Google Pixel 10a vs Pixel 10: What’s the difference?

Price and Availability

The Pixel 10a is currently available for pre-order and will be available to buy from March 5th. Much like its predecessor, the Pixel 9a, the Pixel 10a has a starting RRP of £499/$499. 

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Otherwise, the Pixel 10 is the entry-level handset into Google’s flagship Pixel line-up. While its official RRP is £799/$799, it can be found with a decent price cut. For example, at the time of writing the Pixel 10 starts at just £549 on Google’s official store.

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Pixel 10 runs on Google Tensor G5

One of the main differences between the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10a is with their respective chips. While the Pixel 10 runs on Tensor G5, Google’s current flagship chip, the Pixel 10a is surprisingly powered by Tensor G4 which was seen across the entire Pixel 9 series.

This is the first time that Google hasn’t used the same chip to power an entire series. Sure, many brands tend to use an older chip for their affordable handset, but this has always been something Google hasn’t done – and we’ve appreciated it. 

Even so, it’s worth remembering that neither the Tensor G5 nor G4 are particularly esteemed for their power – especially in comparison to the likes of Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Apple’s A19. Instead, Google’s chips are designed to ensure the smooth and speedy running of its AI tools including Gemini. Having said that, unless you’re using your Pixel for playing AAA titles, you’ll still find that everyday performance is speedy, with apps opening quickly without much stutter. 

So, while you’re unlikely to notice a significant difference between the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10a’s performance, it’s still a shame that Google has decided against making its flagship chip available for the entire Pixel 10 series. 

Pixel 10 includes a telephoto lens

Normally reserved for the Pro iterations, the entry-level Pixel 10 was the first to sport a telephoto lens alongside 48MP main and 13MP ultrawide sensors. The 10.8MP telephoto lens offers a 5x optical zoom and we found it does manage to close the distance between you and objects that are further away. However, we noticed that images appear slightly over-processed at 5x and even more so when pushed to its maximum 20x too.

Otherwise, the Pixel 10a sports the same main and ultrawide lenses as the Pixel 10 (48MP and 13MP respectively), which is the same set-up as last year’s Pixel 9a. As we found the Pixel 9a to deliver exceptionally accurate and detailed photos, we would expect the same performance with the Pixel 10a – although it’s undeniably disappointing that it missed out on a telephoto lens.

Pixel 10a promises 120-hours battery life with Extreme Battery Saver

Battery has never been a strong point of Google’s Pixel phones. It’s not that Pixel handsets don’t have a decent enough battery life or charging speed, they just tend to fall short when compared to the likes of the OnePlus 15 with its 7300mAh cell and 120W speeds.

Even so, we still concluded that the Pixel 10 is a solid all-day phone which, even after heavy use, still ended the day with around 20-30% left in the tank. While we’re yet to test the Pixel 10a’s battery life, Google does promise it offers the same 30W charging speed support as the Pixel 10 which sees a full charge taking around 90 minutes.

However, the Pixel series does sport a useful feature called Extreme Battery Saver which, when enabled, promises to prolong battery life for longer. While the Pixel 10 promises Extreme Battery Saver will result in up to 100-hours of battery, the Pixel 10a claims up to 120-hours instead. 

Keep in mind though that when Extreme Battery Saver is enabled, most apps and notifications will pause, processing will slow down and many features will turn off too. That means your handset won’t be quite as usable. 

Pixel 10a has a Gorilla Glass 7i display

Although both the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10a use a Gorilla Glass coating on their respective displays, they differ with the exact type. The Pixel 10a uses 2024’s Gorilla Glass 7i which is found on many of the best mid-range phones including the Xiaomi 15T, and promises to withstand drops from up to one meter and is twice as scratch resistant as its nearest competitors too. 

In comparison, the Pixel 10 is fitted with the older Gorilla Glass Victus 2 which was first introduced with the Galaxy S23 series. Although it’s older, it promises to also be drop-resistant and scratch-resistant too.

Speaking of durability, it’s worth noting that both handsets are equipped with an IP68 rating which means they’re dust-tight and can withstand a dunking in water.

Pixel 10 has a camera bar

The entire Pixel 9 series, including the Pixel 9a, saw a huge design revamp over its predecessors which Google has retained for the Pixel 10 series. While previous Pixel phones sported a divisive rectangular camera bar at their rear, which tended to collect dust and get caught in pockets, the Pixel 10’s camera bar is pill-shaped and looks a lot sleeker. 

However, the Pixel 10a has followed in the Pixel 9a’s footsteps and forgoes the camera bar altogether. Instead, the cameras sit flush at the phone’s rear which means it can lay flat. While it may not subsequently have the iconic Pixel look, it still looks great.

Early Verdict

As we haven’t reviewed the Pixel 10a yet, we won’t provide a conclusive verdict just yet. However, on paper the Pixel 10a looks like a decent alternative to the Pixel 10 for those who want an affordable handset and aren’t necessarily fussed about having the most power possible. 

On the other hand, as you can pick up the Pixel 10 for just £/$50 more than the Pixel 10a, and you’ll benefit from a telephoto lens, Google’s current flagship chip and the iconic Pixel design. 

We’ll update this versus once we review the Pixel 10a.