Over the previous few years, Google’s A-series Pixel telephones have persistently been a few of the greatest midrange telephones you should buy. However with the AI growth inflicting reminiscence shortages and the value of client electronics to rise, together with smartphones, reasonably priced gadgets just like the Pixel 10a are extra essential than ever. Fortunately, Google’s new telephone nonetheless represents nice worth, even when it would not include many upgrades.
Google / Engadget
Regardless of few upgrades, the Pixel 10a stays a wonderful possibility for these searching for an reasonably priced smartphone.
- Vibrant, vivid 120Hz show
- Nice digital camera software program
- Satellite tv for pc SOS included
- Accessible in a handful of pretty colours
- Sluggish wired and wi-fi charging
- No Pixelsnap help
Design and show
As earlier than, the Pixel 10a has a 6.3-inch 120Hz P-OLED show. (Igor Bonifacic for Engadget)
The story of the Pixel 10a is considered one of small adjustments, so let’s begin with the surface. The telephone is on the market in 4 colours: lavender (pictured), berry, fog and obsidian. Pictures do not do the lavender shade justice. In particular person, the sunshine refracts superbly off the floor of the aluminum body and composite again. The again of the telephone additionally has a satisfying matte end that made the 10a really feel safe in my hand. One other good contact is that Google shaved down the digital camera module additional, in order that the 10a can now lie fully flat. As earlier than, all the telephone is rated IP68-certified in opposition to mud and water. For DIY fanatics, Google has stated it redesigned the 10a’s internals to make it simpler to restore. Hooray for that.
Past these adjustments, the 10a has a brighter 120Hz P-OLED display that gives as much as 3,000 nits of brightness, up from 2,700 on the 9a. The show additionally provides higher safety in opposition to scratches and drops due to Google’s choice to modify to Gorilla Glass 7i for the display coating. Regardless of the minimal adjustments, there’s not a lot to complain about right here. The 10a’s display is quick, responsive and vibrant. The on-screen fingerprint sensor can be in an easy-to-reach spot towards the center of the telephone. After reviewing a number of huge telephones in current months, it was additionally good to return to a handset with a wise 6.3-inch footprint.
Efficiency and battery
The audio system on the Pixel 10a may very well be stronger and extra outlined. (Igor Bonifacic for Engadget)
I have been spoiled just lately by telephones just like the OnePlus 15R, which provides a 7,400mAh battery and 55 watt charging out of the field. By that metric, the Pixel 10a, with its 5,100mAh battery, leaves one thing to be desired. Placing the telephone by way of Engadget’s video rundown take a look at, it ran for 28 hours earlier than the battery died, which is precisely the place the Pixel 9a landed final yr. Nevertheless, that rating means the 10a is totally center of the pack in relation to battery life. I may see battery life changing into a priority because the telephone ages. Whereas that is true of each telephone, the 10a’s smaller battery makes that extra of a urgent concern since you may be charging the telephone extra typically and due to this fact degrading the battery sooner.
Google has improved wired charging speeds, with the brand new telephone able to charging at 30 watts, up from 23-watts with the 9a. You may want to offer a appropriate energy adapter although; the Pixel 10a would not include one contained in the field. With a 30 watt charger, the 10a’s battery went from useless to about 50 p.c in underneath 45 minutes. A full cost takes roughly an hour and 45 minutes. Once more, not nice, however serviceable.
One other disappointment is that the Pixel 10a would not help Google’s new Pixelsnap normal. Wi-fi charging is quicker on the brand new telephone (it is now rated at 10 watts, up from 5), however with no appropriate third-party case, a charging puck will not magnetically align with the again of the 10a. It isn’t a dealbreaker, however Pixelsnap would have been an excellent addition.
The 10a has the identical chipset Google used on the Pixel 9a, the Tensor G4, and the corporate has as soon as once more gone with 8GB of RAM. Different midrange telephones like Samsung Galaxy S25 FE provide sooner chips, however additionally they price extra. Furthermore, I did not really feel just like the 10a was worse for operating on previous silicon. The brand new 120Hz show does rather a lot to make the brand new telephone really feel snappy, and Google’s in-house Android pores and skin feels responsive as ever.
The 10a additionally does a commendable job of preserving warmth in verify. I sat all the way down to play Diablo Immortal and even after an hour of playtime, the telephone was nonetheless cool to the contact regardless of operating the sport at excessive settings and 60 frames per second.
Cameras
This time round, the Pixel 10a has a digital camera module that is flush with its physique. (Igor Bonifacic for Engadget)
The 10a comes with the identical digital camera package deal as its predecessor. On the again, you get a 48-megapixel essential digital camera with an f/1.7 lens that gives optical picture stabilization and section detection autofocus. Complementing it’s a 13MP ultrawide with a 120-degree discipline of view. For selfies, you get a 13MP digital camera with an f/2.2 lens. As ever, Google’s software program is doing many of the heavy lifting right here. That features a pair of latest options, Digicam Coach and Auto Greatest Take, that debuted with the Pixel 10 collection.
Digicam Coach, just like the identify suggests, makes use of AI to research the scene you are about to seize, and provides recommendations on learn how to greatest compose and lightweight the shot. It would additionally recommend the very best digital camera mode for the job. Whereas I can see how this software may very well be helpful, I discovered the very fact it depends on a cloud mannequin made it too gradual for some conditions. For instance, once I used Digicam Coach to assist me snap a photograph of my cat, a sassy tortoiseshell, she walked away by the point the 10a obtained a response from Google’s servers. In additional static scenes, Digicam Coach is extra helpful, however a lot of images is about capturing a fleeting second in time, so its utility is restricted.
Auto Greatest Take solves an issue I am certain we have all skilled. You go to take a gaggle portrait, and snap a number of frames to make sure everybody seems good, solely to finish up with no single usable shot. With Auto Greatest Take, Google guarantees to mix related group photographs so that everybody seems their greatest. This characteristic works as marketed.
Exterior of these options, the 10a provides a predictably nice digital camera expertise. The telephone persistently produces photographs which are sharp with nice pure colours. That stated, I did miss having a telephoto digital camera, as you’ll be able to see from the photographs I shot throughout a current Cat Energy live performance in Toronto. Given the 10a solely prices $500, it is onerous to fault Google for not together with one.
Software program
The Pixel 10a’s facet button can each activate Gemini and the telephone’s digital camera. (Igor Bonifacic for Engadget)
Out of the field, the 10a comes with Android 16. Like all of Google’s current Pixel gadgets, the corporate has promised to help the 10a for an industry-leading seven years with software program updates and safety patches. The corporate’s pledge consists of Pixel Drops, which regularly convey new software program options. One characteristic Google has introduced over from the costlier Pixel 10 line is Satellite tv for pc SOS, which lets you name for assist throughout emergencies, even when your telephone cannot hook up with a mobile community. Exterior of a demo designed to make customers conscious of the characteristic, I wasn’t in a position to take a look at Satellite tv for pc SOS (fortunately).
Notably, the 10a continues to be lacking Google’s Screenshots app. That is unlucky because it’s one of many extra helpful Pixel exclusives, making it simpler to arrange all of your on-line clippings. Different AI options reminiscent of Gemini Dwell and Circle to Search are accounted for, and as helpful ever.
Wrap-up
General, the Pixel 10a is a superb telephone, although I might have liked to see extra year-over-year upgrades. (Igor Bonifacic for Engadget)
The Pixel 10a is a difficult telephone to grade. On the one hand, a part of me desires to dock factors as a result of Google has added so few updates. On the opposite, the 10a continues to be an excellent telephone for $500, and at a time when client electronics have gotten costlier by the day, the very fact it hasn’t gone up in value is a small miracle. Even when Google is partly accountable for the present reminiscence crunch, the corporate’s {hardware} division has delivered an reasonably priced machine that’s nonetheless price recommending. The Pixel 10a continues to be the telephone to beat within the $500 vary.
