Google’s expansion of its Pixel phones in India is in full swing, with all launches arriving in the region at the same time as they do globally. The latest addition to Google’s smartphone portfolio is the Pixel 10a, priced starting at Rs 49,999. We liked the Pixel 9a last year, even with its quirks, as it had its charm, but with the Pixel 10a being more of an incremental upgrade, can it continue to offer the same goodness its predecessor did? We’ll find that out in our Google Pixel 10a review.
Design and Display
The Pixel 9a brought a new identity with it, where the camera bar was replaced with an almost flush pill-shaped camera module. The Pixel 10a retains that module, which is now even more embedded into the frame, so it sits completely flush, taking away even the very minor camera bump the Pixel 9a possessed. Also, the pill is slightly less narrower and is a bit more rounded.
However, if you don’t have one of the new Pixel 10a colours, no one would be able to tell whether it’s the 9a or the 10a. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 series had a similar minor design upgrade so it seems in Google’s eyes, it is enough for people to know it’s a Pixel in your hand and not the particular model, an approach we have seen other brands like Samsung and Apple adopt.
While there’s no major change in looks, the design is still solid for daily use. The device is IP68 rated so water and dust resistance isn’t an issue. The flat aluminium frame helps with grip and makes the device feel premium in the hand.
The buttons have one of the best tactile feel I have used in a smartphone of late. The device is also not too heavy to hold and is more on the compact side, so one-handed use is still possible. It is also on the thicker side at 9mm thickness but I don’t have any complaints with that.
Even though the back is made of plastic, it doesn’t feel like it due to the premium matte finish Google gave the panel. The black shade also has that stealthy look you might be craving for but again, don’t expect it to stand out like a regular Pixel 10.
The Haptics on the Pixel 10a are also the same as last year’s 9a, which means they are crisp and strong. Haptics are always handled excellently on Pixel phones and the 10a is no different.
While Google hasn’t confirmed anything on record about any improvement in speakers on the Pixel 10a, the stereo speakers do sound more fuller and slightly more bassy compared to the Pixel 9a’s speakers. I can’t confirm whether these are also louder but they are still impressively loud. These are some of the best speakers I have heard at this price range.
Coming to the front, you do get a few improvements with this display. The Pixel 10a sports a 6.3-inch full-HD+ OLED display with a Resolution of 1080 x 2424 pixels, and a 60 – 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Further, the display features a 20:9 aspect ratio, up to 3000 nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass 7i protection, and 422 ppi.
Firstly, this display is slightly brighter, but in the real world, the difference isn’t quite noticeable. Despite that, you shouldn’t have any issues with readability when outdoors under direct sunlight. Then, it has better protection with an upgrade from Gorilla Glass 3 to Gorilla Glass 7i. So far, we haven’t gotten any scratches on our unit in daily use, so the stronger protection definitely helps.
Aesthetically, the bezels on the Pixel 10a are slightly thinner than the 9a and you will notice the difference if you keep it side-by-side with the Pixel 9a. However, these are still thicker than what the competition is offering at this price point (and even at a lower price point). While you will get used to it after a while, that’s no excuse for the brand to offer a better design that can be aesthetically more pleasing and also makes the device look more modern.
The panel surely handles colours very well, with not much vibrancy as you’d see on a Samsung device of the same price, but it is still quite decent. The text and other content look sharp enough, and even the viewing angles are great. Overall, it is a good panel for this price point but there is room for improvement.
The in-display optical fingerprint sensor’s performance is about the same as the Pixel 9a. It’s reliable in terms of accuracy, but the speed could’ve definitely been better. I have seen faster optical Sensors on phones from OnePlus, Nothing, iQOO, OPPO, Vivo, Samsung and more.
Performance & Software
The Pixel 10a uses the same chip as the 9a, and that is the Tensor G4 chip. It gets 8GB of LPDDR5x RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
The Tensor G4 isn’t the strongest chip compared to MediaTek and Qualcomm’s Dimensity and Snapdragon processors, respectively. Moreover, the A-series Pixel phones always had one major advantage, and that was the Chipset they offered from the more expensive Pixel number series flagships and that advantage is gone now.
While Google could have done better in this regard, the Tensor G4 is still well optimised for a smooth experience in daily use. Apps open quickly while RAM management is also impressively handled. Also, I am noticing much less heat on the Pixel 10a in the same scenarios where the Pixel 9a could have gotten much hotter, like when downloading stuff on Mobile Data or using the cameras for extended periods.
You can easily do casual gaming as well, but don’t expect consistent performance with demanding titles like Call of Duty Mobile and BGMI. Yes it can handle those but if you try to push it to its limits, you’ll quickly begin to notice the device isn’t meant for gaming.
Pixels have always been known for offering Google’s best version of Android and the Pixel 10a does that without breaking a sweat. The animations across the system are smooth and switching through apps is a breeze without even a single instance of slowdown. I noticed the folder-opening animation on the home screen has also been refreshed, with a bouncier feel.
As for software, it is the same Android experience you’d hope for from a Pixel. It’s neat and packed with a few AI features, like a deeply embedded Gemini experience, Circle to Search, and summaries from the Recorder app. Thanks to Android 16, you can also create AI icons using a predefined set of options. While these do look good in some instances, most of the time it gave results that were too tacky for my liking.
Android 16 also brings themes for the system, which can change colours, ringtones, and wallpapers, but again, I could only see some SpongeBob themes, which are again way too childish, and I’d personally never use them.
Android 16 also adds Live Activities for apps like Zomato and Google Maps which show a pill in the status bar showing quick updates about your order or navigation, respectively. These also show up on the Always-on display so that’s quite a useful feature.
Now Playing gets its own App with the latest update and still remains one of my most favourite features on Pixel phones.
As for the user interface, it is a familiar experience if you have used a Pixel in the last year or so. You can change the tile sizes in the Quick Settings, change grid sizes for your home screen, browse through different clock styles for the lock screen, etc. Further you can now also add widgets to your lock screen but on a separate page so you can swipe left when the device is locked to see them.
Security, privacy and safety features take a front seat in Android where you get the likes of Theft detection, crash detection, Private Space, Face unlock, Advanced Protection, and more. Aside from Google’s own apps, you won’t find any other pre-installed apps which one could categorise as bloatware.
While most of my software experience with the device was positive, there was a bug that constantly annoyed me. The handset won’t wake up when I would touch the screen after taking it out of the pocket. I hope Google solves this soon with an update.
Google promises 7 years of OS and security updates for the Pixel 10a, so the device is future-proof. Also, this is one of the best software update policies at this price point.
As for connectivity, Google has confirmed that it has upgraded the Modem on the Pixel 10a over the Pixel 9a. The upgrade is definitely worth and the difference is drastically noticeable. I am getting much better signal reception with 5G along with faster speeds. Where the Pixel 9a would just give up and switch to 4G with a bar or two of signal at my place along with painfully low speeds, the Pixel 10a constantly stays at 3 bars or above and switches to 5G whenever possible. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth performance also remain optimal.
Battery Backup & Charging Speeds
The battery size on the Pixel 10a is identical to 9a, i.e. 5100mAh along with a slightly faster charging speed at 30W (compared to 23W on 9a).
Optimisations in software (and maybe the chip) have allowed the Pixel 10a to run for longer. With the same usage pattern, I tested the Pixel 9a, and the Pixel 10a gave me better results. With about 24 hours of use, including chatting on WhatsApp, watching YouTube, browsing on Chrome and Reels on Instagram, listening to Apple Music, and more, the screen-on time was at 7 hours which is over an hour longer than the Pixel 9a.
Charging times are surely faster than the Pixel 9a, with the device taking about 1 hour 45 minutes to charge from 0 to 100% with a 100W PD charger. Even though this is better than Pixel 9a, other devices at this price point and even lower price points offer much faster charging where devices can charge in about an hour. We couldn’t test wireless charging speeds but at 10W, you can expect a painful experience if you plan on using it as a replacement to wired charging for topping up the device from 0 to 100%.
Cameras
The Pixel 10a gets a dual rear camera setup with a 48MP f/1.7 Samsung GN8 sensor paired with a 13MP f/2.2 IMX712 ultra-wide-angle sensor. On the front, there is also a 13MP f/2.2 Sony IMX712 sensor. These are exactly the same sensors as the Pixel 9a without any differences at all.
Because the sensors are identical and Google doesn’t appear to have made any software-based improvements, the camera experience on the Pixel 10a remains largely the same as on the Pixel 9a.
The Pixel 10a delivers reliable results in daylight. Photos look natural, with colours that aren’t overly boosted, while dynamic range remains strong. This colour profile may not suit everyone’s taste, especially if one prefers a more vibrant look for their shots. There’s also a good level of detail in the photos, making it a dependable option for outdoor shots.
The ultra-wide camera performs well overall, but like the Pixel 9a, you will notice some distortion and loss of detail around the edges. The rest of the image still holds up nicely, with minimal colour shift compared to the main sensor.
Portrait shots are a highlight. Images come out sharp with good detail, and the background blur looks natural. EDGE detection is also mostly accurate.
There is no telephoto sensor so zoomed photos are below average. While they maintain good colour, the level of detail drops noticeably even at 2x zoom, and even more so at the maximum 8x zoom.
Under artificial lighting, the camera continues to perform well. Colours stay natural and images remain sharp, with an impressive amount of detail even when you zoom in.
In low light, the phone handles things better than expected. Noise is well controlled and colours look good. However, in very dark conditions, Night mode results can feel a bit underwhelming because the mode, instead of making the photo brighter, just increases the contrast in the shot. Also, the device may pose issues in focusing if you try to shoot in pitch black conditions.
Selfies are also handled well, with natural skin tones, decent sharpness (though I expected improvement) and pleasing colours. Portrait selfies follow a similar pattern, although edge detection could be more accurate in some cases.
