It’s that time of year—a new budget Pixel phone is about to hit virtual shelves. The Pixel 10a will be available on March 5, and pre-orders go live today. The 9a will still be on sale for a while, but the 10a will be headlining Google’s store. However, you might not notice unless you keep up with the Pixel numbering scheme. This year’s A-series Pixel is virtually identical to last year’s, both inside and out.
Last year’s Pixel 9a was a notable departure from the older design language, but Google made few changes for 2026. We liked that the Pixel 9a emphasized battery capacity and moved to a flat camera bump, and this time, it’s really flat. Google says the camera now sits totally flush with the back panel. This is probably the only change you’ll be able to identify visually.
Specs at a glance: Google Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 10aPhonePixel 9aPixel 10aSoCGoogle Tensor G4Google Tensor G4Memory8GB8GBStorage128GB, 256GB128GB, 256GBDisplay1080×2424 6.3" pOLED, 60–120 Hz, Gorilla Glass 3, 2700 nits (peak)1080×2424 6.3" pOLED, 60–120 Hz, Gorilla Glass 7i, 3000 nits (peak)Cameras48 MP primary, f/1.7, OIS; 13 MP ultrawide, f/2.2; 13 MP selfie, f/2.248 MP primary, f/1.7, OIS; 13 MP ultrawide, f/2.2; 13 MP selfie, f/2.2SoftwareAndroid 15 (at launch), 7 years of OS updatesAndroid 16, 7 years of OS updatesBattery5,100 mAh, 23 W wired charging, 7.5 W wireless charging5,100 mAh, 30 W wired charging, 10 W wireless chargingConnectivityWi-Fi 6e, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, sub-6 GHz 5G, USB-C 3.2Wi-Fi 6e, NFC, Bluetooth 6.0, sub-6 GHz 5G, USB-C 3.2Measurements154.7×73.3×8.9 mm; 185 g153.9×73×9 mm; 183 g
Google also says the new Pixel will have a slightly upgraded screen. The resolution, size, and refresh rate are unchanged, but peak brightness has been bumped from 2,700 nits to 3,000 nits (the same as the base model Pixel 10). Plus, the cover glass has finally moved beyond Gorilla Glass 3 to Gorilla Glass 7i, which supposedly has improved scratch and drop protection.
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