Google Pixel 10a
€559
Store.google.com
four stars
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When it comes to Google’s Pixel 10a, you would be forgiven for having a bit of déjà vu. Google’s newest A-series phone looks broadly similar to last year’s budget-priced 9a, with some minor finessing of the camera bump on the rear.
The dimensions haven’t changed much either, although it is just enough to ensure you won’t be swapping their protective cases any time soon.
It has the same chip powering it, with Google’s Tensor G4 doing all the heavy lifting, although Google says the G4 has been tweaked a bit to make it load apps faster and multitasking smoother. It still has 8GB of RAM, and the camera set up is largely the same.
You could say the same about a lot of smartphones these days. Remember when smartphones made huge leaps, with rapid innovation, new features and improvements in hardware capabilities that meant people were keen to upgrade to the latest phones every year? That pace of innovation could only last so long, and as we now know, yearly upgrades lead to a pile of electronic waste that we can’t escape.
Evolution has long since replaced revolution. Smartphone makers are focusing more on software upgrades and AI as the potential for huge developments in what the hardware can offer diminishes.
So what exactly does the Google 10a bring to the table?
On the hardware side, there have been a few changes. Out of the box, it should be more durable, with Google upgrading the front glass from Gorilla Glass 3 to Corning’s 7i version. That, teamed with the IP68 rating for dust and water, should keep your phone working even if it takes a little abuse now and again. If you want to keep it looking pristine, however, a case might be worth the investment. No one wants to scuff up their phone, particularly if it is one of the new lavender or berry colours.
There is also the brighter screen, with the 10a offering a peak brightness of 3,000 nits versus the 9a’s peak of 2,700. That may not mean much written down, but in practice, it will leave you better able to see your phone in bright sunshine.
Regardless of whether you are interested in wired or wireless charging, Google has boosted speeds. The 10a supports 30W wired charging and 10W wireless, so you can power up the 5100mAh battery – same as last year – and be on your way a little quicker.
Satellite SOS has also been added to the 10a, thanks to the updated modem, so you can always get in touch with someone even if you are officially out of phone range. It is a feature you hope to never use, but it is reassuring to know that it is there.
While the camera hardware hasn’t changed – a dual rear camera with a 48 megapixel wide camera and a 13 megapixel ultrawide camera – the 10a now includes Camera Coach to walk you through the steps of taking a photo and tell you exactly where you are going wrong.
The Auto Best Shot feature will face swap until you get the best possible group photo, and Add Me will magically paste you into a shot by combining two photos, as if you were always there.
What it doesn’t get is the Pixelsnap magnetic attachment for accessories, which is disappointing but not a deal breaker for most people.
There is one bit of good news when it comes to retreading the ground of the 9a: the price has also stayed the same, at €559. That makes the 10a a good deal for those upgrading from an older phone or switching from Apple.
It also comes with seven years of operating system and security updates, like its predecessor. That improves the longevity of the phone and, with Google optimising the G4 and improving it for Gemini, it makes it a better long-term bet for those who want AI features.
Essentially, the 10a is a minor upgrade, polishing a few features and refining the design. But the 9a was a solid proposition that is still hard to beat, particularly if you are willing to sacrifice a small bit of support time and minor upgrades for the now-cheaper price. As long as the 9a is available, Google’s newer phone may suffer.
Good
A shade lighter and thinner than the 9a, the 10s also smooths out the camera bump on the back. That meant fewer sliding incidents, where the phone ended up on the floor.
The improved Gorilla Glass will help here too, though it won’t protect the rest of the case from scuffs.
The addition of faster charging – both wired and wireless – is welcome, although the battery capacity remains the same.
Bad
The 10a feels very much like the 9a, and doesn’t do enough to differentiate itself. It has the same chip – although optimised - as last year, with the Tensor G4 instead of the updated G5.
Everything else
Seven years of operating system updates and security patches make this a good option for budget conscious consumers, particularly because Google has not increased the price from last year.
Verdict
Although the 10a looks like more of the same, it has a few upgrades for newcomers who want to eke out as much as possible from their devices.
four stars
