Google Pixel 10a Review: This is Fine

Best Prices Today: Google Pixel 10a

The Google A-series phones are known for offering a lot of features from their flagship counterparts at a lower price. The Pixel 10a, introduced as the 2026 model, feels somewhat out of place.

Pre-launch leaks indicated that the 10a bears a strong resemblance to its predecessor. It could easily be labeled as the Pixel 9.5a, especially since the Pixel 10 series included significant upgrades like built-in wireless charging magnets.

Despite these updates, the Pixel 10a lacks exciting new features. If it weren’t for the new colors, it could easily be mistaken for the Pixel 9a.

So, what reasons are there to purchase the Pixel 10a? After using it for a month, here’s what I found.

Design & Build

• Almost identical to the 9a
• No camera bump whatsoever and upgraded glass
• Three new color options

The Pixel 10a closely resembles the Pixel 9a, albeit with some new colors.

The changes are minimal, with the primary alteration being the removal of the small camera bump, resulting in a completely flat back.

This design choice allows the phone to lie flat on surfaces without wobbling, though many users will likely use a case that achieves the same effect.

It now features Gorilla Glass 7i on the front for added durability, especially against drops. It maintains an IP68 rating and performed well during testing, although I haven’t dropped it yet.

Google, known for its color options, introduces new shades: Berry, Lavender, and Fog, alongside the classic Obsidian (black).

I have the Fog color, a pale green that can appear white or blue in certain lighting. It’s a subtle choice, but Google also offers bolder options for those who prefer them.

While the changes from the Pixel 9a are minimal, it’s a more significant shift for those upgrading from the 8a or earlier models. The Pixel now features flat sides reminiscent of the iPhone and has moved away from the classic rounded pebble shape. The camera bar is also gone.

This results in a sleek and compact mid-range phone. I personally prefer it over competitors like Samsung and Poco. For a more unique design, consider the Nothing Phone (4a).

Screen & Speakers

• Compact display with a smaller bezel
• Slightly brighter at absolute peak level
• Stereo speakers

The Pixel 10a’s screen remains largely unchanged from its predecessor, still offering a 6.3-inch OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Google has made two minor improvements: a slightly smaller and more uniform bezel, though still thicker than some rivals, and increased brightness peaking at 3000 nits.

This is 300 nits more than the Pixel 9a, but in everyday use, you likely won’t notice a difference. I measured it at 939 nits on maximum brightness with adaptive brightness off, which is similar to the 9a.

Nevertheless, it remains a solid mid-range screen, balancing size and performance well.

As summer approaches, the display can get bright enough, with excellent contrast, colors, and clarity. There’s also a reliable optical fingerprint scanner under the screen, which isn’t positioned too close to the bottom edge.

The stereo speakers (combining the earpiece and a slot next to the USB-C port) provide decent sound quality. The range and clarity are good at moderate volumes, although there’s a slight lack of depth.

However, pushing the volume higher leads to noticeable harshness.

Specs & Performance

• Stuck on Tensor G4
• 128/256GB storage
• Some wireless upgrades

Typically, the Pixel A-series receives a processor upgrade each year, but not the 10a, which retains the Tensor G4 from the 9a. It also has the same memory and storage options, offering 8GB of RAM and choices between 128GB or 256GB of storage.

It’s unfortunate that the current-gen Tensor G5 from the Pixel 10 flagships isn’t included, but there is a silver lining.

Primarily, it means Google has maintained the phone’s price from the previous year, which is rare in 2026 given rising component costs. Additionally, the performance remains satisfactory.

The interface navigation is smooth, and apps open effortlessly. While it’s not ideal for running high-end mobile games, Pixel phones have never excelled in that area. It handles casual games with ease.

Despite the lack of a new chip, Google has upgraded wireless capabilities to Bluetooth 6.0 and introduced Satellite SOS support, enabling emergency messaging even without cellular service.

Cameras

• Same cameras as the 9a
• Some new software features
• Still one of the best point-and-shoot mid-range phones

The cameras on the Pixel 10a are unchanged from the 9a. It includes a 48MP main rear camera, a 13MP ultrawide, and a 13MP front camera for selfies.

While not the most thrilling camera setup in a mid-range phone, there’s still much to appreciate due to Google’s excellent software enhancements.

The camera app is likely the easiest on the market to use, allowing beginners to capture good photos effortlessly while offering modes and settings for more advanced photographers.

The main camera produces sharp, well-exposed, detailed images with true-to-life colors. While low-light performance isn’t class-leading, it’s decent thanks to Google’s processing.

The ultrawide camera, as expected, sacrifices some quality but is useful when needed. A telephoto lens might be preferred, but it’s not common in this category.

The front selfie camera delivers pleasant shots with quick cropping options between 1x and 1.4x, depending on your framing needs. Portrait mode works well most of the time, though cutouts can occasionally be inaccurate.

Video quality is good when using the main camera, with OIS providing stability and options to shoot up to 4K at 60fps, or 240fps slow-motion at 1080p resolution.

Two new software features have been added to the A-series: Camera Coach and Auto Best Take.

Camera Coach provides step-by-step guidance on framing and settings for optimal shots, while Auto Best Take uses AI to ensure everyone in a group photo is smiling and looking at the camera.

These features could be beneficial for some, while others may use them sparingly.

Battery Life & Charging

• Same 5100mAh battery
• Faster wired charging
• Rare wireless charging

The Pixel 10a retains the same 5100mAh battery as its predecessor, which is unremarkable by today’s standards.

This doesn’t imply poor battery life; the capacity was increased for the 9a, and the 10a offers a similar experience. It comfortably lasts a day of typical use, occasionally extending into a second day, though that’s negligible.

As noted with the Pixel 9a, “it’s fine.”

What did see an upgrade—surprisingly—is wired charging, which increased from 23W to 30W. Though not exceptional in the broader market, especially compared to brands like Xiaomi and OnePlus, it’s still a welcome improvement.

Wireless charging has also seen a slight bump to 10W, which is quite slow, but better than nothing, especially since many competitors lack this feature.

We expected the inclusion of MagSafe-style Qi2 magnetic wireless charging, introduced across the entire Pixel 10 range, but it hasn’t trickled down to the 10a.

Although understandable, it’s disappointing and means you can’t use the Pixel 10a with Google’s Pixelsnap accessories or the wide array of compatible MagSafe ones. It would have made the phone more of an upgrade and distinguished itself from Android rivals like the Galaxy A57.

Software & Apps

• Android 16 with an easy-to-use stock interface
• Plenty of useful Google apps and features
• Long software support promise

With a new year comes a new Android version, and the Pixel 10a runs Android 16 out of the box, featuring what is often referred to as the stock interface since it’s a Google-branded phone.

However, the Pixel 9a will also be updated to the same version for most of the 10a’s lifespan, thanks to Google’s promise of seven years of software support—but onward we go.

The software experience on Pixel phones remains my favorite in the market. It’s clean, visually appealing, free of bloatware or annoying ads, and offers some of the best features long before other brands, as well as exclusive Pixel features that other phones envy.

As mentioned earlier, you get photography enhancements like Camera Coach and Auto Best Take. Additionally, there’s now Satellite SOS support should you, God forbid, need it, along with plenty of AI integrations throughout.

It’s curious that Google hasn’t included a dedicated physical button for Gemini, but you can long-press the power key to summon the AI assistant, as well as use the default widget on the home screen and your voice.

While Pixel Screenshots and Magic Cue remain exclusive to flagship models, you still have access to a wide range of helpful features like Advanced Call Assist, Car Crash Detection, Cough & Snore Detection, Gemini Live, Circle to Search, and more.

It’s likely the only mid-range phone with AirDrop support via Quick Share.

Price & Availabilty

In 2026, Google has managed to keep the price the same, a feat not achieved by all phone manufacturers this year.

The Pixel 10a is available starting at £499/$499 for 128GB of storage. If that’s insufficient, you may want to consider the 256GB model, priced at £599/$599, which aligns with the lowest-cost iPhone 17e.

Among Android alternatives, there’s Samsung’s Galaxy A57 and A37, as well as Nothing’s Phone (4a) and (4a) Pro. However, the major competition comes from Google’s own phones, as explained in the verdict below.

Check out our current top 10 best mid-range phones.

Should you buy the Google Pixel 10a?

The short answer here is almost certainly no.

While the Pixel 10a is a perfectly good mid-range phone when looked at under a microscope, as soon as you zoom out and take other things into consideration, it becomes more and more unjustifiable.

There are certainly reasons to choose rivals from Samsung, Nothing, Apple, Xiaomi and others and reasons to get the 10a over them, too.

However, if you’re looking for a Pixel, you might as well get the 9a if you want value, or keep your eye out for deals on the flagship Pixel 10 which, as we’ve already seen, might not be much more expensive than the 10a.

Incremental doesn’t really cut it here and this gets chalked up as a confusing launch from Google. The ‘This is fine’ title of the review, referencing the famous meme, was for a good reason.

Specs

• Android 16 with seven years of updates
• 6.3-inch FHD+ 120Hz pOLED
• Optical in-display fingerprint scanner
• Face Unlock
• Google Tensor G4 chipset
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB/256GB non-expandable UFS 3.1 storage
• 5100mAh battery
• 30W wired charging
• 10W wireless charging
• 48Mp f/1.7 main camera
• 13Mp f/2.2 ultrawide camera
• 13Mp f/2.2 front camera
• Stereo speakers
• USB-C 3.2
• 5G
• NanoSIM +eSIM
• Wi-Fi 6E
• Bluetooth 6
• IP68
• Corning Gorilla Glass 7i
• 153.9 x 73 x 9mm
• 183g