About a year ago, poll results for the Pixel 9a indicated that the hardware was impressive, but the pricing raised concerns. Fortunately, numerous deals on the 9a have emerged over the months, effectively addressing this issue.
Now, let's focus on the new Google Pixel 10a, launching at the same price point as the 9a: $500/£500/€550/₹50,000 for an 8/128GB variant, available from March 6. This isn't the only similarity the 10a shares with its predecessor.
Here’s a brief overview of the upgrades. The new 10a features a more robust Gorilla Glass 7i (upgraded from GG3) and maintains the same IP68 rating, boasting an aluminum frame with a plastic back. The battery is the same 5,100mAh cell but now offers faster charging with 30W wired (up from 23W) and 10W wireless (up from 7.5W). However, the 10a does not include the Pixelsnap magnets present in other Pixel 10 models.
Google Pixel 10a Color Options
The OLED display remains at 6.3 inches but now has an enhanced peak brightness of 3,000 nits (up from 2,700 nits). It continues to use an LTPS panel and features an optical fingerprint reader. Additionally, the inclusion of support for satellite SOS messaging can be a significant upgrade over the 9a, although it is only available in select regions.
To conclude the list of upgrades, the Pixel 10a still utilizes the same Samsung-made Tensor G4 as last year's model, paired with 8GB of RAM and storage options of 128GB or 256GB. The camera configuration remains unchanged, offering a 48MP main sensor, a 13MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 13MP selfie camera.
Google Pixel 10a: Same 48+13MP Cameras • Gemini is a Key Player
The 10a launches with Android 16 out of the box, providing one additional OS update compared to the 9a. Both models, however, are set to receive 7 years of updates from their respective launch dates, which might extend beyond the hardware's longevity (consider the limitations of Android 23 running on a G4 chip with 8GB of RAM).
If you're currently using a Pixel 9a, there may be little motivation to upgrade to the 10a. But for those using an 8a or another brand, are you considering purchasing the Pixel 10a?
