Google Pixel 10a: Déjà vu?
Google’s budget champion, the A-series smartphone, returns with subtle upgrades. But do the refinements justify a new launch?
The new Google Pixel 10a is here. If you had read our coverage of the Pixel 9a last year, you could just skip reading this article — that is because the new 10a is in many ways, the same phone as its predecessor. Almost.
The $499 handset keeps the 5,100mAh battery and the same camera set up. You still get a 48-megapixel main camera, a 13-megapixel ultrawide and a 13-megapixel selfie lens.
The flat camera housing remains — this time, sitting flush at the level of the back panel, making it probably the only smartphone in the current market without a camera bump.
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Inside, Google uses the same Tensor G4 chip rather than the newer G5 found in the rest of the Pixel 10 line.
So what has changed? Charging is slightly faster. Wired speeds rise to 30 watts and wireless charging increases to 10 watts. The 6.3-inch display is slightly brighter, reaching 3,000 nits at peak brightness. It is protected by Gorilla Glass 7i, an improvement from its predecessor's Gorilla Glass 3.
On the software side, new features such as Camera Coach and Auto Best Take add light AI assistance. These features add a little more utility, however, they will eventually come to the older Pixels as well.
The design tweaks are subtle. Bezels are slightly slimmer. New colours include berry and fog, which are just slightly more saturated versions of the Pixel 9a's shades.
So, should you get the 10a? Surely, this is a solid device on paper. But the 9a is likely the better buy. You give up just one year of software updates — six instead of seven. With its lower price, that trade-off may be worth the money you save.
