- RATING
The Google Pixel 10a might only be a slight improvement over the Pixel 9a but it is still an impressive and affordable smartphone that will meet all your needs and exceed them in some areas.
The Pixel 10a is Google’s new affordable smartphone that can tick the boxes for users who want a device with a long battery life, a decent camera and access to AI.
Priced at $849, the Pixel 10a has a 6.3-inch Actua 120Hz variable display and is powered by the Google Tensor G4 chip.
On the camera side the Pixel 10a has a 48MP wide camera and a 13MP ultra-wide – both with OIS (optical image stabilisation). It also has a 13MP front camera.
Under the hood is 8GB RAM, your choice of 128GB or 256GB storage and a 5,100mAH battery. It also has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
It is also dual SIM – one physical SIM and one eSIM.
Now what we’ve described to you are also the specs as the Google Pixel 9a so there is not much that is new.
On the design side, the main difference is on the rear panel where the camera bump is now flush with the back of the device.
Actually, it is sunken by a fraction of a millimetre.
It still has the flat sides and rounded corners and has the same solid build quality.
Last year we said the Pixel 9a looked like an iPhone – and that’s still the case with the Pixel 10a.
The bezels around the display on the Pixel 10a are also slightly narrower than the Pixel 9a.
Speaking of the display, which was already excellent, the brightness has gone up to 3,000 nits compared to the 2,700 nits of the Pixel 9a.
So what else is new?
For a start there’s Android 16 onboard which offers a slick and clean interface with no other UI layer or bloatware. That’s one of our favourite features of Google’s Pixel phones – it’s pure Android.
The onboard Google Tensor G4 chip offers solid performance and speed with the Pixel 10a.
It also powers the many AI features onboard including Google Gemini, generative AI and circle to search.
The cameras produce amazing images – another area where Pixel phones punched above their weight – and we were impressed with the clarity and natural colours in our images.
On the video side you can capture 4K at up to 60fps with active stabilisation to get rid of the shakes.
And while the cameras are the same as last year, the Pixel 10a still has several AI features to improve your photography while you’re taking your images and after you’ve taken the shot.
The excellent editing tools include Best Take which gives you a choice of the best expressions and Add Me so photographer can add themselves to the group photo.
There’s also the AI-powered Camera Coach to help you step by step take a better photo with advice with composition and lighting.
The camera also holds its own with images in low light and in macro mode.
Battery-wise the Pixel 10a easily lasts all day and well into the next – Google quotes it at 30+ hours.
And when it’s time to charge you can get up to 50 per cent back in about 30 minutes.
Google is offering seven years security and OS updates so you can be assured the device will work well into the future.
The Google Pixel 10a is available now and is priced at $849 (128GB) and $999 (256GB).
It is available in four colours – lavender, berry, fog and obsidian.
VERDICT
The Google Pixel 10a might only be a slight improvement over the Pixel 9a but it is still an impressive and affordable smartphone that will meet all your needs and exceed them in some areas.
