Why I’m telling everyone to skip the $499 Pixel 10a and buy a $599 Pixel 10 instead
Source: Android Authority
Joe Maring / Android Authority
The Google Pixel 10a is right around the corner. Pre‑orders for Google’s next budget Pixel officially open on February 18 link, and if you’re in the market for an affordable Android handset, you might be tempted to buy a 10a next week.
However, I’m here to advise that you don’t.
While the Pixel 10a should be a perfectly fine Android phone, you can currently buy a significantly better Pixel handset for not much more than what the Pixel 10a will cost you. Sound too good to be true? It isn’t.
Which would you choose: $499 Pixel 10a or $599 Pixel 10?
At $599, the Pixel 10 puts the Pixel 10a to shame
The other Pixel I’m talking about is the baseline Google Pixel 10 review. Originally released last August at a retail price of $799, the phone is currently on sale for just $599 — only the third time it’s been priced this low. Google has yet to confirm the Pixel 10a’s price, but rumors strongly suggest it’ll retain the same $499 price as the Pixel 9a.
Assuming that’s true (which it likely is), there’s only $100 separating the Pixel 10a and the Pixel 10 at its current sale price. While $100 isn’t a small amount of money, given the Pixel 10’s many upgrades over the Pixel 10a, it’s unquestionably worth the extra cost.
One of the most prominent reasons for this is performance. Multiple reports indicate that the Pixel 10a is powered by Google’s Tensor G4 chip — the same one found in last year’s Pixel 9a — and is expected to stick with 8 GB of RAM. Comparatively, the Pixel 10 features Google’s latest Tensor G5 chip and a much more reasonable 12 GB of RAM.
The newer, more powerful chip and extra RAM make the Pixel 10 more performant than we expect from the Pixel 10a — especially for demanding apps and multitasking. This also impacts the availability of numerous software/AI features.
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
As we saw with the Pixel 9a, its Tensor G4 and 8 GB RAM combo wasn’t powerful enough to support features such as Pixel Screenshots, Call Notes, and Notification Summaries. As Google develops more complicated AI tools, the list of missing features is only going to get longer. If the Pixel 10a is stuck with the 9a’s same chipset and RAM configuration, it’ll find itself in the same spot.
The other big thing to note is the camera setup. While the Pixel 10a should have the same primary and ultrawide cameras as the Pixel 10, it doesn’t have the Pixel 10’s telephoto camera, which dramatically limits the types of photos you’ll be able to take.
There’s also no indication that the Pixel 10a will include built‑in magnets for magnetic Qi 2 and Pixelsnap accessories — arguably one of the Pixel 10’s best features. The Pixel 10a is reported to have a dimmer and less durable display, older Bluetooth technology, an optical fingerprint sensor instead of a faster ultrasonic one, and slower wired and wireless charging.
The Pixel 10a doesn’t make any sense
Some of those downgrades are obviously less critical than others. However, when you add everything together, what you get with the Pixel 10 that you don’t with the Pixel 10a — for only $100 more — is almost unbelievable. The full list of upgrades includes:
- Newer Tensor G5 chip
- 12 GB RAM vs. 8 GB
- 10.8 MP telephoto camera with 5× optical zoom
- Built‑in magnets
- Higher maximum display brightness
- Newer/stronger Gorilla Glass
- Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor
- Faster wired and wireless charging
- Newer Bluetooth tech
The chipset and camera differences alone make the Pixel 10 worth the extra money, and when you add everything else on top of those two, there’s no scenario where waiting for the Pixel 10a makes sense.
If the Pixel 10a were shaping up to be a bigger upgrade than it is, there would probably be an argument for waiting. But given how little Google appears to have changed compared to the 9a, the $599 Pixel 10 is undoubtedly a better purchase. Buy it now while you can — you won’t regret it.