I spent four hours on the phone with Delta after my flight was canceled during the most recent snowstorm in New York City. But guess what? I barely heard a lick of the airline's awful hold music because I used Google's Hold for Me feature on the Pixel 10a, where the assistant does the job instead, alerting me only when a real human finally picked up on the other end.
There's a reason why I've long liked Google's price-friendly A-series. You get a very similar software experience—sometimes nearly identical!—as phones twice the price. It's a great showcase of how smart, helpful software can make a huge difference in your day-to-day.
That's especially important here for Google's latest iteration, the Pixel 10a, which hardly introduces anything new on the hardware front. It has the same processor as last year's Pixel 9a, the same design, and even the same battery capacity. Its existence feels like Google had to check off a box of launching a smartphone that would feel relevant and competitive alongside its peers like the recently announced iPhone 17e.
Even with minimal changes, the $499 Pixel 10a is a great pick for anyone hunting for a well-rounded smartphone while keeping price in mind. It does nearly everything well, while offering some of the longest software support you'll find for the money. But I also think you should strongly consider the Pixel 9a if you can find it on sale (it has dipped as low as $349).
Just the Same
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
The one big visual change between the Pixel 9a and Pixel 10a is the lack of a plastic ring around the cameras. That makes it even flatter than before. Google says the flush design was a big hit with customers last year, and I think it is an underrated perk after years and years of ever-thickening camera bumps. The 10a doesn't rock on a table, and it neatly glides into my pocket. I also like the new Berry color—a bright jolt that makes this phone stand out, though you have Obsidian, Fog, and Lavender options for something more subtle.