Google Pixel 10a: What Real Users Actually Think

This should be named 'Pixel 9.01a'

Same exact specs as the Pixel 9A except: Launches with Android 16 and will receive software updates for 7 years, slightly higher peak brightness of 3,000 nits (up from 2,700 nits), new screen glass Gorilla Glass 7i, faster 30W wired charging, supposedly easier to repair, new colors.

I do like that the midrange phones are now going back to being flat. I do not like the bar for sliding in and out of my pocket at all.

The internet was quick to label the Pixel 10a as a relaunched Pixel 9a. We wanted to know if there was more to the story, so we spent the extra time and effort to see if there was more here than what meets the eye. Unfortunately, the internet was correct.

Honestly just the idea of pushing the body of the phone to match the camera as to allow the phone to lay flat and put a larger battery in it is an absolute win in my book. More phones should do this, I guess people want sleek and slim, but just turn around and put a case on it.

Good news: Pixel 10a is launching much earlier than usual, pricing in the EU appears unchanged year over year, both 128GB and 256GB models are available in all colors. Bad news: No actual price cut despite minimal hardware upgrades, entry level storage is still 128GB for the fourth straight year.

This is the story with all of the new phones lately from Apple, Samsung, Google. Not really an upgrade from the prior model. If this is your first Pixel or you're upgrading from a model that is many versions back, you might as well get the Pixel 10a. You'll get longer software support getting the 10a.

Why haven't they reduced the price of the pixel 9a? They're both selling for 499 which makes no sense.

Budget only in the sense US based carrier offers really enticing plans or trade-in. $500 (realistically $600 for 256GB) isn't a good value proposition elsewhere in the world and even the discounts usually don't get as good as stateside.

That's fine tbh. It's a budget phone, gets updates for a year longer, very slight improvements but still improvements. Still better to just buy a 9 or 10 if you can find a good deal.

With ram and storage prices where they are, expect either big price jumps on phones, or manufacturers trying to get more time out of older kit.

I literally told people to wait for the announcement because there could be more to it than a short 15 second clip. I was wrong, I apologize to anyone saying that this thing was JUST a Pixel 9a because it came true. Fucking crazy that Google would release this.

Even minimal seems like an exaggeration. They're basically the same phone.

Just wait a month or 2 and it'll be discounted $50-100 like every other Pixel. Or just get a Pixel 10 that's regularly on sale for around $499-549.

What's worse is after Apple announced 17e, 10a seems even more like an insult to the customers in hindsight. That phone improves so much from 16e (not that I would switch to iPhone, mind you.)

Who is hating it? It's a decent phone.

There are differences (brighter screen, satellite SOS, faster charging, better glass). "Minimal" is accurate.

I mean, it looks fine, the biggest update is the camera bump is basically non-existent, which is pretty nice - makes the phone just a slab in your pocket. My problem with it is they just didn't need to release another one in the lineup if this was all it was.

£500 for a 10a. For £370 I can get a new Pixel 9. Can get the nearly identical 9a for even less. Heck, even the Pixel 10 is £600 new. I just don't see where this fits in price wise now they can't even boast the latest CPU.

I'll hold on to my Pixel 6a.

It contains more recycled materials, even the SOC was recycled from last year.

At some point the foundational technology for phones and general purpose devices like tablets just don't change. The processor can get slightly faster. What we need is better software and integration.

10a doesn't use the same display though (3000 nits vs 2700 nits) and it has upgraded Gorilla glass too, also the 10a has the Exynos 5400 modem as well so it's not the exact same SOC. Someone owning a 9a isn't going to see it as much of an upgrade but looking at prices in Australia, the 10a is actually only $50 more than the 9a. I'd rather get the 10a.

I feel like new google phones have lost all appeal since they added 7 years of support. Last years phones can be bought for ~60% of the cost, but still come with 6 years of updates, and the performance difference is like.. 5%?

Same processor, same cameras, same screen, same rams, same UFS3.1 storage, same battery size. Just about the only thing I can spot that's different from 9a is the upgraded charging speed from 23w to 45w. Does anyone see any other differences?

You mean the Pixel 9B lol

Sad. No Qi2 charging.

It all comes down to the naming and marketing. It shouldn't have been called the 10a. It's a rebadged 9a with a slightly more flush camera bump, slightly brighter screen and slightly faster charging speeds. Just keep making the 9a and selling it for a slightly reduced price and everyone would be happy.

With trade in and coupon the 10a came out to $114 with a $100 store credit. I feel like that's a good deal regardless of whether it's a rebranded 9a or not.

The least they can do is to add magsafe to match all other Pixel 10 phones. Heck, they even make 10a slightly thicker to eliminate the camera bump, but couldn't even be bothered to put the magnetic ring into that extra space. The laziest new phone ever.

Because literally it's a Pixel 9a. In my country you can buy a new Pixel 9a for 350€ or a Pixel 10a for around 550€. Means you get a minimum of upgrade for a >50% higher price. Choice should be quite clear, if you are rational.

I think the 10a is great, especially considering the price and some of the pre-order deals you can snag.

I really dont get why they made this a new phone. It is as close as you can get to a 1:1 rerelease.

The modem upgrade means satellite support, which the articles seem to keep leaving out.

If you're upgrading from an older phone, why would you upgrade to a pixel 10A when the pixel 9A is almost the same device at a much cheaper price? The pixel 10A is a decent device, but it shouldn't exist when we have a pixel 9A.

I looked at the 10a and it's really not that much of an upgrade from my 6a. Crazy.

It has satellite SOS and the 9a doesn't.

Snagged a Berry model to replace my P6. Got $50 off from a promo code, $75 for my trade-in, free Pixel Buds 2a, and a $20 case. Little over $400 for everything. Plus Google gives me 0% interest on new phones.

I think part of it is that certain people got used to each new phone being a significant upgrade from the last model and that hasn't been happening for a few years now, with the 10a the most obvious. The phone is fine, and I hope people who get it enjoy it as much as I enjoy the 9a.

I upgraded from the 9a to the 10a mainly for the much better modem. The one on the 9a sucks. It was only $124 and I also get $140 Google store credit.

I upgraded from the 9A to the 10A. It's just lighter, has SOS emergency texting, no camera bump, and higher watt wireless charging. I essentially got it for free with trade in and discount and credit to the Google store.

50% off deal today convinced me to pull the trigger. Upgrade from an 8a to 10a, and gift the old phone to a family member. I could care less if it's a huge upgrade or not because the 8a did everything I need.

My email coupon from google was $150, then trade in my iPhone 13 for another $305 off and swapped the $100 store credit for the free $129 pixel buds 2. So total for the 10a and pixel buds 2 after trade was $44. Couldn't beat that.

I agree. The bezels got a bit smaller, charging a bit faster, and got a modem that sucks a lot less. For a phone that will be on sale for $350 on Amazon by the end of the year it's a pretty great package.

Has a bigger battery than the Pro models of this generation line up and previous models. That alone is enough to justify the purchase especially for me with a Pixel 7 pro.

Went from a 6 to a 10a yesterday. 6 was fine but updates are end of life this year. So far it's a lot snappier and I like the extended support years.

I think the Pixel 10a is still a good deal. The screen goes to 120hz, I don't know why people are saying it's only 60. Also the $500 price is nice. I have Google fi and that alone knocks the price down to $250. With my trade in that knocks it down to $100. And they are offering a pair of earbuds worth $100 for preordering it.