Pixel 10a: The Flat-Backed Phone We’ve Been Waiting For

For a considerable period now, handset manufacturers have opted to enlarge the camera protrusion on devices in pursuit of enhanced photographic capabilities. While such a design can yield superior cameras, it occasionally introduces practical difficulties. With the Pixel 10a, Google adopted an innovative strategy: completely eliminating the camera bump and crafting a sleek device that rests perfectly flat on any surface.

Although this represents a welcome alteration in an era of pronounced camera modules, Google has otherwise refrained from introducing significant design modifications to its latest affordable smartphone. Its predecessor, the Pixel 9a, presented an almost identical aesthetic, sporting a rather subtle camera hump.

My unit is the standard black variant, but Google also provides the device in Lavender (a fusion of vibrant blue and purple), Berry (a coral hue), and Fog (a grey-green shade) color options.

The screen maintains its 6.3-inch dimension, identical to the previous year’s model, but the panel now boasts a higher brightness of 3,000 nits. Google employs its Actua series of displays, previously seen in other Pixel 10 series handsets, to enhance its visibility in intensely lit environments. The screen can achieve a 120Hz refresh rate; however, the device is delivered with it configured to 60Hz, necessitating a manual adjustment via the phone’s settings.

Regarding its construction and technical specifications, the Pixel 10a stands comparable to the Pixel 10, save for a handful of distinctions. For example, the Pixel 10 incorporates Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both its front and rear surfaces. The more economical 10a, conversely, features a plastic rear panel and Corning Gorilla Glass 7i safeguarding its front. Additionally, the budget-friendly device is equipped with a larger 5,100 mAh battery, in contrast to the 4,970 mAh unit found in the standard Pixel 10. A 5,200 mAh battery powers the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Only minor discrepancies exist among the Pixel 9a, Pixel 10a, and Pixel 10, primarily concerning their performance and processing capabilities. The most apparent hardware distinction lies in the budget series of phones utilizing the Google Tensor G4 CPU, in contrast to the Tensor G5 integrated into the Pixel 10. The Pixel 10 Series of handsets supports 30W charging via USB-C, an increase from the Pixel 9a’s 23W charging capability. Wireless power transfer is facilitated at 7.5W for the Pixel 9a, 10W for the Pixel 10a, and 15W (magnetic) for the Pixel 10.

The increased battery capacity and enhanced charging speed prove beneficial, as the power cell effortlessly sustains operations all day, even with routine app usage, some hours of video playback, and casual gaming. Moreover, the more luminous screen renders the device superior for general use across varied illumination levels. Indeed, the 10a features more substantial bezels compared to its more expensive relatives, yet this distinction does not significantly impact everyday operation. Ultimately, one acquires this device at a considerably lower cost than a premium flagship model.

Powering the Pixel 10a is the Tensor G4 chip, a component also present in the Pixel 9a. This implies an absence of performance improvements for the current year, which could become apparent during extensive multi-app switching. Owing to this particular chip and its 8GB RAM pairing, the Pixel 10a is incapable of running the updated Gemini Nano model, thereby offering fewer integrated AI capabilities than the Pixel 10 series.

The roster of functionalities absent from the Pixel 10a comprises notification digests, the Pixel screen capture application, Magi Cue (which furnishes suggestions across platforms such as Gmail, Messages, and Maps), call annotations, and integrated call interpretation.

The handset incorporates a 48-megapixel primary camera and a 13-megapixel wide-angle lens, identical to the specifications of the previous year’s model. Its principal camera yields satisfactory results in most scenarios, even under dim lighting. Nonetheless, due to the ultrawide’s dated and more compact sensor, some intricacies are often lost. Moreover, it is devoid of an autofocus mechanism.

The Pixel 10a incorporates an AI camera assistant capable of directing users to capture an image of a subject. This capability directs the composition to ensure the subject is optimally positioned within the frame. Additionally, Auto Best Take fuses multiple pictures to produce the most excellent outcome from a series of captures, which is particularly beneficial when photographing groups. Furthermore, the device supports up to 8x super-resolution zoom; however, its processing and resultant image quality do not match that of the Pixel 10, a model that provides up to 100x zoom using this functionality.

It’s worth noting that certain AI functionalities could arrive on the Pixel 10a via a future Pixel Drop update, since Google frequently succeeds in implementing them on prior device generations.

With this gadget, Google guarantees seven years of software updates, a vital aspect for receiving both operating system upgrades, as well as new feature releases and crucial security patches. Although not exclusive to the Pixel 10a, the handset incorporates a rapid sharing function that is now compatible with AirDrop. Consequently, I was able to effortlessly move images to my MacBook, much like for this article, by performing just a handful of taps. Prior to this, a USB-C cable connection between the Pixel 10a and my MacBook was necessary.

Priced at $499, the Pixel 10a boasts several advantages, including commendable battery longevity, a vibrant screen, and expedited charging capabilities. At this cost, the smartphone presents excellent monetary worth, encased in a slender and sleek form factor. Nevertheless, if you own last year’s Pixel 9a, an upgrade may not be warranted. Furthermore, the Nothing 4a Pro, also at $499, poses formidable rivalry to Google’s affordable handset, providing superior specifications like a larger and more luminous display, a more potent Qualcomm chip, an exclusive telephoto optic, and quicker 50W charging rates.