Google has unveiled its new mid-range smartphone, the Pixel 10a, but you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for last year’s Pixel 9a both from its appearance and when comparing specs. The new phone has a practically identical design, with a dual camera cutout that is now completely flush with the back panel where the 9a had the tiniest of ridges.

Though slightly different, even Google’s colour choices for the 10a are very similar to the 9a’s, and in terms of specs, the 10a even runs the same Tensor G4 chipset as the 9a, which could disappoint phone fans hoping to find the newer G5 from the Pixel 10 phones in this cheaper model.

In fact, when comparing spec sheets, there are only four differences between the Pixel 10a and the older 9a: the new model has Gorilla Glass 7i on its screen instead of Gorilla Glass 3, a screen that goes up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness compared to 2,700 before, 30W charging speeds instead of 23W and wireless speeds of 10W instead of 7.5W and Bluetooth 6 instead of 5.3.

Google also says the Pixel 10a gains satellite SOS support and has thinner bezels than the 9a. It’s not unusual for phone upgrades to be iterative year over year, but this one is particularly noticeable given Google has not put the current flagship chipset in the 10a, and because this is the first time the Pixel A-series has not changed in design.

The Pixel 10a is now available for pre-order from £499, the same price the 9a retailed for, though that older phone is now commonly on sale for about £349.

£499 gets you 128GB, with 256GB models available for £599.

That gets you a 6.3-inch OLED 60-120Hz display, the aforementioned Tensor G4 chip, 8GB RAM, 128GB or 256GB storage, dual camera with a 48MP main sensor and 13MP ultra-wide plus a 48MP selfie shooter. There’s also IP68 dust and water resistance along with 5G, Wi-Fi 6E and NFC, as you’d expect.

On the software side, the Pixel 10a comes with the latest Android 16 and is promised seven years of software updates, which will take you to early 2033 before security updates stop. That’s excellent longevity, though you’ll likely have to get a battery replacement if you plan on using this phone for that long.

Google has stuffed the 10a full of its AI smarts, as is fashionable at the moment in the smartphone world. Camera Coach makes its way over from the flagship Pixel 10 and 10 Pro, helping you line up and take photos with better framing, lighting and other tips.

You’ll also get perks such as Auto Best Take, which combines people’s best faces from a flurry of selfies or group shots, along with the ability to ask Google Photos to make edits for you by typing in a text prompt.

Many of Google Gemini’s features are also available in that app, even though the Pixel 10a is pitched and sold as a mid-range device. Google really wants you to use Gemini, and will push it at you, but in my experience with the Pixel 9a, you can actually ignore most of the tools if you don’t want to use them, Your battery will thank you!

Pixel-exclusive features such as Call Assist with call screening, call recording, Hold for Me and audio emojis are genuinely great reasons to choose a Pixel over other Android phones, while Pixel 10a joins the other Pixel 10 phones by being able to natively share files to and from iPhone using Quick Share and AirDrop, as these technologies can now talk to each other on these phones.

That’s a great perk especially if you have an iPad or Mac but want to AirDrop to and from the Pixel 10a – now you can.

I hope to be reviewing the Pixel 10a in the coming weeks, so keep it tuned to Express.co.uk for my verdict.

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