The Pixel 10a is here, but I'm not upgrading

I love my Pixel 9a, even though I switched to it from a flagship. Naturally, I was excited for the launch of the Pixel 10a, hoping it would offer enough upgrades to justify buying it.

Well, that didn’t happen. There’s exactly zero reason to upgrade if you have a Pixel 9a, in my opinion, as the latest Pixel 10a doesn’t really offer anything particularly exciting.

Here’s what’s new

Let’s start with the design: The Pixel 10a now sports a completely flat back. Yes, I know that the Pixel 9a technically doesn’t have a camera bump, at least when compared to its predecessor. However, it still has a tiny edge around the camera that protrudes a bit, which is now gone. The camera module on the Pixel 10 is completely flush with the body, so the phone won’t wobble at all when placed down on a desk.

The bezels around the display are just a tad smaller, which means the device’s overall footprint is smaller as well — the display is the same size. This also translates to a lower weight, although the difference is negligible (3 grams). And there are a few new colors available. Obsidian is the only one carried over from last year’s model and is joined by Lavender, Berry, and Fog.

The display is said to be 11% brighter, jumping from 2,700 to 3,000 nits. It’s also covered by the newer Corning Gorilla Glass 7i for extra drop protection.

Then there’s the charging, which is arguably the biggest upgrade of the Pixel 10a. It’s faster, jumping from 23W to 30W. Wireless charging also got a boost at 10W — up from 7.5W. We haven’t tested the device yet, so we don’t know how much faster it will charge. You’ll have to wait for our official review for more details.

Google also brought satellite SOS to its latest Pixel A phone. It’s a useful feature for times when you’re in an emergency situation and don’t have access to Wi-Fi or a mobile network. Thanks to satellite SOS, you’ll still be able to call for help, which can be a lifesaver.

The Pixel 10a also has a ton of new software features that were previously only available on Google’s flagship series. These include Auto Best Take, Camera Coach, and the ability to edit images in Google Photos with voice prompts. Oh, and Quick Share is now also compatible with Airdrop.

Some of these features may also come to the Pixel 9a via a software update, although Google has not confirmed — or denied — this for now.

Here’s what stayed the same

The Pixel 10a shares a lot of similarities with the Pixel 9a. Despite those small design differences I mentioned, the look and feel of the two devices is more or less the same. It’s hard to tell them apart at first glance, with the new colors being the biggest differentiator.

The display, while brighter, is mostly the same. You still get a 6.3-inch 120Hz panel that’s more than decent for this price point.

What’s surprising is the chipset — the Pixel 10a packs the Tensor G4 under the hood, same as its predecessor. It’s a very capable SoC that can handle the majority of tasks with ease, it’s just that I expected an upgrade to the Tensor G5 that’s in the flagship Pixel 10 series. A new phone with an old processor isn’t my idea of an upgrade.

The memory configurations are identical as well. The handset comes with 8GB of RAM, and you can choose between 128GB and 256GB of storage. You also get identical camera hardware — 48 + 13MP at the back and 13MP at the front — but with a few new software features as mentioned in the previous section.

The back is still plastic, so my hopes and dreams of switching to glass did not come true. And the battery remains the same size at 5,100 mAh, while the fingerprint scanner is still optical rather than the faster ultrasonic, though that’s to be expected.

And then there’s the software update promise. It’s still set at seven years, which is also expected. And it’s enough for the vast majority of users, as the battery will likely degrade over that time period anyway. The phone will get an extra version of Android, though, as it launched with Android 16 instead of 15.

The good news is that pricing also remained the same, with the Pixel 10 starting at $500.

I’m not upgrading, and neither should you

Don’t get me wrong, the Pixel 10a is a great phone overall, but since it’s such a tiny upgrade over its predecessor, it’s simply not worth upgrading to it from the Pixel 9a. At least for most people. The only reason why it would make sense for some is the satellite SOS connectivity, which can be a lifesaver when getting lost in the mountains, for example.

My hiking days are more or less behind me, so I’ll stick to the Pixel 9a for now. However, if I owned an older device showing wear and tear and were in the market for a new one, the Pixel 10a would definitely be an option to consider.

Although to most people in this scenario, I’d suggest just saving money and opting for the cheaper Pixel 9a instead. It’s basically almost an identical phone and costs 20% less at the moment.