Google has announced that its newest Pixel phone, the Pixel 10, will receive a new budget version.
Following in the footsteps of the Pixel 8a and 9a, the Pixel 10a will be priced at $679 CAD, consistent with earlier A-series models in a similar price range. At that price, the phone appears to offer strong value for consumers seeking a balance of features and affordability.
Google has refreshed the 10a’s design in response to positive feedback on the previously released 9a. The iconic camera bar has been subtly redesigned, allowing the phone to lie completely flat on a table without feeling off-balance or wobbly. As always, Google is offering a selection of distinctive colourways, including Berry, Lavender, Fog and Obsidian.
As far as features go, it would be easy to mistake the Pixel 10a for a flagship model, given how much technology Google has packed into it. The 10a features Google’s brightest display yet, delivering up to 3,000 nits of brightness, comparable to a fully lit, high-brightness outdoor display.
The screen itself measures 6.3 inches and uses a 1080-by-2424 pOLED panel with a variable 60-to-120-hertz refresh rate. The 10a also supports HDR and offers 24-bit colour depth, capable of displaying more than 16 million colours.
Every pixel since the first iteration has boasted a pretty great camera, and the 10a is no different. Starting with 48-megapixel wide and 13-megapixel ultrawide cameras, the 10a has the same photo capabilities as the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL. Along with a long list of other camera statistics, Google has incorporated many features into this phone, including Camera Coach, Add Me, Astrophotography, Face Unblur, Auto Best Take, and Macro Focus, with more available. The coolest of these features is Add Me, which lets you add yourself to a group photo taken without the photographer.
As a forerunner in the AI world, Google has made a name for itself by incorporating its AI in almost every phone it has made. Starting way back with the ingenious Google Assistant, which was a shocking bit of tech back before AI had its genesis. Now, its flagship AI, Gemini, has been integrated into almost every aspect of its modern-day phones, and the 10a is no different.
The aforementioned camera capabilities use AI for the Add Me feature, along with other features like editing photos just by asking, and the absolutely genius circle search. Pixel owners may be familiar with the circle-to-search feature, but for those who aren’t, it lets you scan your screen and either copy text, translate text instantly, or, as the name suggests, circle something to search for it on Google.
Google has filled this phone to the brim with Gemini features like these, and there are still many more than the ones covered here. But, as everyone wonders when they buy a new phone, will it stand the test of time? The short answer is yes, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i covers the main screen entirely, with the 7i only being outdone by the more recent Victus and Victus 2 types from Corning. It also comes with the industry-standard aluminum frame and an IP68 dust and water-resistant rating.
Google’s eco-friendly trend, which has been maintained for a while now, continues in the Pixel 10a, with an impressive number of recycled parts. The packaging, battery, magnets, haptics engine, logic board, and circuit board solder are all made with 100 percent recycled materials necessary for their function. Even with the 14 plastic parts included with this phone, 11 are made with at least 30% recycled content.
I have only scratched the surface of the Pixel 10a’s specifications and features. Even so, based on what it offers, the device stands out as one of the strongest and most affordable value phones currently on the market. It can also hold its own against some flagship models, particularly in camera performance. Readers interested in a full breakdown of the Pixel 10a can visit Google’s website for a complete list of specifications and additional details.
