Google Pixel 10a review: Still a great mid-range phone, just a little unexciting
Google Pixel 10a review – Verdict
The Pixel 10a has been my sidekick for the last few months and, as was the case with the Pixel 9a last year, it's a great, reliable phone that ticks most of the boxes in the mid-range category.
But there's nothing noticeably exciting that makes it different to its predecessor.
Yes, the camera bump is now fully flat against the back, the display is slightly brighter, the bezels are a teensy bit thinner and you get a couple of new features including Satellite SOS for emergencies off the grid.
But those are fairly minor upgrades.
And that's probably where the problem lies for Pixel fans, especially if you're deciding whether to buy the older model instead or wait for a discount on the flagship Pixel 10.
The good stuff
- Great design
- Great cameras
- 7 years of software and security updates
What we don't love
- Very similar to last year's model
- No telephoto lens
Design and display
Google went for a completely flat design this time, with the camera bar sitting flush against a composite plastic matte back.
If the constant wobble of your phone on a table drives you nuts, you'll love this.
It comes in Obsidian, Fog, Berry and Lavender, and it's the most durable A series so far, with IP68 water and dust protection and a Gorilla Glass 7i display.
The 6.3-inch display is now 11% brighter than the Pixel 9a's at 3,000 nits, with slimmer bezels and a 60 to 120Hz refresh rate.
That's the same size and peak brightness as the Pixel 10.
What you don't get is the Pixel 10's polished glass back or the magnets inside for Pixel Snap, Google's magnetic charging system that lets you snap the phone onto chargers, stands and other accessories.
Camera
The camera setup is unchanged from the Pixel 9a, with a 48MP main camera, a 13MP ultrawide and a 13MP selfie camera.
The good news is that the main camera is still pretty good for both daylight and low-light photography, which is what we've all come to expect from Pixel phones over the years.
The main trade-off is the lack of a telephoto lens.
The digital zoom goes up to 8x, but the results are quite average.
If this is something you care about, the Pixel 10's dedicated telephoto lens makes a real difference with its 5x optical zoom.
That said, you still get Google's suite of AI photo tools on the 10a, including Camera Coach, Auto Best Take, Macro Focus and Night Sight.
Performance and battery life
The Pixel 10a runs on last year's Tensor G4 chip with 8GB of RAM, while the Pixel 10 gets the newer Tensor G5 and 12GB.
For everyday use such as social media doomscrolling, streaming, browsing and messaging, you won't feel the difference.
It's only when you're gaming or pushing the phone a bit harder that the extra power (or lack of) will be noticeable.
With that said, the battery life is pretty solid.
The 5,100mAh battery is rated for more than 30 hours and up to 120 hours with Extreme Battery Saver on.
I've comfortably gone without charging for at least a day and a half.
Charging is faster than last year too, at 30W wired and 10W wireless.
You also get 7 years of security and operating system updates, plus a 2-year trial of Satellite SOS for emergencies off-grid, which is a first for the A series.
So should you buy the Pixel 10a or the Pixel 10?
A lot of it comes down to price if you're not super fussed about a flagship versus the A series.
The Pixel 10a launched at $849, but you can get the 128GB model for under $700 from retailers like Amazon, Big W and Kogan.
The Pixel 10 launched at $1,349, but you can currently get the 128GB model for between $850 and $950 from Kogan, eBay, Dick Smith AU, Amazon and OzMobiles.
If you don't want to buy outright, Telstra's offering a $200 discount on the Pixel 10a.
Optus is doing a half-price offer on the Pixel 10. Plus, you can get a $200 digital Visa gift card when you sign up through Finder.
My advice: check prices for the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10a on the day you're ready to buy and choose the option that best fits your budget and phone needs.
All opinions expressed in this review are based on the author's own experience with the phone. Use this review for informational purposes only.
How to buy the Pixel 10a or Pixel 10 on a phone plan
You can sign up for a 12-, 24- or 36-month phone repayment plan with Optus, Telstra or Vodafone.
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