Google’s Pixel A-series is often one of the easiest budget handsets to recommend each year. So, those in the market for a new Android phone may want to check out the new Pixel 10a, which was officially announced today.
The Pixel 10a is priced at $499 (no premium) and brings modest improvements over its predecessor. The new phone will be available starting March 4, and you can pre-order the phone starting today.
I got to preview the phone at a recent demo event, and it looks great a lot similar to last year’s Pixel 9a. The prominent horizontal camera bar that adorns the standard Pixel line is gone, in favor of a small invisible camera that now sits entirely on the back of the device.
Do you see? It is flat.
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Last year’s model also ditched the horizontal bar, but the camera still protrudes slightly. Now, you can lay the Pixel 10a completely flat on a table without it moving, a major problem with Samsung’s latest phones.
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Google Pixel 10a: Details
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The Google Pixel 10a comes in four colors: Lavender, Berry, Mist, and Obsidian. It also costs $499, the same as the Pixel 9a. Here are the basic details:
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6.3-inch display with 1080×2424 resolution and variable refresh rate of 60-120Hz
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Maximum brightness of up to 3,000 nits
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Google Tensor G4 processor
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5,100mAh battery
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8GB RAM
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128/256GB storage
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Dual rear camera lenses: 48MP and 13MP
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13MP selfie camera
What’s new, what’s not
The display hasn’t changed much.
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Eagle-eyed readers will notice a few similarities between the Pixel 10a and Pixel 9a in that list of specs. Battery size, RAM, and storage options are all the same as last year, too. Ditto for camera specs.
However, the Pixel 10a has improved features. Google says the Pixel 10a is its Toughest A phone, with IP68 water and dust resistance. The Actua’s 6.3-inch display also features the new Corning Gorilla Glass 7i and is 11 percent brighter than the 9a.
What kind of functionality will it provide?
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Interestingly, the processor has not changed, which is unusual for the Pixel A series. Generally, the budget version of the Pixel phone uses the same processor as the previous model. For example, the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9a both used the Tensor G4 processor. For some reason, Google kept the Tensor G4 processor in the Pixel 10a, despite the Pixel 10 running on the Tensor G5.
At this point in time, it’s impossible to say what practical difference this will make in performance, especially since Google is bringing the scaling of the AI feature from the Pixel 10 to the Pixel 10a. It doesn’t do anything new software-wise, but it can do everything the Pixel 10 can do, as far as I can tell.
Is the Pixel 10a worth it?
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Processor quirks aside, the Pixel 10a looks like another premium mid-range phone from a company that’s gotten pretty good at making it in recent years.
We’ll know more about the Pixel 10a once we’ve had a chance to test it properly, and a full review is coming soon.
You can pre-order the Google Pixel 10a for $499 from the Google Store. Buyers who pre-order the phone from Amazon will also receive a free $100 Amazon gift card.
