The Pixel 9a was proof of how much we love Google’s A-series phones. They’ve perfected the value proposition by offering the best of performance and camera features we expect from premium Google phones in a package that costs under $500. With this year’s Pixel 10a, my expectations were high because, year after year, Google has either met them or surpassed them.
However, the Pixel 10a has turned out to be a mixed bag. It makes some choices I’m not particularly a fan of, and it’s not exactly a tempting package for anyone coming from the Pixel 8a.
If you own a Pixel 8a, what would push you to upgrade? 7 votes A new processor 0 % Better battery life 71 % Major camera improvements 0 % Nothing right now 29 %
One step forward, two steps back
Adamya Sharma / Android Authority
The new Pixel 10a has quite a lot going for it — and in a good way. It builds on the Pixel 9a’s design to now offer a completely flat back, which is something you just cannot find on any modern phone these days. It’s almost an engineering feat. It would genuinely be refreshing to use a phone that lies flat on the table without anything protruding from the back.
Google has also worked out better charging speeds alongside a bigger battery. The Pixel 10a supports 10W wireless and 30W wired charging, which is a solid jump from previous A-series phones. And the 10a doesn’t lag on the AI front either. It now comes with some flagship AI features like Camera Coach and Add Me that were first introduced with the Pixel 9 and 10 series. It’s also borrowing the Emergency SOS tool from its flagship siblings.
Magnetic wireless charging alone would have made me recommend the Pixel 10a to Pixel 8a users in a heartbeat.
It’s brimming with features, but its biggest problem is the processor choice. No, I’m not blaming Tensor for its widely discussed performance shortcomings. I’m questioning the fact that Google decided to stick with the Tensor G4 instead of using the newer Tensor G5 from the Pixel 10 series.
I’m assuming Google made this call to keep the price under $500, but it’s a departure from what we’ve seen with Pixel A-series phones so far, which have traditionally matched their premium siblings in processor choice. That’s not the case with the Pixel 10a.
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