Hands-on with Google Pixel 10a: A budget phone with a completely flat backside
Source: Mashable Tech
Google Pixel 10a: First Look
Google’s Pixel A‑series is usually the easiest budget handset to recommend each year. If you’re in the market for a new Android phone, the newly announced Pixel 10a is worth a look.
- Price: $499 (no price increase)
- Availability: Ships March 5 (pre‑orders start today)
- Key upgrades: modest improvements over the Pixel 9a
Design & Camera
The Pixel 10a looks very similar to last year’s Pixel 9a. The prominent horizontal camera bar that appears on the regular Pixel line is gone, replaced by a discreet camera array that sits flush with the back of the device.
“Now you can lay the Pixel 10a completely flat on a table without it rocking around—a common issue with the latest Samsung phones.”
You May Also Like
Pricing & Purchase Options
| Retailer | Price | Shipping |
|---|---|---|
| Google Store | $499 | Ships March 5 |
| Amazon | $499 | Ships March 5 |
Image credit: Google / Amazon
Google Pixel 10a: The specs
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable
Google Pixel 10a is available in four colors—Lavender, Berry, Fog, and Obsidian—and is priced at $499, the same as the Pixel 9a. Below are the key specifications:
- Display: 6.3‑inch panel, 1080 × 2424 resolution, 60‑120 Hz adaptive refresh rate
- Peak Brightness: Up to 3,000 nits
- Processor: Google Tensor G4
- Battery: 5,100 mAh
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Storage Options: 128 GB or 256 GB
- Rear Cameras: Dual‑lens system (48 MP main + 13 MP ultra‑wide)
- Front Camera: 13 MP selfie shooter
What’s new, what’s not
The display hasn’t changed much.
Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable
Eagle‑eyed readers will notice quite a few similarities between the Pixel 10a and the Pixel 9a on that list of specs. The battery size, RAM, and storage options are all the same as last year, too. Ditto for the camera specs.
However, the Pixel 10a does carry some upgrades. Google says the Pixel 10a is its most durable A‑series phone, with IP68 water and dust resistance. The 6.3‑inch Actua display also has new Corning Gorilla Glass 7i and is 11 percent brighter than the 9a.
What kind of performance will it offer?
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable
Interestingly, the processor hasn’t changed, which is unusual for the Pixel A‑series. Usually, the budget version of a Pixel phone uses the same processor as the previous model. For example, the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9a both used the Tensor G4 processor. For some reason, Google has kept the Tensor G4 processor in the Pixel 10a, despite the Pixel 10 running on Tensor G5.
At this moment, it’s impossible to tell what practical difference this will make on performance, especially given that Google is bringing AI feature parity from the Pixel 10 to the Pixel 10a. It doesn’t necessarily introduce anything new software‑wise, but it can do basically everything the Pixel 10 could do, as far as I can tell.
Is the Pixel 10a worth it?
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable
Processor weirdness aside, the Pixel 10a looks like another high‑value mid‑range phone from a company that’s gotten very, very good at making those in recent years.
We’ll know more about the Pixel 10a once we have a chance to properly test it, and a full review will be coming soon.
You can pre‑order the Google Pixel 10a for $499 at the Google Store. Shoppers who pre‑order the phone on Amazon will also receive a free $100 Amazon gift card here.
See? It’s flat.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable