Google does not appear too keen on giving Samsung a wide berth to market its upcoming Galaxy S26 series, as evidenced by a recent tip that suggests a mid-February launch date for the Pixel 10a.<\/p>\n
Google’s Pixel 10a aims to crowd out some of Samsung’s expected coverage and marketing for the Galaxy S26 series<\/p>\n
Roland Quandt recently posted on Bluesky that Google’s Pixel 10a could launch around the middle of February.<\/p>\n
Retailer listings suggest the Google Pixel 10a could launch on Feb 17, 2026.<\/p>\n
\u2022 128 GB: ~\u20ac500
Colors: Obsidian, Berry, Lavender, Fog
\u2022 256 GB: ~\u20ac600
Color: Obsidian<\/p>\n
\u2022 Official cases: ~\u20ac20
Colors match phone lineup<\/p>\n
\u2014 Ars\u00e8ne Lupin (@MysteryLupin) January 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Concurrently, Ars\u00e8ne Lupin posted on X that the Pixel 10a could launch on February 17, 2026. Of course, this date preempts Samsung’s plans for the Galaxy S26 series, which is expected to be unveiled on February 25 and go on sale around March 11<\/a>.<\/p>\n While not a threat to the entire Galaxy S26 lineup, Google’s Pixel 10a can dent the sales momentum of the base Galaxy S26, which is expected to retail for around $800 in the US, vs. the Pixel 10a’s expected price of around $500.<\/p>\n Of course, Android Headlines continues to expect the Pixel 10a to debut in March\/April 2026<\/a>, setting the stage for a clash of coverage and marketing if the budget phone launches around March 11, the exact date when the Galaxy S26 series is expected to start hitting store shelves. This timeline gains credence from the fact that the Pixel 9a was announced in March 2025 but did not hit the shelves until April 2025 due to last-minute production kinks.<\/p>\n According to Ars\u00e8ne Lupin, the Pixel 10a will launch with Obsidian, Berry, Lavender, and Fog color options. However, the 256GB variant will only be available in Obsidian.<\/p>\n Evan Blass, a known tipster, recently posted a screenshot of the Pixel 10a’s certification for operating on Verizon’s network<\/a>. The screenshot also detailed some of the specs of the upcoming budget offering, which included:<\/p>\n A 6.285-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen, with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz.<\/p>\n 8GB of RAM, 128GB of base storage.<\/p>\n A 5,100mAh battery with support for wired charging at 23W.<\/p>\n We already know of\u00a0some additional specs of the Pixel 10a from prior leaks<\/a>:<\/p>\n Dimensions of 153.9 x 72.9 x 9mm.<\/p>\n A Tensor G4 SoC, which is the same one used in the Pixel 9a, albeit with a higher clock speed.<\/p>\n MSRP of around $499.<\/p>\n These specs are almost identical to the Pixel 9a’s and resemble\u00a0the budget offering’s overall borrowed design language from its previous-gen sibling<\/a>:<\/p>\n A thick-bezeled, plastic-back design for the Pixel 10a.<\/p>\n The camera bar on the back houses a dual-camera setup.<\/p>\n A punch-hole selfie camera embedded within the display.<\/p>\n The Volume key is still located below the power key.<\/p>\n Antenna lines remain visible from lateral angles.<\/p>\n Symmetrical placement of the speaker and microphone voids at the bottom.<\/p>\n Google betting on Vietnam for Pixel smartphones<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Nikkei Asia has reported that Google is now betting on Vietnam for its base Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Fold launching later this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n Critically, Google is also planning to move the highly sensitive early production stage for its Pixel smartphones from China to Vietnam. This stage typically requires hundreds of engineers stationed at the supply partner’s plants.<\/p>\n Apple is now also planning to run early production steps for its iPhones concurrently in India and China, a move that entails substantial costs but serves to diversify supply chains. <\/p>\n Interestingly, Google will retain the full production of its budget Pixel-a series within China for now. This comes as the Asian giant has placed export restrictions on critical equipment used in smartphone manufacturing, further complicating the supply chain diversification ambitions of various OEMs.<\/p>\n Follow Wccftech on Google<\/a> to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.<\/p>\n \t\t