The list of major Google Pixel 10a upgrades is short, and the list of minor ones isn’t much longer. Without the best parts of the mainline Pixel 10 series, like the Tensor G5 chipset or built-in Qi2 magnets, the budget Pixel 10a was easy to write off. However, as one of the few 2026 smartphone releases that didn’t come with a price hike, the Pixel 10a’s $500 price alone is enough to keep it relevant.
I used the Pixel 10a for weeks, and there’s still a case for buying it over the base-model Pixel 10 — even if you ignore the cost disparity completely. Google’s latest budget Android phone isn’t flashy or particularly exciting, but that’s exactly what makes it great.
