The Google Pixel 10a is the perfect telephone you should buy for $500

When Google introduced the Pixel 10a final month, many individuals’s first response, together with mine, was that it was primarily a carbon copy of the Pixel 9a, with a couple of minor adjustments. After utilizing the telephone for the previous couple of weeks, I can affirm that is positively the case, but additionally, it isn’t a motive to jot down off the Pixel 10a totally. Regardless of its similarities to the Pixel 9a, I’ve come to essentially recognize what the Pixel 10a provides, particularly for individuals with older A-series telephones.

For starters, the Pixel 10a is a extra inexpensive model of Google’s flagship telephone, the Pixel 10. It has a much less highly effective Tensor G4 chipset and encompasses a smaller digicam array than the Pixel 10, with a 48-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide lens. It is bought a ravishing 6.3-inch AMOLED show, with an adaptive refresh charge of 120Hz. And most significantly, price-wise, it is available in at $500. That is $300 cheaper than the Pixel 10, and $100 cheaper than Apple’s new iPhone 17e.

Should you’re new to Google’s Pixel lineup or have an older Android telephone and are contemplating an improve, the Pixel 10a provides a compelling, well-rounded expertise that is robust to beat at $500.

4/5

Model

Google

SoC

Tensor G4

Show

6.3-inch 1080 x 2424 pixel decision pOLED

RAM

8GB

The Pixel 10a is a mid-range Android smartphone from Google with a Tensor G4 processor, a 6.3-inch OLED show panel, and a 5,100mAh battery capability.

Execs & Cons

• Identical $500 value
• Premium design
• Stunning 120Hz OLED show

• No Pixelsnap
• Thick bezels
• No Tensor G5 chipset

Worth, availability, and specs

The Google Pixel 10a is obtainable now, beginning at $500 for the 128GB mannequin and $600 for the 256GB mannequin. The Pixel 10a is available in 4 colours: lavender, berry, fog, and obsidian. The colour proven on this evaluation is fog, a lightweight inexperienced shade I’ve actually grown keen on.

It encompasses a 6.3-inch Actua pOLED show with a 1080 x 2424-pixel decision, an adaptive refresh charge of as much as 120Hz, 2000 nits of HDR brightness, and three,000 nits of peak brightness. It additionally has Corning Gorilla Glass 7i defending it.

On the digicam entrance, the Pixel 10a has a 13-megapixel front-facing selfie digicam and, on the again, a 48-megapixel wide-angle lens alongside a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens.

Internally, the Pixel 10a is powered by a Tensor G4 chipset, the identical as within the Pixel 9a, with 8GB of RAM and a 5,100mAh battery. Google additionally ensures seven years of working system and safety updates for the Pixel 10a, matching the help provided for the Pixel 10 sequence.

What I like concerning the Pixel 10a

An exquisite design paired with easy efficiency

The very first thing I’ve to acknowledge concerning the Pixel 10a is simply how lovely the design is. It is quite simple, nevertheless it seems beautiful, and feels nice to carry. The telephone solely weighs 6.5oz (0.41lbs), and regardless of its $500 price ticket, feels exceptionally premium. The telephone itself has a matte composite again that feels actually easy and a satin aluminum body, each of which I discovered surprisingly fingerprint resistant.

The show is identical 6.3-inch OLED that the Pixel 9a has, however Google has barely improved it for the Pixel 10a with a ten % brighter display, reaching 2000 nits of HDR brightness and three,000 nits at peak brightness. It additionally options an exceptionally easy 120Hz adaptive refresh charge, a transparent benefit over the iPhone 17e, which stays caught at 60Hz. Total, searching the online, watching movies, sending emails, and doomscrolling all look nice on the show and pop.

The digicam is one space the place the Pixel 10a differs from the Pixel 9a, however solely in design. Essentially the most noticeable design change that the Pixel 9a had over the Pixel 8a was the elimination of the digicam bar, changed by a small digicam bump. On the Pixel 10a, Google has retained the identical digicam look because the Pixel 9a however has eradicated the bump, making the digicam flush with the again of the telephone. This lets you place the telephone flat on any floor with out wobbling, which I discovered fairly neat and totally different from different smartphones. Coming from the Pixel 8a, I’ve actually come to love the digicam design on the Pixel 10a, and I feel its simplicity enhances the telephone’s general modern aesthetic.

By way of the digicam’s efficiency, it is nothing earth-shattering, however I assumed the 48-megapixel vast lens and the 13-megapixel ultrawide took fairly detailed photographs for a $500 telephone, and the 13-megapixel entrance selfie digicam positively makes me look higher than I really do.

I did not encounter any efficiency points with the Pixel 10a both, and it dealt with a ton of apps open directly and not using a drawback. Admittedly, I do not sport on any smartphone I take advantage of, so I am unable to communicate to the Pixel 10a’s efficiency there, however the general Android 16 software program expertise was wonderful and easy. Battery life can be nice, and just like the Pixel 9a, the Pixel 10a simply lasts all day, after which some. I discovered myself plugging it in about day-after-day and a half. Moreover, the Pixel 10a helps 30W wired charging, a pleasant increase over the Pixel 9a’s 23W.

What I did not like concerning the Pixel 10a

Pixelsnap is lacking

The principle factor that bothers me concerning the Pixel 10a is the shortage of magnets. When the Pixel 10 sequence debuted final summer season, one of many greatest upgrades over the Pixel 9 sequence was the addition of magnets, which Google calls Pixelsnap. This implies the telephones now help Qi2 magnetic charging and magnetic equipment like chargers, circumstances, wallets, and extra, much like Apple’s MagSafe. I actually want Google had added Pixelsnap to the Pixel 10a to maintain it constant throughout the whole Pixel 10 lineup, and it might additionally make wi-fi charging a lot simpler.

Subsequent up, I wish to speak concerning the Pixel 10a’s display once more. Whereas I do suppose its OLED show seems nice, the bezels on it are nonetheless fairly thick. With Google not likely altering a lot internally with the Pixel 10a this 12 months, it might’ve been good to see it make the bezels on the display a lot thinner, much like the Pixel 10. I do know this is not one thing that can trouble everybody, nevertheless it did distract me barely, and I feel the telephone would look approach higher if these bezels had been only a bit smaller.

Lastly, I wish to revisit the chipset. Whereas my expertise with efficiency was easy, I am unable to assist however really feel disenchanted that the Pixel 10a does not function the identical Tensor G5 chipset because the Pixel 10. I perceive this was possible resulting from price causes, however Google’s A-series telephones normally share the identical chipset as their flagship counterparts, just like the Pixel 8a with the identical Tensor 3 because the Pixel 8, and the Pixel 9a with the identical Tensor G4 because the Pixel 9. It could have been good to see the Pixel 10a outfitted with the Tensor G5, which I consider might have added far more longevity to the gadget.

Do you have to purchase the Pixel 10a?

Should you’re in search of a strong mid-range handset, it is laborious to beat

The Pixel 10a is unquestionably top-of-the-line mid-range smartphones you should buy proper now. Sure, in comparison with the Pixel 9a, it solely has a couple of small variations, however in case you already personal a Pixel 9a, you are in all probability not trying to purchase the Pixel 10a anyway.

When you have an older Pixel A-series gadget, like a Pixel 6a, 7a, or 8a, and also you’re desirous about an improve, the Pixel 10a sequence is a superb alternative. It provides a premium design and really feel, easy efficiency, robust cameras, and spectacular battery life that is laborious to beat.

Though it might have been good to see Google improve the telephone a bit extra this 12 months, it is nonetheless a strong gadget general, and in a world the place costs maintain rising, the truth that it has the identical $500 price ticket as final 12 months is refreshing.

This gadget was offered to Pocket-lint by Google.

Model

Google

SoC

Tensor G4

Show

6.3-inch 1080 x 2424 pixel decision pOLED

RAM

8GB

The Pixel 10a is a mid-range Android smartphone from Google with a Tensor G4 processor, a 6.3-inch OLED show panel, and a 5,100mAh battery capability.