Google Pixel 10a Canadian Review: Clone phone

I was a big fan of Google’s Pixel 9a last year. It offered really great value for what you got, with a very similar experience to the Pixel 9 for $420 less.

I also really like Google’s Pixel 10a. Mostly because it’s the same phone as the Pixel 9a. The ultimate “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Copy, paste, ship.

The few external changes Google made can be measured in millimetres. Some of the new additions are purely software, and it’s not clear why these features couldn’t also be brought to the Pixel 9a, given that both phones have the same Tensor G4 chip and 8GB of RAM.

Here’s a short list of what’s actually new:

• Support for Satellite SOS.
• AI camera features like Camera Coach and Auto Best Take.
• Gorilla Glass 7i instead of Gorilla Glass 3 (more scratch- and drop-resistant).
• A slightly brighter display (3,000 nits peak vs. 2,700 on the 9a).
• Faster charging (30W wired/10W wireless vs. 23W wired/7.5W wireless on 9a).
• Slightly smaller dimensions and no camera bump.

So yeah, not a whole lot different. If you’ve already got a Pixel 9a (or a similar smartphone), I don’t think the Pixel 10a makes a compelling case for upgrading. If you have a Pixel 8a or older, I think there’s enough new stuff on the 10a to make it feel like a decent upgrade. But given the similarities between the 10a and the 9a, I’d recommend most people look for a 9a first. If you can find it cheap somewhere, such as at a carrier trying to clear out old stock, you can probably get it for fairly cheap.

All that being said, I still think the Pixel 10a is a decent phone for its price. It does a lot of things right, even if it’s not all that impressive on paper. Sure, it’s not a must-upgrade device, but if you’re in the market for a decent, all-rounder budget phone, it’s hard to go wrong with the 10a.

Battery don’t quit

Let’s start with the big one: battery. The Pixel 10a sports a 5,100mAh battery, the same size as last year’s Pixel 9a. It’s also bigger than every other Pixel battery, save the 5,200mAh 10 Pro XL. Thanks to this massive battery, the Pixel 10a truly goes on and on and on.

In my time testing the phone, I regularly got two days of use out of a single charge, typically averaging three to four hours of screen time per day. On heavier use days, I sometimes had to top up in the evening to make it to bedtime, but generally the 10a was able to make it through. My typical usage involves a lot of messaging and emailing with friends and coworkers, browsing social media, listening to music and podcasts, watching the occasional YouTube video, and some light gaming.

This, for me, is huge, coming from the Pixel 10 Pro, which had me topping up once every day or day and a half. It was something I also loved about the 9a, especially since both the 9a and 10a weigh less than 190g. The phones are super light, making them comfortable to hold, despite all the battery.

Capable camera

The Pixel 10a’s camera is another area worth highlighting. While there are no significant changes compared to the 9a camera hardware, both phones are able to capture decent images that come close to what you’d get from a flagship Pixel phone.

However, without the higher-end camera hardware you’d find on the likes of the Pixel 10 Pro, the Pixel 10a isn’t nearly as versatile. For most people, the Pixel 10a will work just fine, but it will struggle in more difficult scenarios like lowlight photography or zoom photography.

What is new this year is the addition of some camera software features, such as Camera Coach and Auto Best Take.

Main camera comparison of Pixel 9a (left), 10a (middle), and 10 Pro (right).

Camera Coach launched on the Pixel 10 series and uses Google’s Gemini AI to help people take better pictures. When users tap the Camera Coach icon in the top-right corner of the camera app, Gemini will analyze the scene and suggest tips for a better photo. While I didn’t find it all that useful myself, I do think it’s a great tool for people who might not be as tech-savvy or as familiar with photography.

Pixel 10a ultrawide (left) and primary camera (right).

Auto Best Take, on the other hand, is just generally useful for group shots. There’s always one person who blinks or looks away when taking a photo, and Auto Best Take can merge together shots so everyone is looking at the camera.

Everything else

Last year’s Pixel 9a sported a great design, with one of the few minor flaws being the tiny camera bump. While small by modern standards, the tiny bump was enough to make the Pixel 9a wobble when lying on a table.

Google, thankfully, fixed this with the 10a, making the rear totally flat. The rest of the Pixel 10a hardware isn’t all that different — even the colours are basically the same, but this year it looks like Google cranked up the saturation. (As you can see in the photos, I got to test out the Berry colour, which looks great.)

Beyond that, it feels like a rehash of Google’s greatest hits. The Pixel 10a sports several Gemini features for the AI lovers out there, though it lacks some of the tentpole new capabilities seen on the Pixel 10 series, like Magic Cue. Not that Magice Cue was ever that useful — I’ve hardly missed it on the 10a. The Pixel 10a has Call Assist, Circle to Search, Gemini Live, the improved Pixel Weather app, Quick Share to AirDrop, and more.

Should you buy it?

Ultimately, the Pixel 10a is a repeat of an already decent mid-range phone. On one hand, I have a hard time praising Google for just doing the same thing again this year. On the other hand, the Pixel 9a was really good, so it makes sense that Google is just doing it again.

Moreover, I think that Google’s decision to stick with the Tensor G4 in the Pixel 10a, instead of bumping it to the newer G5, is more about differentiating the A-series from the flagship Pixels. Last year, I felt like the Pixel 9a was the obvious choice over the Pixel 9, since it was much cheaper without significantly sacrificing the experience.

However, this year, the decision isn’t so simple. On paper, the Pixel 10 looks a lot better than the 10a — it has the Tensor G5, 12GB of RAM, faster charging, MagSafe Pixelsnap, a telephoto camera, and a few extra software and AI goodies to sweeten the deal. Is it $420 better? I’d argue no, but it’s been out longer and has gone on sale as low as $849 — at that price, I think the Pixel 10 is a better choice.

So, should you buy the Pixel 10a? I think it’s a good option for anyone who wants a budget-friendly option with a capable (but not outstanding) camera and a few AI features. It’s especially good for those who care about battery life. But if you want a little more out of your phone, like a telephoto camera and more AI, the Pixel 10 is the way to go, especially if it’s on sale.

If you do decide to get the Pixel 10a, just check for a Pixel 9a first. You could save some money and end up with basically the same phone.

The Pixel 10a starts at $679 for the 128GB version and is available in Lavender, Berry, Fog, and Obsidian. You can find it on Google’s website, as well as at Best Buy, Amazon, and carrier stores.