The Google Pixel 10a is fresh out of the oven, taking the fight to the iPhone 17e, which launched alongside Google’s latest budget Pixel offering. The phone is widely praised for its fantastic camera (at least in the ~$500 price segment), but the Pixel 10a is much more than just a great camera in an affordable package. It has plenty going for it, with one of its standout features being its bright, vibrant display.
The Pixel 10a’s screen is indeed fantastic
Punching above its weight
While it packs a very similar display, as well as most other internals, to its predecessor, the Pixel 9a, the Pixel 10a’s screen is still fantastic for a $500 phone. The 6.3-inch P-OLED panel supports HDR, looks pleasantly vibrant, and features a silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate.
It is as bright as the sun, capable of delivering more than 2,000 nits of peak brightness; more than enough for comfortable readability even in direct sunlight. The screen’s also crisp and very sharp thanks to its 422ppi pixel density, and it’s not too large, allowing for one-hand usage without much effort.
What I love about it—and other Pixel phones as well—is the minimum brightness. When you pull the brightness slider all the way to the left, the screen drops to just a few nits of brightness, making it a perfect companion for doomscrolling in bed.
As a Pixel 10 Pro owner, I also like the Adaptive Tone feature, Google’s answer to iPhone’s True Tone. Adaptive Tone adjusts colors to match the ambient lighting, and while the effect is subtle, it makes the screen content more pleasant to look at no matter your surroundings. The latest budget Pixel also comes with Gorilla Glass 7i, which provides much better display protection than the ancient Gorilla Glass 3 found on the Pixel 9a.
The only major downside is that the display is limited to 60Hz and 120Hz modes. You’re not getting an LTPO panel capable of scaling all the way down to 1Hz like on the Pixel 10 Pro.
Come for the screen, stay for the flush design
No camera bump!
While the screen—along with the camera—is the star of the show, the flush design that lets the phone lie perfectly flat on any surface is something you’ll quickly grow to love. Sure, the bezels are on the thicker side, but having a phone with such a capable camera and no camera bump is worthy of praise.
The flat design is paired with superb build quality. Yes, the back is plastic, but it’s high-quality plastic that feels great to the touch. The whole device feels rock solid in the hand, the side buttons are satisfyingly clicky, and the phone is well-balanced and comfortable to hold. It’s also IP68-rated for dust and water resistance.
The only thing that might push you toward a case is the matte back that’s very slippery, something that mars other members of the Pixel 10 family as well.
The Pixel experience has to be experienced
Google phones offer unmatched fluidity
Over the years, Google has refined its take on Android into an elegant and incredibly fluid experience. Material 3 Expressive is colorful and fun, animations are super smooth, and thanks to Google optimizing software for its Tensor chips, the performance is consistently responsive.
Another major perk of owning a Google Pixel 10a is early access to Android updates. Pixel devices are first in line for new Android versions, and Google promises up to seven years of software and security updates.
The Pixel 10a packs a few other nifties as well
A feature-packed mid-range option
Aside from its great screen and software, you’re also getting a massive, 5100mAh battery that should easily last a full day, and quite loud and clean speakers that sound as good as those on more expensive devices. You also have access to Google’s Android desktop mode, which you can use by connecting the phone to an external monitor with the appropriate cable. I only wish the base version included 256GB of storage, but that’s probably too much to ask for a mid-range smartphone.
How to turn your Android phone into a mini PC with Desktop Mode
Transform your Android phone into a desktop PC.
The Pixel 10a is much more than just a great camera at a discount
Yes, the Pixel 10a has arguably the best camera in the mid-range market, but the phone’s so much more than its camera. Its display is among the best in its class, the build quality is excellent, and the software experience is just as fluid and enjoyable as on pricier Pixel phones. On top of that, you’re getting up to seven years of software and security updates. While the Pixel 10a isn’t particularly exciting and is a somewhat disappointing upgrade over its predecessor, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better $500 phone if you’re in the US.
7/10
- SoC
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Google Tensor G4
- Display
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6.3-inch Actua display
Despite being a barely updated version of the Google Pixel 9a, the Pixel 10a still brings a lot to the table. Its biggest strengths are a bright, punchy display, the excellent Pixel UI, a large battery, and a fantastic camera for the price.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
