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Google conscionable launched its new fund Pixel phone, and it's near a batch of radical confused. On the surface, the Pixel 10a looks precise akin to its predecessor. The caller instrumentality has the aforesaid surface size, artillery capacity, and cameras -- Google didn't adjacent springiness it a processor upgrade this year. So, what's different? Is it the aforesaid telephone arsenic before? Well, yes and no.
Also: Why I urge this $400 Google Pixel implicit competing models from Samsung and OnePlus
There are a fewer quality-of-life upgrades to the Google Pixel 10a that marque it a beardown contender for idiosyncratic spending $500 oregon little connected a phone. Here's what's caller compared to the last-gen Pixel 9a. I'll besides fto you cognize if there's a compelling crushed to upgrade.
You should bargain the Google Pixel 10a if…
1. You privation a agleam surface and faster charging
Both Google Pixel 10a and 9a person the aforesaid show size. You get a 6.3-inch OLED sheet with a 60-120Hz refresh rate. They mightiness look similar, but the caller Pixel 10a has a brighter, stronger screen. It is protected by Gorilla Glass 7i (instead of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 connected the 9a), which should connection amended scratch and driblet resistance.
Last year, the Pixel 9a's show supported 1,800 nits of precocious brightness and 2,700 nits highest brightness for supported HDR content. The new-gen 10a pushes these numbers to 2,000 nits and 3,000 nits, respectively. This upgrade should marque it easier to presumption the surface successful harsh lighting conditions. Plus, the Pixel 10a's sheet is rated astatine a opposition ratio of much than 2,000,000:1 (double that of the 9a) for deeper blacks successful darker scenes.
Both of these A-series Pixel phones battalion the aforesaid 5,100mAh battery, but they complaint astatine antithetic rates. The caller Pixel 10a tin accelerated complaint astatine 30W (up from 23W) and wirelessly charges astatine up to 10W (up from 7.5W). However, neither telephone features PixelSnap magnets for amended wireless charging alignment and enactment for magnetic accessories -- this is relegated to the flagship model.
2. You hatred having your telephone wobble connected your desk
The Google Pixel 10a is 1 of the uncommon phones successful 2026 without a camera bump. Google retained its pill-shaped camera lodging from the 9a and improved it. ZDNET's Editor successful Chief Kerry Wan attended a hands-on preview and confirmed the camera bump protrudes adjacent little than successful the 9a, which was already mostly flush.
Also: I enactment distant my Samsung S25 Ultra aft battery-testing this astonishment Android phone
This alteration fixes the awkward telephone wobble connected your table and different level surfaces. I've ne'er been bothered by this issue, but I've seen radical complaining astir rear-camera housings protruding much each year. If you're 1 of those people, there's yet a telephone for you.
The 10a besides comes successful amusive colors, including a caller Berry finish, which Wan described arsenic "charmingly bold" compared to erstwhile Pixel colors, noting that it could person easy been called Tomato instead.
3. You request Satellite SOS connectivity for bid of mind
Perhaps 1 of the astir underrated upgrades connected a fund phone, the Pixel 10a brings Satellite SOS connectivity. This diagnostic makes it the lowest-cost Google telephone to person outer connectivity for exigency communication. The Pixel 10a is 1 of the astir affordable phones to person this feature, alongside its contiguous rival, the Apple iPhone 16e.
Also: How to wide your Android telephone cache (and hole dilatory show for good)
For reference, SOS connectivity is simply a information diagnostic that helps you link with exigency services erstwhile there's nary cellular oregon Wi-Fi signal. When triggered, your Pixel 10a connects to satellites successful fixed positions supra the world and reaches the exigency work provider. This diagnostic could beryllium highly adjuvant successful pugnacious outdoor situations.
You should support your Pixel 9a because…
The bottommost line: if you person the Pixel 9a, the caller 10a isn't important capable of an upgrade to warrant buying the caller phone. If you're looking for performance, battery, oregon camera upgrades connected the 10a, the Pixel 10a has the aforesaid Tensor G4 processor arsenic past year's Pixel 9 series. You besides get 8GB of RAM and 256GB of retention successful the basal variant.
The aforesaid goes for optics. Google didn't upgrade the cameras connected its caller Pixel 10a. You get the aforesaid 48MP main sensor with f/1.7 aperture and 13MP ultrawide-angle lens with a 120-degree tract of presumption connected the back, and a 13MP camera connected the front. However, the instrumentality borrows immoderate AI smarts from the much costly Pixel 10 series. Google has added enactment for features similar Camera Coach, Auto Best Take, and Macro Focus, but they aren't tempting capable to warrant an upgrade.
Also: The champion Android phones to bargain successful 2026
Lastly, Google Pixel 9a has the aforesaid artillery capableness arsenic the caller Pixel 10a. As mentioned earlier, you get a 5,100mAh cell, and fixed that the Pixel 10a besides has the Tensor G4 chipset, I don't expect immoderate ratio gains. The new-gen telephone charges somewhat faster, but this is besides a humble upgrade.
Processing power, cameras, and artillery capableness are the astir salient year-on-year upgrades we spot successful caller phones. If your Pixel 9a is moving perfectly good successful these 3 areas, there's nary crushed to upgrade. In fact, if you tin find a Pixel 9a for nether $400 now, I'd urge buying it implicit the caller Google Pixel 10a.
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