Phones have continued to get more iterative as mobile technology has matured, but Google's Pixel 10a makes only a few changes compared to last year's Pixel 9a. The screen is a little brighter and a little more durable, the camera bump is now flush, and a new modem allows for satellite calling.
Otherwise, the Pixel 10a is very similar to Google's previous release. It has the same Tensor G4 chipset as the Pixel 9a, rather than the new Tensor G5 chipset found in the rest of the Pixel 10 family. The camera configuration is identical: a 48MP primary lens paired with a 13MP ultra-wide lens on the back, and a 13MP selfie camera on the front.
Other specs, such as the 5,100mAh battery, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB and 2656GB storage options, haven't changed either. Importantly, neither has Google's commitment to software and security updates: the Pixel 10a will still get seven years of major operating system upgrades, security patches, and feature drops.
When asked why Google was reusing the Tensor G4 rather than the newer chipset, Product Manager Laura Kastilani said, "a design principle we hold on the A-series team is balancing performance and price".
"The Pixel 10a delivers exceptional value," said Kastilani, pointing to the unchanged price of $849.
The Pixel 10a launch is Google's first phone launch post the generative AI-led component shortage that has sent the price of hardware like memory and storage skyrocketing. While Kastilani did not specifically link Pixel 10a design decisions to the component crisis, there is a correlation.
For whatever money Google is saving by relying on an older chipset, it might well be losing to inflated costs for memory and storage. Ongoing tariffs could have also contributed to the situation, but an alternate hypothesis is Google simply wants to create a larger difference between its A-series devices and mainline Pixel phones.
In terms of what's actually new with the Pixel 10a, the 6.3-inch display is 11% brighter and uses Gorilla Glass 7i for protection rather than Gorilla Glass 3. The bezels surrounding it are also a touch thinner.
The Pixel 10a also comes with a two-year free trial of Satellite SOS, which allows users to contact emergency services when outside of mobile coverage. This is the first time Google has brought Satellite SOS to an A-series device.
And while the camera may not have changed outside of the camera bump design, the Pixel 10a benefits from a couple of new AI photography features, including Camera Coach and Auto Best Take. Camera Coach helps users frame up shots, while Auto Best Take combines multiple frames to ensure everyone is looking at the camera for group photos.
The Pixel 10a is available for pre-order from today, starting at $849 for the 128GB model. The device is available to pre-order from the Google Store, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Officeworks, and The Good Guys for outright purchases. Telstra is the only mobile provider offering pre-orders on a plan, but Optus will also be ranging the Pixel 10a in March.
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Alex Choros
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