The Pixel 10a might be Google’s latest affordable phone, but on paper it feels more like a gentle refresh than a true upgrade – especially when last year’s Pixel 9a is now cheaper than ever.
Both phones share the same core specs, the same Google-made Tensor chip and a near-identical design, yet one of them regularly dips well below its original asking price while the other launches at £499/$499.
Unless you’re absolutely set on having the newest model for the sake of it, the Pixel 10a has to work much harder than this to justify its existence.
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The Pixel 10a is a very familiar phone
You’ll be forgiven if you can’t tell the difference between the Pixel 10a and last year’s Pixel 9a when looking at the spec sheet – the two phones are practically the same in key areas.
That extends to the chipset, with both the Pixel 9a and 10a sporting the same Tensor G4 chipset – a chipset that first debuted on the Pixel 9 collection in 2024. It was a solid addition to the Pixel 9a in 2025, as it represented the latest in Google’s processing power, but the absence of the G5 found in the Pixel 10 series means the same can’t be said here.
There’s no justification for Google not to include the chipset, aside from a way to protect the sales of the regular Pixel 10. The entry-level Pixel is often compared to the ‘a’ alternative, and much of the time, the ‘a’ alternative is the better buy. With an older chipset, that recommendation is no longer quite as easy.
It would’ve been an easier pill to swallow had Google introduced new game-changing features to balance that decision, but there isn’t really much else new about the Pixel 10a.
Generally, it looks a lot like last year’s Pixel 9a, sporting the same flat-edged, rounded-corner design with a completely flat rear – a stark contrast to the bar-style camera housing present on the flagship Pixel 10 range. It would’ve been easy for Google to score a win in this department by including support for PixelSnap magnetic accessories, but that’s sadly not the case.
There’s also an identical camera offering with a 48MP primary lens and a 13MP ultrawide on the rear and a 13MP selfie snapper up front, with no discernible changes to the underlying hardware.
Now, Google could’ve improved its image processing to provide a tangible boost, but I’d argue that the company’s processing tech was already pushed to the limits by the 9a’s hardware last year. It’ll be interesting to see how, if at all, it differs in actual performance.
You likely won’t see a battery life boost either; it uses the same 5100mAh battery as its predecessor, with Google claiming the same ‘over 30 hours’ battery life estimate. Another downside to not using a newer, more energy-efficient chipset.
Upgrades that don’t exactly get the heart racing
Despite all the above, the Pixel 10a does come with a few key upgrades – but these are what I’d describe as bog-standard niceties rather than trying to truly tempt consumers to the newer phone.
That’s best exemplified by the only tangible design difference aside from the new Berry finish and slightly improved IP68 dust- and water-resistance: a completely flat rear camera housing.
You might think ‘well, that was the case with the 9a too’, but there was an ever so slight bump around the edges of the module. That’s gone this year. It does mean that the 10a should sit completely flush on a table and not wobble at all, but the 9a’s wobble isn’t exactly egregious compared to some phones.
There are also improvements in the screen department; it’s still a 6.3-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, but Google has slimmed down the infamously thick bezels of the latest ‘a’ series handset, giving it a more premium look in line with 2026 mid-range rivals. It’s also brighter at 3000nits, though that’s only a 300nit jump compared to the Pixel 9a.
The Pixel 10a should also charge a little faster than its predecessor despite using the same 5100mAh cell, thanks to boosted 30W charging, though again, this is only a 7W increase compared to the 9a and far from true fast-charging mid-rangers like the Xiaomi 15T Pro and its 90W charging.
Google is also keen to point out that the Pixel 10a will be ‘the first’ in the ‘a’ series to get flagship Pixel 10 AI features like Auto Best Take and Capture Coach – but the ‘first’ wording there suggests that the Pixel 9a may get the features in the future.
After all, it’s not like Google can rely on the usual excuse of needing the latest Tensor chipset to power the features – if they’re on the 10a, they can definitely run on the 9a. That’d be a massive win for existing Pixel 9a winners, but it’d mean one less reason to opt for the newer, more expensive model.
The Pixel 9a seems like the smarter buy
With that all in mind, it seems like the Pixel 9a is the smarter buy – especially when you can pick it up for as little as £345/$399 at the time of writing, compared to the £499/$499 price tag of the newer Pixel 10a.
The Pixel 9a offers an oddly familiar experience to the new model, complete with the same chipset, RAM configuration and storage, same design, same camera hardware and same battery.
Sure, the Pixel 10a has a slightly better screen, a reduction of the already unnoticeable camera bump and slightly faster charging, but without the Pixel 10’s G5 chipset, it’ll remain an unusually hard sell for what is usually one of the best mid-range smartphones around.
If you are tempted by the newer model, you can pre-order the Pixel 10a now via the Google Store ahead of release on 5 March.
