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Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n
The Google Pixel 10a is right around the corner. Pre-orders for Google\u2019s next budget Pixel officially open on February 18<\/a>, and if you\u2019re in the market for an affordable Android handset, you might be tempted to buy a 10a next week.<\/p>\n However, I\u2019m here to advise that you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n While the Pixel 10a should be a perfectly fine Android phone, the truth is, you can currently buy a significantly better Pixel handset for not much more than what the Pixel 10a will cost you. Sound too good to be true? It isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n Which would you choose: $499 Pixel 10a or $599 Pixel 10?<\/p>\n 85 votes<\/p>\n $499 Pixel 10a<\/p>\n 20%<\/p>\n $599 Pixel 10<\/p>\n 80%<\/p>\n At $599, the Pixel 10 puts the Pixel 10a to shame\n<\/p>\n The other Pixel I\u2019m talking about is the baseline Google Pixel 10<\/a>. Originally released last August\u00a0at a retail price of $799,\u00a0the phone is currently on sale for just $599<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 only the third time it\u2019s been priced this low. Google has yet to confirm the Pixel 10a\u2019s price, but rumors strongly suggest it\u2019ll retain the same $499 price as the Pixel 9a.<\/p>\n Assuming that\u2019s true (which it likely is), that means there\u2019s only $100 separating the Pixel 10a and the Pixel 10 at its current sale price. While $100 isn\u2019t a small amount of money, given the Pixel 10\u2019s many upgrades over the Pixel 10a, it\u2019s unquestionably worth the extra cost.<\/p>\n The Pixel 10 is unquestionably worth the extra cost.<\/p>\n One of the most prominent reasons for this is the performance. Multiple reports indicate that the Pixel 10a is powered by Google\u2019s Tensor G4 chip \u2014 the same one found in last year\u2019s Pixel 9a. The 10a is also expected to stick with the same paltry 8GB of RAM. Comparatively, the Pixel 10 features Google\u2019s latest Tensor G5 chip and a much more reasonable 12GB of RAM.<\/p>\n The most obvious upside is that the Pixel 10\u2019s newer, more powerful chip and extra RAM make the phone more performant than what we expect from the Pixel 10a \u2014 especially for demanding apps and multitasking. However, this also impacts the availability of numerous software\/AI features.<\/p>\n Robert Triggs \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n As we saw with the Pixel 9a, its Tensor G4 and 8GB RAM combo wasn\u2019t powerful enough to support numerous features \u2014 including Pixel Screenshots, Call Notes, and Notification Summaries. As Google develops more complicated AI tools, the list of missing features is only going to get longer. If the Pixel 10a is stuck with the 9a\u2019s same chipset and RAM configuration<\/a>, it\u2019ll find itself in the same spot.<\/p>\n The other big thing to note is the camera setup. While the Pixel 10a should have the same primary and ultrawide cameras as the Pixel 10, it doesn\u2019t have the Pixel 10\u2019s telephoto camera, which dramatically limits the types of photos you\u2019ll be able to take.<\/p>\n And there\u2019s more. There\u2019s no indication that the Pixel 10a will include built-in magnets for magnetic Qi2 and Pixelsnap accessories \u2014 arguably one of the Pixel 10\u2019s best features. The Pixel 10a is reported to have a dimmer and less durable display compared to the Pixel 10, older Bluetooth technology, an optical fingerprint sensor instead of a faster ultrasonic one (like the Pixel 10 has), and slower charging \u2014 both wired and wireless.<\/p>\n The Pixel 10a doesn\u2019t make any sense<\/p>\n Some of those downgrades are obviously less critical than others. However, when you add everything together, what you get with the Pixel 10 that you don\u2019t with the Pixel 10a \u2014 for only $100 more \u2014 is almost unbelievable. To summarize, the full list of upgrades includes:<\/p>\n Newer Tensor G5 chip I\u2019d argue that the chipset and camera differences alone make the Pixel 10 worth the extra money, but when you add everything else on top of those two, I don\u2019t see any scenario where waiting for the Pixel 10a makes sense.<\/p>\n If the Pixel 10a were shaping up to be a bigger upgrade than it is, there would probably have been an argument for waiting. But given just how little Google appears to have changed compared to the 9a, the $599 Pixel 10 is undoubtedly a better purchase. Buy it now while you can \u2014 you won\u2019t regret it.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t want to miss the best from Android Authority?<\/p>\n![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Google-Pixel-10-hero-image.jpg\"\/ "\\"Google")
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\n12GB RAM vs. 8GB
\n10.8MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom
\nBuilt-in magnets
\nHigher maximum display brightness
\nNewer\/stronger Gorilla Glass
\nUltrasonic fingerprint sensor
\nFaster wired and wireless charging
\nNewer Bluetooth tech<\/p>\n
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