Google Pixel 10a
| Photo Credit:
Ashwin Rajagopalan
Design
Google sticks to the same design template as last year’s Pixel 9a. We’ve been fans of the Pixel’s minimalist design language with clean lines. One of our favourite design elements is the rear camera that’s flush with the back of the phone. Google has literally gone ‘flat-out’ with its ‘no camera bump’ approach that adds to the superior ergonomics and stability of the Pixel 10a. It’s a refreshing change in a smartphone world filled with camera bumps that usually need back covers to smoothen things out. The device feels good in your hand and is tailored for one-handed navigation. At 183 gm, it’s a tad lighter than its predecessor. Google has further increased the use of recycled materials, the frame uses 100 per cent recycled aluminium while the back cover is made with 81 per cent recycled plastic.
Display
The Pixel 10a is not a significant upgrade over last year’s Pixel 9a but there are quite a few enhancements that improve the overall user experience. The 6.3-inch Actua pOLED display (1080 x 2424 pixels / 422 PPI) is a case in point. With a peak brightness of 3000 nits, this is the brightest display on any ‘Pixel a’ series device. The other key change is the upgrade to Corning Glass 7i for improved scratch resistance. Colours are vibrant and offer excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. I watched India chase down West Indies’ impressive total during the Super 8 game of the T20 World Cup; the display was quite punchy and backed with clear sound from the dual stereo speakers.
Camera
If there’s one key reason why Google’s ‘Pixel a’ line has been in the mix over the last few years, it’s the camera performance. We’ve learnt never to judge this book by its cover or camera hardware . The camera set-up is similar to the Pixel 9a, the dual rear cam combines a 48MP (f/1.7) primary lens with a 13MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide lens. There’s also a 13MP (f/2.2) shooter in the mix. Google has usually been ahead of the curve in the computational photography department, the Pixel 10a is no different. It’s easily one of the best mobile shooters in the sub ₹50,000 segment. Lowlight performance and portraits are particularly good, however the details get slightly softer in lowlight when you switch to ultra-wide mode.
Google has added some of the premium camera features that debuted on the Pixel 10 series to the Pixel 10a. This includes the handy Camera Coach feature that guides you to achieve the perfect shot on the go. It’s not just snapping images, the Photos app can auto edit images with a simple ‘Help me edit’ prompt on Google Gemini (see images). While there are some photo enthusiasts who like to play around with camera settings, most average users will find the Pixel 10a’s camera tools more than handy. The Pixel 10a’s bag of camera tricks also includes Auto Best Take, Add Me and Audio Magic eraser that scrubs out distracting sounds from your videos. The post-image processing is not as fast as some of its rivals though.
Performance
Google opts to stick with the same Google Pixel Tensor G4 chip that powered the Pixel 9a. This choice might disappoint heavy duty users who would have appreciated the G5 chip that debuted with the Pixel 10 series in 2025. Google’s decision might have been influenced by the increasing input costs fuelled by RAM shortage that most brands are coping with in 2026. Google’s Pixel smartphones have never built their pitch around ultra-fast performance or the fastest chipsets. The Pixel 10a is more than capable to handle everyday tasks and should work for most users. Google has bumped up the base storage version to 256GB with 8GB of RAM.
The device never stuttered during our tests. Battery life is similar to the Pixel 9a. The device features the same 5,100 mAh battery under the hood and lasted us through the day with extensive camera usage and about an hour of video calls. Google has upped the charging speeds to 30W fast charging and 10W wireless charging. The device powered up in about an hour during our tests; that’s almost 30 minutes faster than the Pixel 9a, making it one of the thoughtful upgrades in this device.
Verdict
Google’s entry-level Pixel has always been a solid contender for users seeking a pureplay Google experience at a relatively affordable price tag. The Google Pixel 10a consolidates this position although you can skip it if you already own a Pixel 9a. It’s an intuitive phone with a bunch of practical tools such as Quick Share to AirDrop (that lets you share files seamlessly with iPhones). You get a dependable camera with heaps of tools and the best of Gemini backed with seven years of OS updates. The Pixel 10a has it’s task cut out in this segment with rivals such as the OnePlus 15R, the upcoming Nothing 4a Pro and Vivo V70 that come with their own share of strengths.
Google Pixel 10a
Price: ₹49,999
Pros: Dependable camera, best of Google, flush camera design.
Cons: No major hardware upgrade over it’s predecessor.
Published on March 5, 2026