At a glance
Expert's Rating
Pros
- Great software with long support
- Excellent screen
- Attractive, camera bump-free design
- Good cameras
Cons
- Incremental to say the least
- Misses out on Qi2 magnetic charging
- Old processor
Our Verdict
While the Pixel 10a is a perfectly good mid-range phone, if we remove the blinkers, then the distinct lack of upgrades over its predecessor means you will get a much better value handset by opting for the 9a. There are also strong rivals if you’re not set on a Pixel.
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Best Prices Today: Google Pixel 10a
Google’s A-series phones are popular, offering much of what you get in the flagship models only in a cheaper package. The Pixel 10a is here as the 2026 model, but I have to say, it’s an odd one.
As leaks ahead of its launch suggested, the 10a is rather similar to its predecessor. In fact, you could think of it as the Pixel 9.5a. It’s particularly curious because the Pixel 10 range added some significant upgrades, including built-in wireless charging magnets.
However, the Pixel 10a is very light on new and exciting features. If it wasn’t for the new colours, you would have thought I’d just taken photos of the Pixel 9a.
So, are there any good reasons to buy the Pixel 10a? I’ve been using it for the last month to find out.
Design & Build
- Almost identical to the 9a
- No camera bump whatsoever and upgraded glass
- Three new colourways
I won’t keep you long here because, as alluded to, the Pixel 10a is essentially the Pixel 9a with a splash of new colour.
Ok, it’s a little more than that, but not much. Primarily, Google has removed the already small camera bump, so the phone is completely flat on the back.
It’s nice (and rare) to be able to put a phone on a desk or kitchen counter without any wobble. However, you’re likely to put a case on it which would achieve the same effect anyway.
Chris Martin / Foundy
The phone also gets upgraded to Gorilla Glass 7i on the front for improved durability, particularly when it comes to drops. It’s still IP68 rated and it held up well in my testing time, but I unusually haven’t dropped it.
New colours – something Google is very good at – are probably the main design change here with Berry, Lavender and Fog all brand-new alongside the classic Obsidian (black).
I’ve got the Fog option, which is a very pale green but in many lighting conditions can look like white with a blue tint. I like it, but it’s nice that Google offers the bolder options for those who are more daring than me.
While the difference to the Pixel 9a is minimal, it’s a bigger change for anyone coming from the 8a or earlier (which is far more likely anyway). These days, the Pixel has iPhone-esque flat sides and generally much less of that classic pebble-like rounded shape. Plus, the camera bar is gone, of course.
Chris Martin / Foundy
It makes for a stylish and compact mid-range phone. I certainly prefer it to rivals from the likes of Samsung and Poco. If you want something more interesting, check out the Nothing Phone (4a).
Screen & Speakers
- Compact display with a smaller bezel
- Slightly brighter at absolute peak level
- Stereo speakers
Once again, the Pixel 10a is almost identical to its predecessor in this area. The screen remains at 6.3-inch, uses an OLED panel and offers a 120Hz refresh rate.
Google has made two small improvements; firstly, a slightly smaller and more uniform bezel (though it’s still thicker than many rivals) and a bump in brightness to a peak of 3000 nits.
That’s 300 more than the Pixel 9a but in general use you won’t notice a difference. I recorded it at 939 nits on maximum with adaptive brightness switched off, which is essentially the same as the 9a.
Chris Martin / Foundy
Still, it’s a solid mid-range screen, giving you a good balance of size and performance.
As well as getting suitably bright as we head into the sunny months of the year, contrast, colours and clarity are all top-notch. And there’s a decent optical fingerprint scanner under the display, which isn’t too close to the bottom edge.
Stereo speakers (the earpiece and one of the slots next to the USB-C port) sound decent enough. There’s good range and clarity when you keep the volume middling, though there is a slight lack of depth.
The main problem is the harshness provoked when you reach higher volume levels.
- Stuck on Tensor G4
- 128/256GB storage
- Some wireless upgrades
The Pixel A-series usually gets an upgraded processor every year, but not for the 10a, which still has the Tensor G4 from the 9a. It’s also got the same memory and storage, so you get 8GB of RAM and can choose 128- or 256GB of storage.
It’s a shame that it doesn’t get the current -gen Tensor G5 from the flagship Pixel 10 phones, but there is good news…
Primarily, it means Google has kept the price of the phone the same as last year. In 2026, this is a rarity with the spiking costs of components. The other good news is that performance is perfectly serviceable.
Chris Martin / Foundy
Navigating around the interface is smooth, and apps open with ease. You won’t be able to run the most advanced mobile games but that’s never been a strength of Pixel phones. Still, it will run casual games without breaking a sweat.
There might not be a new chip but Google has improved wireless to Bluetooth 6.0 and there’s also Satellite SOS support which means you can message emergency services even without any cellular signal.
Cameras
- Same cameras as the 9a
- Some new software features
- Still one of the best point-and-shoot mid-range phones
Sorry to be a bore, but the cameras on the Pixel 10a are the same as the 9a. Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. It means you get a 48Mp main rear camera alongside a 13Mp ultrawide and a further 13Mp around the front for selfies.
It’s by no means the most exciting set of camera hardware on a mid-range phone, not by a long shot, but there’s plenty to like here all the same. This is primarily because Google has done a great job on the software side of things.
Chris Martin / Foundy
The camera app is arguably the easiest on the market to use, so beginners can simply point and shoot to get good results, while there are still modes and settings for more advanced photographers to explore.
Stick to the main camera for the best shots, which will typically come out sharp, well-exposed, detailed and with true-to-life colours. Low light performance isn’t class-leading but it’s decent thanks to Google’s processing.
The ultrawide camera, as is typical, means a step down in quality but it’s handy to have when you need it. You may prefer a telephoto, but that’s not the norm in this category.
Moving to the front, the selfie camera offers up pleasant shots with quick cropping between 1- and 1.4x, depending on what you’re trying to fit in. Portrait mode is good most of the time, but the cutout can go awry sometimes.
Video is good if you stick to the main camera with OIS keeping things steady and the ability to shoot in up to 4K/60fps, or 240fps slow motion if you stick to 1080p.
Two new additions to an A-series phone come in the form of software features. You now get (alongside plenty of previous ones), Camera Coach and Auto Best Take.
The former can help you get the best shot by giving you step-by-step guidance on framing and settings, while Auto Best Take helps you get group photos where everyone is smiling and looking at the camera with clever AI tricks.
They could be a real boon for some users, or you might try them once and never again.
Battery Life & Charging
- Same 5100mAh battery
- Faster wired charging
- Rare wireless charging
Surprise, surprise, the Pixel 10a has got the same battery as its predecessor. This means the cell is 5100mAh, which is nothing to write home about these days.
It doesn’t mean battery life is bad, the capacity was upgraded for the 9a and the 10a will last you a similar amount. In my testing, it will comfortably last a day of typical usage and sometimes the start of a second, though that’s negligible.
As we said about the Pixel 9a, “it’s fine”.
Chris Martin / Foundy
What did get an upgrade – shock horror – is wired charging, which gets a bump from 23- to 30W. Again, this is nothing special in the wider market, especially when you compared to Chinese brands like Xiaomi and OnePlus, but it’s welcome nonetheless.
Wireless charging gets bumped slightly to 10W, which is not fast at all, but it’s better than nothing, which is what you’ll find with many rivals.
The thing we, and you, were probably expecting was the addition of MagSafe-style Qi2 magnetic wireless charging. This was introduced in the entire Pixel 10 range, but doesn’t trickle down to the 10a.
Though understandable, it’s a shame and means you can’t use the Pixel 10a with Google’s Pixelsnap accessories, as well as a plethora of compatible MagSafe ones. It would have made the phone more of an upgrade while also standing out against Android rivals like the Galaxy A57.
Software & Apps
- Android 16 with an easy-to-use stock interface
- Plenty of useful Google apps and features
- Long software support promise
Another year, another Android and that means you get Android 16 out of the box here with what we typically call the stock interface since this is an own-brand Google phone.
The caveat, of course, is that the Pixel 9a will also get updated to the same version for most of the 10a’s life with Google’s long software support promise of seven years – but onwards we march.
Chris Martin / Foundy
The software experience on Pixel phones is certainly my favourite from the entire market these days. It’s clean, attractive, doesn’t contain anything along the lines of bloatware or annoying ads and you get some of the best features out there long before other brands, as well as exclusive Pixel features other phones wish they had.
As mentioned earlier, you get photography features like Camera Coach and Auto Best Take. Elsewhere, there’s now Satellite SOS support should you, God forbid, need it and naturally plenty of AI sprinkled throughout.
It’s curious that Google hasn’t added a dedicated physical button for Gemini, but you can long-press the power key to summon the AI assistant, as well as use the default widget on the homescreen and your voice, too.
Chris Martin / Foundy
Although Pixel Screenshots and Magic Cue remain exclusive to the flagship models, you still get a long list of handy features such as Advanced Call Assist, Car Crash Detection, Cough & Snore Detection, Gemini Live, Circle to Search and more.
It’s also, as far as I’m aware, the only mid-range phone with AirDrop support via Quick Share.
Chris Martin / Foundy
Price & Availabilty
Something Google has managed this year, which not all phone makers have in 2026, is to keep the price the same.
It means the Pixel 10a is yours from £499/$499 if you’re happy with 128GB of storage. That isn’t much, so you should consider if the 256GB model is necessary at £599/$599 (which matches the cheapest iPhone 17e).
In terms of Android alternatives, there’s Samsung’s Galaxy A57 and A37, along with Nothing’s Phone (4a) and (4a) Pro. The biggest problem, though, which I’ll detail in the verdict next, is Google’s own phones.
Check out our current top 10 best mid-range phones.
Should you buy the Google Pixel 10a?
The short answer here is almost certainly no.
While the Pixel 10a is a perfectly good mid-range phone when looked at under a microscope, as soon as you zoom out and take other things into consideration, it becomes more and more unjustifiable.
There are certainly reasons to choose rivals from Samsung, Nothing, Apple, Xiaomi and others and reasons to get the 10a over them, too.
However, if you’re looking for a Pixel, you might as well get the 9a if you want value, or keep your eye out for deals on the flagship Pixel 10 which, as we’ve already seen, might not be much more expensive than the 10a.
Incremental doesn’t really cut it here and this gets chalked up as a confusing launch from Google. The ‘This is fine’ title of the review, referencing the famous meme, was for a good reason.
Chris Martin / Foundy
Specs
- Android 16 with seven years of updates
- 6.3-inch FHD+ 120Hz pOLED
- Optical in-display fingerprint scanner
- Face Unlock
- Google Tensor G4 chipset
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB/256GB non-expandable UFS 3.1 storage
- 5100mAh battery
- 30W wired charging
- 10W wireless charging
- 48Mp f/1.7 main camera
- 13Mp f/2.2 ultrawide camera
- 13Mp f/2.2 front camera
- Stereo speakers
- USB-C 3.2
- 5G
- NanoSIM +eSIM
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth 6
- IP68
- Corning Gorilla Glass 7i
- 153.9 x 73 x 9mm
- 183g
Topic: Google Pixel 10a review: This is fine (Read 26 times)
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July 26, 2021, 12:30:09 PM