Google's Pixel 10a arrives on March 5 for $499 with specs and design of yesteryear
Source: Ars Technica
It’s that time of year—a new budget Pixel phone is about to hit virtual shelves. The Pixel 10a will be available on March 5, and pre‑orders go live today. The 9a will still be on sale for a while, but the 10a will be headlining Google’s store. However, you might not notice unless you keep up with the Pixel numbering scheme. This year’s A‑series Pixel is virtually identical to last year’s, both inside and out.
Specs at a glance: Google Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 10a
| Feature | Pixel 9a | Pixel 10a |
|---|---|---|
| SoC | Google Tensor G4 | Google Tensor G4 |
| Memory | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Display | 1080×2424 6.3″ pOLED, 60–120 Hz, Gorilla Glass 3, 2700 nits (peak) | 1080×2424 6.3″ pOLED, 60–120 Hz, Gorilla Glass 7i, 3000 nits (peak) |
| Cameras | 48 MP primary (f/1.7, OIS); 13 MP ultrawide (f/2.2); 13 MP selfie (f/2.2) | Same as 9a |
| Software | Android 15 (at launch), 7 years of OS updates | Android 16, 7 years of OS updates |
| Battery | 5 100 mAh, 23 W wired, 7.5 W wireless | 5 100 mAh, 30 W wired, 10 W wireless |
| Connectivity | Wi‑Fi 6e, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, sub‑6 GHz 5G, USB‑C 3.2 | Wi‑Fi 6e, NFC, Bluetooth 6.0, sub‑6 GHz 5G, USB‑C 3.2 |
| Measurements | 154.7 × 73.3 × 8.9 mm; 185 g | 153.9 × 73 × 9 mm; 183 g |
Display upgrades
Google also says the new Pixel will have a slightly upgraded screen. The resolution, size, and refresh rate are unchanged, but peak brightness has been bumped from 2 700 nits to 3 000 nits (the same as the base‑model Pixel 10). Plus, the cover glass has finally moved beyond Gorilla Glass 3 to Gorilla Glass 7i, which supposedly offers improved scratch and drop protection.
Credit: Google
Materials and sustainability
Google notes that more of the phone is constructed from recycled material—100 % of the aluminum frame and 81 % of the plastic back. Inside, recycled gold, tungsten, cobalt, and copper make up about 36 % of the phone’s weight. The device continues to have a physical SIM slot, which was removed from the Pixel 10 series last year.
Performance and chipset
Internally, the Pixel 10a is even more like its predecessor. Unlike past A‑series phones, this one doesn’t have the latest Tensor chip—it sticks with the same Tensor G4 from the 9a. Google says it kept the G4 to “balance affordability and performance,” even though the newer G5 would have been a bigger leap.