I Tried the Pixel 10a, and Its Flat Camera Bar Feels Amazing

Google has unwrapped the Pixel 10a, an updated version of its midrange Android phone, and targeted some key improvements year over year. Rather than rewrite the book, Google applied subtle design changes and minor spec upgrades, along with several fresh software additions, to make it a more compelling entry in its lineup. It’s easy to think Google recycled too much from the excellent Pixel 9a, but after getting an early look at its newest smartphone, I came away thinking the changes add up in important ways. Here’s how.

Sleek, Sturdy, and Surprisingly Comfortable in My Hands

Google says it received a lot of positive feedback about the Pixel 9a’s camera bar. The pill-shaped module of the 9a is almost flush with the rest of the phone’s rear surface—much more so than the costlier Pixel 9 or Pixel 10, which have raised camera bars. For the Pixel 10a, Google goes even further; the camera bar is completely flat. This makes the phone easier to place into or retrieve from your pocket, and it sits firmly on flat surfaces without wobbling. However you view the design, it’s simple to the extreme yet still classy.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

The phone measures 6.1 by 2.9 by 0.4 inches (HWD) and weighs 6.5 ounces, matching the 9a’s dimensions exactly, though it’s 0.1 ounces lighter. It’s compact by today’s standards; the size should work well for most hand sizes. Its closest competitor, the Apple iPhone 16e ($599), is smaller and lighter, measuring 5.8 by 2.8 by 0.3 inches and weighing 5.9 ounces.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

The Pixel 10a’s smooth and sleek metal, glass, and plastic surfaces feel really great to hold and use. The frame is made of recycled aluminum, and Google has upgraded the front glass from Gorilla Glass 3 to Gorilla Glass 7i, which is tougher and better protected against scratches and breakage. The rear panel is made from a plastic composite. Its matte finish is particularly nice and helps ward off fingerprints. In addition to the strengthened front glass, the phone has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

Everything else about the 10a’s design is essentially the same as the 9a. It features power and volume keys on the right edge, a SIM card tray on the left, and a USB-C (v3.2) on the bottom edge. All these controls felt good and functioned well in the short time I had with the phone. Of note, the phone supports one physical SIM card and one eSIM, for a total of two. It doesn’t support memory cards, nor does it include a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Instead of the 9a’s shades of Iris, Obsidian, Peony, and Porcelain, the 10a comes in Berry, Fog, Lavender, or Obsidian.

The Bright Screen Made Me Forget About Midrange Limits

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

Google makes only a small change to the screen: It’s brighter. Where the 9a’s screen peaks at 2,700 nits, the 10a’s screen reaches 3,000 nits, an 11% improvement. The remaining attributes are the same. The OLED panel measures 6.3 inches and features a resolution of 2,424 by 1,080 pixels, a density of 422 pixels per inch, and a refresh rate of 60 to 120Hz. It was plenty sharp and bright enough to overcome the natural light of the event space I saw it in.

Left to right: Fog Berry, Lavender, Obsidian (Credit: Eric Zeman)

I Was Surprised How Smooth the Pixel 10a Feels Despite the Same Processor

If you consider the design changes to be minimal, wait until you learn about the specs. Surprisingly, Google has not updated the processor. The 10a relies on the same Tensor G4 as the 9a and has the same amount of memory (4GB) and storage (128GB for $499, 256GB for $599). The rest of the Pixel 10 series has the newer Tensor G5. Where the 9a was competitive in performance with the rest of the Pixel 9 series, I’m not yet sure where the 10a will land compared with the Pixel 10 series.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

The 10a also carries over the 5,100mAh battery of the 9a. While the capacity remains the same, some minor capabilities are better. For example, the maximum wired charging speed is 30W (up from 23W), and its max wireless charging speed is 10W (up from 7.5W). The phone supports the Qi wireless charging standard but not Qi2, which supports magnetic charging pads. That’s a real shame, as the Pixel 10 series’ PixelSnap feature is one of its best. Google says the battery should last about 30 hours with typical use, or up to 120 hours in Extreme Battery Saver mode. For what it’s worth, the 9a lasted 13 hours and 15 minutes in our battery test, which is a fair result for Android phones.

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(Credit: Eric Zeman)

Thankfully, a new modem means upgraded radio specs. The 10a is still limited to sub-6GHz 5G (including C-band) and does not support mmWave. Moreover, it recycles the Wi-Fi 6E radio from the 9a. However, Bluetooth has been upgraded from version 5.3 to 6.0, and the phone is now compatible with satellite-based emergency SOS services. This added satellite tool is a big step up for a phone at the same price as its predecessor, especially since Google is offering the feature for free.

Google’s Software Tricks Turn Familiar Cameras Into Something New

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

As for the cameras, the hardware appears to be the same, but some new software features are on board. The Google Pixel 10a has a 48MP camera with f/1.7 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS), and an 82-degree field of view. It downsamples images by a factor of four to produce 12MP final images. The ultrawide camera has a 13MP sensor at f/2.2 with OIS and EIS, and a 120-degree field of view. Last, the front camera has a 13MP sensor at f/2.2 and a 96-degree field of view. The video cameras can handle up to 4K60 capture on the back and 4K30 on the front.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

Because this is a Google Pixel phone, the feature set is off the charts. The biggest new feature is Auto Best Take, which snaps a bunch of photos and merges them into a single photo with everyone smiling and their eyes open. The 10a gains access to Camera Coach, a tool that teaches you how to take and frame better photos. The phone also includes Super Res Zoom (up to 8x), Add Me, Macro Focus, Night Side, Astrophotography, Face Unblur, Real Tone, and more. Video features include Audio Magic Eraser, Cinematic Pan, Slow motion (up to 240fps), and multiple stabilization formats.

The phone ships with Android 16 and will receive a full seven years of OS upgrades, Pixel drops, and security updates. That’s equal to the commitment Samsung makes to its Galaxy phones and is better than most other phones in the market.

On the AI front, it includes Gemini, Gemini Live, Gemini apps, Circle to Search, Live Translate, Nano Banana, and Call Assist. These features are already available across the Pixel 10 series and can make some activities, like planning a weekend in a new city, simpler and more straightforward.

(Credit: Eric Zeman)

Preorders Are Live Now

You can preorder the Pixel 10a starting today, and it hits retail, including the Google Store and major carriers, on March 5. Pricing starts at $499 for the 128GB model. Google and wireless carriers may offer discounts or promotions to lower your out-of-pocket cost.

We expect to review the phone in the weeks ahead, so be sure to check back soon.

About Our Expert

Eric Zeman

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Experience

I’m PCMag’s managing editor for consumer electronics content, overseeing an experienced team of reviewers and product testers. I’ve been covering technology for about 25 years. Prior to PCMag, I worked at outlets such as Android Authority, Fortune, InformationWeek, and Phonescoop. 

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