardown and review of the Google Pixel Buds 2a, focusing on their repairability, sound quality, and new features compared to previous models and competitors like the AirPods Pro 2. The reviewer carefully disassembles the charging case to examine the battery situation, which is the central theme suggested by the video's title.

Detailed Analysis

The video explores the repairability and features of the Google Pixel Buds 2a, specifically noting the significant achievement of having a user-replaceable battery within the charging case, which is held in by two tiny screws and connects via a small pad. However, the battery within the earbuds themselves is likely glued in and not intended for user replacement. The case has an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance. In terms of audio performance, the 2a model offers a warmer sound signature with more bass compared to the previous generation, though the midrange remains scooped, and the treble can sound slightly overcooked. The reviewer compares the frequency response (with ANC on) to the Pixel Buds 2a (red line) and the AirPods Pro 2 (blue line), showing the 2a's bass is slightly stronger but still drops off sharply above 1.5kHz, similar to the previous generation. The ANC is noted as better than the previous model but still inferior to the AirPods Pro 2. The companion app provides controls for Active Noise Control (ANC modes: Noise Cancellation, Off, Transparency), Digital Assistant preferences, Find Device, Audio Switch, and a 5-band equalizer with presets like Heavy Bass, Light Bass, Balanced, Vocal Boost, Clarity, and Last Saved, plus a Volume EQ toggle.