So, just recently, Google announced its latest midrange phone, which is the Pixel 10a. And to be honest, it reminds me of something – the Pixel 9a.
You might be wondering, isn’t it obvious that the 10a will remind me of the 9a because they are of the same Pixel a family? Well, I understand what you would mean by that here, but it is literally a repackaged Pixel 9a – almost.
If you are looking to upgrade your Android phone and considering the Pixel 10a, then frankly, skip this phone. Let me explain why.
Consider this a roast and first impressions of the phone. Now, without much ado, let’s get into it. Same Processor as the Pixel 9a
The Pixel 10a comes with the Tensor G4 chipset, and that’s the exact same chipset being used in the Pixel 9 series.
Isn’t it a bummer?
For a new release, us phone users expect the newer Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10a. While the G4 performs well, adding last year’s hardware in upgrades raises questions about its necessity.
I have tried the Tensor G4 chipset in my Pixel 9 Pro. I thoroughly tested it by playing games, uploading videos to my YouTube channel, and multitasking. Oh, and my Spectrum Internet helped me make this testing process seamless by providing me with superior network reliability. You can reach out to Spectrum customer service for an upgrade. The results of my testing weren’t bad.
But that is not the point; If you are releasing a new phone, most of us expect that the processor, as the brain of a mobile phone, should be of a high-tiered model. All in all, that’s one thing that Google should have upgraded in the Pixel 10a.
Cameras Remain Unchanged
It was a dual camera setup in the Pixel 9a, with one 48MP main sensor and a 13MP ultrawide lens. The Pixel 10a has a 48MP main shooter with a 13MP ultrawide lens. Did you notice something?
These are the same camera systems. I mean, exactly the same camera system.
Phone users reported that the ultrawide lens in the Pixel 9a wasn’t good. Given this feedback, it would’ve made sense for Google to refine the camera system in the newest phones.
A Familiar Design Pattern
The design of Pixel 10a, on the flip side, is slightly changed. If you had used the Pixel 9a without a case, you’d have known how bumpy it was when placed on a flat surface by the back. There wasn’t any need for that small camera bump.
The camera bump has been hated by so many people, so the fix was to thicken the phone, remove the bump, and increase the battery capacity with more space available inside the phone.
So, it resulted in the Pixel 9a with one flow of that small camera bump.
The only design change in the Pixel 10a is that it is a totally flat phone from the back. You can place it anyway you want, and it won’t wobble on a flat surface.
And the list ends here. It is the only design change in the phone, and the rest of it is exactly the same–another bummer when you have high expectations for the brand.
Minimal Change in the Display
The display on the Pixel 9a was one of the things I liked about it. It was bright, sharp, and very smooth because of the 120Hz refresh rate. And it was neither too huge that it’d get difficult to hold, nor was it too small. It was the perfect size (at least for me).
The only complaint I had with that display was the thicker bezels.
Well, that has been sorted in the Pixel 10a with thinner all-around bezels. The difference isn’t huge, but it still helps the phone look better. I am glad they have fixed it, and it does look better than the Pixel 9a.
Consistent Battery Experience
The Pixel 9a had a 5,100mAh battery, and the Pixel 10a has the same battery capacity. I guess that is fine because the 5,100mAh battery capacity is still good enough to power this phone for an entire day.
The thing that has been changed in the experience is the faster charging speed at 30W, up from 23W, and a faster 10W wireless charging, up from 7.5W. The rest of the stuff, like reverse wireless charging and all, remains the same.
It isn’t a significant jump, but when you have the rarity of upgrades in a new model, you should take every bit that is coming your way.
However, I would suggest avoiding the Pixel 10a and getting a Pixel 9a. It is almost the same, and it would be cheaper than the Pixel 10a. Also, you can look at the Pixel 9 base variant if you want to remain in a similar budget.
