Google just officially unveiled the Pixel 10a, a minor refresh of the Pixel 9a. Pricing for the new phone starts at $499. It launches globally on March 5, but preorders have already started on the official website.
Sustainability seems central to its identity, as the company has made this the most recycled A-series Pixel to date. Here's what to expect.
Pixel 10a is pretty much the Pixel 9a with a flatter rear
In their latest announcement post, Google said they employed cobalt, copper, gold, and tungsten in making the Pixel 10a. The frame is made from 100% recycled aluminum. Aluminum is one good choice, as you can melt it down and reuse it repeatedly without losing quality.
As for the specifications, it's a 6.3-inch phone with a flat P-OLED display running at 120Hz. It has a 1080 x 2424 resolution with a ~422 ppi density. The brightness now reaches 3,000 nits peak, compared with the 9a's 2,700 nits peak.
Another upgrade is protection, where the previous model used Gorilla Glass 3. It's now stronger with the Gorilla Glass 7i. The 10a is also marginally smaller and lighter at 183g compared to 186g, and 9mm thick versus 8.9mm.
It's IP68 certified with full dust and water resistance up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. SIM support includes Nano-SIM plus eSIM.
Android 16 has been preinstalled, promising seven Android upgrades. Powering it is the same four-nanometer Tensor G4 chip used on the Pixel 9a, paired with a Mali-G715 MP7 GPU.
The phone comes in pretty colors
Memory options for the Pixel 10a include 8GB RAM variants with 128GB or 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. There’s no microSD card slot.
Base pricing starts at $499 for 128GB and reaches $599 for 256GB. On the back is the 48MP main camera with OIS and dual-pixel autofocus. The ultrawide lens is 13MP with a 120-degree field of view. Video recording reaches 4K at 60fps, with OIS and gyro-EIS stabilization. The selfie camera is a 13MP ultrawide selfie camera that can also shoot 4K at 30fps.
They support Gemini-powered features to guide composition with Camera Coach, refine group shots with Auto Best Take, and enable voice-driven edits directly in Google Photos.
The Pixel 10a has stereo speakers, but there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack. The battery capacity is 5100mAh. But Google has increased the 23W wired and 7.5W wireless charging to 30W wired and 10W wireless charging.
Color options are the only noticeable physical change on the Pixel 10. Beyond that, you could argue that it's flatter and a little more refined. Options include Obsidian, Fog, Berry, and Lavender.
Satellite SOS is also available on the phone, so you can still get emergency connectivity even without cellular service. Quick Share compatibility with AirDrop is also available and should roll out to more devices in the future.
Read: Pixel 9a vs Pixel 10a: Google Phoned It In
Freebies await you after your Pixel 10a purchase
Google is giving away $100 in Google Store credit after your purchase of an unlocked model. The promotion ends on March 11. If you switch to Google Fi Wireless, they’re offering the phone “on us”, which usually means you don’t pay the upfront retail price for the phone. But it’s tied to service requirements.
In most cases, you'll activate a qualifying plan and then spread monthly payments. Google Fi then credits those payments back to you each month as long as you stay on the service for the required period.
If you cancel early, you’ll owe the remaining balance of the phone. The Pixel Buds 2a are launching alongside the Pixel 10a in Berry and Fog colors. You can get them for $129.
