The Pixel 10a Is About To 'break The Record For Laziest Phone Upgrade In History' — Why The Leaks Are A Red Flag

Normally, the impending launch of a new phone is the time for excitement and wonder over what this new device may have to offer. Even in years where upgrades are minimal, at best, there’s usually something worth taking note of. But everything we’ve heard about the Pixel 10a suggests that it’s just a rebranded Pixel 9a with the same specs and design.

I don’t just mean similar specs, either. I mean the exact same specs right down to the Tensor G4 chipset, which is already almost a year-and-a-half old. Looking over the rumors for this phone, I am silently praying that they’re completely wrong. Otherwise, Google is about to break the record for the laziest phone upgrade in history.

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Row 0 – Cell 0	Pixel 10a (rumored)	Pixel 9a
Starting price	$499	$499
Display	6.28-inch AMOLED	6.28-inch AMOLED
Refresh rate	120Hz	120Hz
Rear cameras	48MP main, 13MP ultrawide	48MP main, 13MP ultrawide
Front cameras	13MP	13MP
Chipset	Tensor G4	Tensor G4
RAM	8GB	8GB
Storage	128GB, 256GB	128GB, 256GB
Battery	5,100 mAh	5,100 mAh
Charging	23W wired, 7.5W wireless	23W wired, 7.5W wireless
Operating system	Android 16	Android 16 (update from Android 15)
Water/dust resistance	IP68	IP68

Iterative updates are nothing new…

(Image credit: Evan Blass)

There’s nothing more disappointing than reading up on a new phone, only to find out that very little has changed since the previous generation. Or worse, the previous few generations. But this is pretty normal for the phone industry. Often, it’s no huge surprise to see a brand new phone generation arrive with little more than a better chipset and a few other small hardware upgrades thrown into the mix.

The Google Pixel 10 Pro is one very good example of that, with very few differences compared to the Pixel 9 Pro. In my testing, the camera quality worked out to be more or less identical, which just goes to show how similar the two phones actually were. All the good upgrades, it seems, were saved for either the Pixel 10 or the larger Pixel 10 Pro XL.

In an era where phone makers offer multiple different flagships each year, the fact is that some of those phones will get more upgrades than others. You can’t give equal footing to the cheapest phone when multiple other devices have to be noticeably better (and more expensive) than it.

It’s a sad fact of life that smartphone makers aren’t as inventive as they used to be. In the early days, when 12 months could be the difference between getting an incredible new feature, like 3G or a camera flash. Phone makers still had a lot to offer, and it wasn’t always entirely clear what smartphones should or shouldn’t offer.

These days, everything is a lot more routine. They know what works, and the difference between devices from year to year (or even brand to brand) is fairly minimal. Hardware and battery performance are at the point where you can’t still expect huge gains in short periods of time, and phones are so feature-packed already that adding more runs the risk of making it seem more like a gimmick than an actual utility.

That’s part of the reason people don’t upgrade as regularly as they used to. Price comes into it, sure, but really, what’s the point in buying a new phone every two years when not much has actually changed?

But some instances make me think, “You have got to be kidding me with this.” The Pixel 10a sounds like it’s going to be one of them.

…but this isn’t iterative, it’s just a waste of time

Google Pixel 10a: A phone with more in store, in store soon – YouTube

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So you have identical specs, what about the design? Luckily, Google has already released a teaser showing off the Pixel 10a, so we know exactly what the phone looks like. Unsurprisingly, it looks almost identical to the Pixel 9a, and the only real change I can make out is that the camera bump may be completely flush this year — apparently removing the slight lip that was present on the 9a.

Lack of design changes is not a big issue on their own. It’s pretty common to see phone designs stick around for a few years before something new comes along. That’s never really been an issue, but cosmetic design changes are rarely worth releasing a whole new phone for. Especially not when the changes are as minor as this.

In fact, given what we know about the Pixel 10a, I have to wonder why Google even bothered getting one ready. This isn’t just a phone that’s very similar to its predecessor; it’s one that, at this early stage, is completely identical. The key difference is a new number on the box.

There’s always a chance that the software features make a big difference, and the fact that A-series Pixels have almost all the same AI features as their flagship counterparts is what makes them some of the best cheap phones. But it’s hard to see all the best Pixel 10 features coming to the 10a without the Tensor G5 chipset.

I used to have teachers who were fond of telling disruptive classes that they were “only wasting their own time” by not paying attention. It’s something that I keep thinking back to when the Pixel 10a is on my mind, and all I can think about is how Google is wasting its own time and energy as much as it’s wasting ours.

Why bother releasing a phone that doesn’t even offer the bare minimum of upgrades?

It defies all logic and comes across as an exercise in trying to look as though the Pixel division is actually doing something. A box-ticking exercise that makes Google look good on paper, showing off a new A-series release. Even if it’s one that seemingly requires zero developmental effort.

I really hope the rumors are wrong

Google Pixel 10a flat against green background,

(Image credit: Google / Tom’s Guide)

I know that Google offers a lot with the A-series Pixels. Good cameras, flagship-level AI features and those bright Actua displays, to name a few. All while keeping the price under $500. Adding too much runs the risk of cannibalizing the market for the Pixel 10, and unwanted price hikes — essentially making the same mistake Apple did with the iPhone 16e.

But you’d hope for some kind of change. At the very least, an upgraded chipset, maybe a different battery, or some changes to the camera. I just hope that the rumors are wrong, and Google does have some hardware upgrades in store for the Pixel 10a. Or, at the very least, new stuff that just hasn’t appeared in leaks so far.

I mean Qi2 and Pixelsnap are right there, Google, and that would at least be something. It wouldn’t be close enough to warrant an upgrade from Pixel 9a, but it would help make the phone stand out.

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