Google has just announced its latest affordable Pixel, but how does it compare to last year’s?
As 2025’s Pixel 9a saw a dramatic change over its predecessors, on paper the new Pixel 10a seems like more of a tweak rather than a complete overhaul. In fact, the Pixel 10a uses the exact same Tensor G4 chip as last year’s affordable smartphone.
With that in mind, what’s really new with the Pixel 10a? Are there enough differences to warrant an upgrade over the Pixel 9a?
Ahead of our review, we’ve compared the specs of the Pixel 10a to the Pixel 9a and highlighted the key differences, alongside any noteworthy similarities, below. Keep reading to see what’s new with the Pixel 10a and whether it stands a chance at overtaking the Pixel 9a in our best mid-range phones guide.
Price and Availability
At the time of writing, the Pixel 10a is available for pre-order and will officially launch on March 5th. It comes in a choice of four colours, Lavender, Berry, Fog and Obsidian, and has a starting RRP of £499/$499.
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Having launched in 2025, the Pixel 9a can be purchased now and has an official RRP of £499/$499. Having said that, as it’s nearly a year old, we not only expect its RRP to drop in the coming weeks, but you can also easily pick up the handset with a hefty price drop. For example, at the time of writing the Pixel 9a was available to buy on Google’s official store from just £349.
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Both run on Google Tensor G4
In a somewhat disappointing move by Google, instead of kitting the Pixel 10a with the same Tensor G5 chip found in the rest of the Pixel 10 line-up, the brand has opted to reuse the Tensor G4 chip from the Pixel 9 series instead. Now generally speaking, this is something that brands tend to do with budget-friendly alternatives to their flagship models, however this isn’t something that Google does.
The Pixel 9a, Pixel 8a, Pixel 7a and even the Pixel 6a all ran on the same chip that powered the entirety of each respective series – including the Pro model. With this in mind, Google’s decision to reuse last year’s chip is undoubtedly a shame.
Having said that, it’s worth noting that we still found the Pixel 9a’s performance to be admirable. While Google Tensor chips can never compete with the sheer gusto of Qualcomm or Apple’s flagship chips, the Pixel 9a still allows you to open apps, play casual games and stream without any hint of lag or stutter. With this in mind, we hope for the same level of performance in the Pixel 10a, but you could argue that if it’s the same chip why not save a bit of money and opt for the older phone?
Google Pixel 10a features Satellite SOS
Satellite SOS enables Pixel users to connect to emergency services via satellite if they find themselves without Wi-Fi or a mobile network. While the feature is found in most of the Pixel 9 series, it’s not available in the Pixel 9a. Instead, the Pixel 10a is the first A-Series to sport Satellite SOS.
It’s a shame the Pixel 9a doesn’t benefit from Satellite SOS, as it really could be a life-saving feature if users find themselves in an emergency situation but without any network connection.
Both the Pixel 10a and Pixel 9a are fitted with a dual rear camera system and include a 48MP main and a 13MP ultrawide lens. Considering we praised the Pixel 9a as being a “fantastic little snapper” that delivers exceptionally accurate results, the fact Google hasn’t made changes with the Pixel 10a is somewhat understandable. Even so, this decision makes the Pixel 10a harder to recommend when compared to the cheaper Pixel 9a.
However, Google has introduced some of its photo tools to the Pixel 10a which the Pixel 9a misses out on. These include Auto Best Take which helps ensure everyone in a group shot looks their best and Camera Coach. The latter was introduced with the Pixel 10 and uses Gemini to analyse what you’re taking a photo of and your current snapping conditions and gives you advice on how to perfect the shot.
Whether the inclusion of such tools is enough to warrant the Pixel 10a is down to personal preference. Even so, we would argue that although they’re undoubtedly nice to have, they shouldn’t be the sole reason you upgrade.
Pixel 10a promises up to 120-hours of battery with Extreme Saver
While the Pixel 9a promises up to 100-hours battery life when Extreme Battery Saver is switched on, the Pixel 10a claims a massive 120-hours instead. Both figures sound impressive but do keep in mind that Extreme Battery Saver will pause most apps and notifications, slow processing and turn off many features, which means your handset won’t be quite as usable.
Google also promises the Pixel 10a has faster charging than the Pixel 9a, with speeds of up to 30W compared to just 23W. It’s an improvement at least, but 30W is still way behind many of the best mid-range phones.
Pixel 10a is made with more recycled materials
Google claims the Pixel 10a is made with the “most recycled material of any A-series Pixel yet”, including recycled cobalt, copper, gold and tungsten. These, according to Google, add up to at least 36% of the product based on weight. In comparison, although the Pixel 9a is also made from recycled materials, they only make up at least 23%.
Otherwise, both the Pixel 9a and Pixel 10a have an IP68 rating which means they can survive a dunking in water and have Gorilla Glass displays. However, the Pixel 10a does benefit from the newer Gorilla Glass 7i coating which is also found in the Motorola Edge 70 and promises to be up to two times more scratch resistant than its nearest competitors.
The Pixel 9a, on the other hand, uses Gorilla Glass 3 on its display which first launched back in 2013. While we didn’t pick up any scratches during our time with the Pixel 9a, it’s definitely a disappointing addition.
Early Verdict
We’ll refrain from providing a conclusive verdict until we review the Pixel 10a. Even so, with the same Tensor G4 chip and dual rear camera as its predecessor, we’d argue that there aren’t many reasons to upgrade to the Pixel 10a. Yes, the inclusion of Satellite SOS is admirable and it’ll charge slightly faster, but as the Pixel 9a will likely retail for a lot less than the Pixel 10a, it seems like a no-brainer to go for the former.
We’ll be sure to update this versus once we get our hands on the Pixel 10a.
