Google Pixel 10a: Rumors and everything we want to see

[limmk]

TL;DR

• Google is in the early stages of development for the Pixel 10a.
• It is deciding whether to bring a watered-down Tensor G5 to the Pixel 10a or stick with the Tensor G4 from the Pixel 9a for another year.
• The higher cost of the Tensor G5 is said to be the reason behind this dilemma.

Pixel’s A-series is a great option for those looking for a great camera phone on a budget. We expect more of the same with the Pixel 9a, presumably launching in the next few months. While we wait to see what Google officially announces for its mid-range Pixel, we have details to share about Google’s 2026 mid-range Pixel, the Pixel 10.

Revealed as part of our larger Pixel 11 and Pixel 10 leak, Google is in the early stages of development for the Pixel 10a. The company is still deciding whether to bring a custom version of the Pixel 10’s Tensor G5 to the mid-range Pixel 10a or stick with the Samsung-designed Tensor G4 for another year after the upcoming Pixel 9a.
It’s not immediately clear why Google is having second thoughts about the SoC it uses in the A-series. So far, the company has used the same chip in its A-series mid-ranger that it uses in its flagship Pixel series, albeit it often uses an inferior bin for it. The Pixel 10 series has equine-related codenames, and the Pixel 10a is part of the same family with its “stallion” codename (also referred to as “STA5”).

If Google decides to use the Tensor G4 in the Pixel 10a, it would adopt the G4 for practically three years in a row: the Pixel 9 series in 2024, the Pixel 9a in 2025, and the Pixel 10a in 2026. Consequently, the Pixel 10a’s feature set could be severely limited, as many new Pixel 10 features are expected to rely on the new AI and camera functionality that the Tensor G5 brings to the table.

The higher cost of the Tensor G5 could be the driving force behind this decision to use the G4 on the Pixel 10. The G5 is said to measure 121 sq.mm, so it is bigger than the Apple A18 Pro SoC seen on the iPhone 16 Pro. We might have to wait until the cost-optimized Tensor G6 to see a completely custom Google SoC in a mid-range phone.

Google has been constantly adjusting and optimizing its Pixel lineup in recent years. The Pixel 9 series saw one such shakeup, and with the lines blurring between its products, the company might have to explore other forms of product differentiation.

 

[KYZT2021]

so Fast A

 

[Shutterbox]

9a only smell smoke, now 10a in the talks

 

[limmk]

The Google Pixel 10 series may be just over a month away, but that isn't stopping leaks of the Pixel 10a — a phone likely to launch well after the Pixel 10 lineup — from surfacing early. A new leak might have just given us our first glimpse at Google's next midrange phone.

As first spotted by Android Authority, a seller has already listed the "Google Pixel 10A engineering back cover" on the Chinese auction site Goofish. While the item now shows as "sold out" and the image quality is quite poor, it does offer a first look at the rear panel of the Pixel 10a and its possible design.

Leaked panel gives us our first glimpse at the Pixel 10a design​

Source: Goofish

Judging from the image, the Pixel 10a will (unsurprisingly) look quite similar to the Pixel 9a in terms of design. Google moved away from the iconic camera visor design, opting for a flatter, minimalist look on the Pixel 9a, and it appears the Pixel 10a will carry that forward.

You can see the same dual-camera cutout in the image, similar to the Pixel 9a. One small change may be that the flash slightly farther to the right of the camera module than on the Pixel 9a, but beyond that, there's no major difference visible here.

While I'm not a fan of the Pixel 9a's design, it looks like Google is sticking with its simpler design for a second year. That said, remember the Pixel 10a is still months away — even the Pixel 10 series hasn't launched yet — so take these leaks with a grain of salt, as things could still change.

 

[limmk]

Leaks suggest the upcoming Google Pixel 10a could be a disappointment. The phone is rumored to reuse the older Tensor G4 chip and UFS 3.1 storage. It is also expected to miss out on key features like a telephoto camera and the new Magic Cue AI, making it a minimal upgrade.

For years, Google‘s “a-series” phones have been a go-to for many users. They usually offer a balanced mix of top-tier Pixel software and an affordable price. The line has consistently been an ideal gateway for new users to Pixel phones. That said, the latest leak about the upcoming Google Pixel 10a suggests that it will be quite boring regarding improvements.

The Pixel 10a is still many months away from its official debut. However, a new report from Mystic Leaks reveals very few changes compared to its predecessor. More specifically, the leak offers key details about the tech specs of the Google Pixel 10a.

Google Pixel 10a tipped to use the old Tensor G4 chipset​

According to the leak, Google will be using older hardware in the Google Pixel 10a to keep costs down. The device would use the Tensor G4 chip from last year’s Pixel 9 series. This would mark the third straight year this processor has appeared in a mid-range Pixel device. This approach is different from previous “Pixel a” phones, where Google used the same chip from the main lineup—just slightly underclocked.

Regarding storage, the new phone could also stick with UFS 3.1 storage. This standard is a full generation behind the faster UFS 4.0 found in most new phones. This decision could impact everything from app load times and file transfers to the overall responsiveness of the system. That said, this could be an “understandable” compromise in the most affordable family model.

No telephoto and Magic Cue​

Furthermore, the device could miss out on a telephoto camera. So, 2026 will be another year where “Pixel a” devices will not offer a dedicated zoom sensor. This might be expected considering that the vanilla Pixel 10 is the first “non-Pro” variant to receive a zoom sensor.

Magic Cue will be another missing feature from the upcoming Pixel 10a. If you’re not aware, Magic Cue is Google’s new on-device AI feature that provides live, contextual information during calls and chats. For example, Magic Cue could offer a quick suggestion or relevant info during a live conversation.

Brighter screen​

The only potential bright spot in the report is the display. According to the specs leak, the Google Pixel 10a might see a slight bump to 2,200 nits, making it a touch brighter than the Pixel 9a’s 2,000 nits.

For now, these are just rumors, and Google could still change its plans before the Pixel 10a officially launches. However, all signs suggest that the next budget-friendly Pixel may prioritize cost-cutting over meaningful performance upgrades.

 

[KeYoKe]

Don't want see anything liao with tensor G5 like this.

Maybe thinner bezels in the "a" series

 

[limmk]

Don't want see anything liao with tensor G5 like this.

Maybe thinner bezels in the "a" series

Yah sia, G5 really meh. really too much focus on AI liao hope 'a' series no more chibaboom

 

[chari-men]

They "spend so much money" yet no head no tails with their future after G5... Might as well just use SD chips ...

 

[KeYoKe]

They "spend so much money" yet no head no tails with their future after G5... Might as well just use SD chips ...

and it seems like they carry over nothing from Samsung after moving to TSMC.... maciam start over from scratch....

 

[DesilDesil]

Time to downgrade sensor again lol

1/2.76 or 1/2.55" main sensor
1/4" 8mp OV or hynix ultrawide

underclocked G5 with 4hr SOT
Add more plastic to the bezels 80.5% screen to body!

Pichai fanboi will still tell you it's good

 

[limmk]

The Pixel A-series has held a special place in my heart ever since it was announced in 2019.

Standing for accessibility, the Pixel A-series phones aren't always best in class, but they deliver the essence of the Pixel lineup at a price that can feel like a bargain.

Everything from clean, up-to-date software to minimalist designs and cameras that punch far above their weight is included.

It's a winning formula that has steadily delivered phones that resonated with buyers and helped uplift the Pixel brand. It's been the safe, dependable fallback to the ever-evolving Pixel flagship lineup.

However, that streak might soon be broken. If the leaks about the Pixel 10a are to be believed, Google's next affordable smartphone might not be quite all that.

And worse, rather than being a dull evolution, the Pixel 10a could end up being a big fat disappointment for prospective buyers. There are a few reasons why.

5. Same old silicon, same old story​

The end of a winning formula​

Let's be honest here, the Pixel lineup has never been known for extraordinary performance. Still, the Tensor chipsets are gradually improving and getting better at keeping pace with the best in the business.

This year's Tensor G5 chipset from the Pixel 10 lineup brings significant improvements to not just overall processing capabilities, but also AI capabilities.

The latter is key to the Pixel experience. However, rumors and leaks suggest that the Pixel 10a will continue to use last year's Tensor G4 chipset.

On the surface, this might sound logical. It's a low-cost smartphone, and pairing it with an older chipset helps keep the price down. But the A-series has historically played it differently.

Google has always used the same chipset across the A-series and flagships. This gives the affordable A-series an instant advantage over similarly priced competitors.

Moreover, it enables all the latest AI-enabled tricks that Google's been working on. That was the secret sauce to the Pixel A's success. It wasn't a watered down smartphone. It was just a Pixel phone with a smaller list of hardware features.

Now, by locking the Pixel 10a to older silicon, Google risks diluting its own formula. While people won't care about the name of the chipset, the trickle-down effects of launching a gimped chipset are many.

The Tensor G4 already trails Qualcomm and MediaTek chipsets in its price band, and by mid-2026, it'll be a downright tired chipset. Not only will it be slower than the alternatives, it'll also be less efficient.

But more than that, it'll lack the neural processing power needed for it to keep up with Google's ambitious AI efforts. Think features like Magic Cue, or the new Pixel Journal app.

If the Pixel 10a doesn't support these modern additions to the Pixel smartphones, it won't just be boring.

It'll be disappointing because it represents a retreat from Google's attempts at creating a standard software and AI ecosystem for its yearly smartphone release cycles.

But that's just one part of the story. Pair the gimped processor with industry leaks that point to a base configuration of 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage, and you're looking at a phone that's looking particularly dated.

The numbers aren't too bad on paper, but take a look at what the rest of the industry is doing, and it's a very different picture.

Not only is 256GB of base storage starting to become commonplace, but faster UFS 4.0 storage is also becoming more common in premium mid-range hardware.

4. A 2,000-nit display isn't all that​

Peak figures don't tell the entire story​

Elsewhere, even though the display promises a headline-grabbing 2,000 nits of peak brightness, I'm very cautious. It sounds cool, but not particularly unique, and certainly not impressive for a 2026 release.

Moreover, sustained brightness and color accuracy is what matters more, and we haven't heard any encouraging details on that front.

So, far, all the rumors point to a phone that ticks boxes instead of delivering a genuinely exciting experience, and that's just not what you expect from the Pixel lineup.

3. Mid-rangers keep getting better​

The competition isn't standing still​

The Pixel 10a's rumored ho-hum specs come at a time when the competition is going all out to deliver value.

The mid-range market has shifted, and competitors, from Samsung to OnePlus and Nothing, and more, are packing their $500 phones with everything from larger batteries to class-leading charging, even multiple lenses.

These erstwhile flagship features are now widely available at the premium mid-range price point. Meanwhile, the Pixel 10a continues to skimp out on basics like a telephoto lens, and now even the improved processor.

2. Google's software magic is losing its spark​

Software tricks need hardware that can keep up​

While we're at it, a lot of Google's software magic is also starting to fall behind. As good as its computational photography is, the competition has caught up for the most part.

Without a serious upgrade in hardware power with better sensors and additional lenses, there's no reasonable way that the Pixel 10a can boast of class-leading photography capabilities.

However, current rumors do not indicate any move towards that. Almost all of Google's recent AI improvements have been focused on marginal quality of life improvements.

Things like Magic Cue look great, but even Magic Cue isn't exactly a system seller on its own.

And if Pixel 10a's lackluster chipset means losing out on the latest and greatest AI features, the rest of the software, clean as it is, isn't quite as magical as it is made out to be.

1. Google risks losing the A-series sweet spot​

Not quite a budget flagship experience​

All these factors, when combined with the price point, make me even more suspicious of the Pixel 10a's competitiveness.

I'll be honest here. $499 isn't a bad price point at all. But not so much when you're hitting the price point by cutting corners on hardware.

What made the Pixel A-series special was its excellent balance. You got a flagship processor, the same core software experience, and accepted some basic compromises.

If the Pixel 10a ships with a year-old chipset, modest storage, and a lack of major updates to the camera hardware, while sitting at the same price point, that balance in value changes quite a bit.

I'm not so sure if it's going to be such an easy recommendation. And that's what might end up being the most disappointing part for me.

The Pixel A-series has always been an easy recommendation as a smart buy. It covered all the important bases, including great software — a common pain point with mid-rangers — while hitting a great, affordable price.

That wouldn't be the case anymore.

The Pixel A-series deserves better​

It goes without saying that it's still early days. These are all, after all, just rumors and speculation.

Plans and specs can change, and Google might have other tricks lined up to make the phone shine and compete with the best mid-rangers on the market.

Still, leaks regarding Google hardware are usually accurate, and I don't see much changing. The Pixel 10a doesn't sound like it would be a boring phone. A decent boring phone is fine, if not forgettable.

However, it's shaping up as a disappointing piece of hardware, and that's my biggest worry.

It's no longer looking like a trickle-down flagship with all the specs that matter, and the exceptional value that made it an easy recommendation for almost anyone on a budget.

More so at a time when the competition has never been fiercer. Rivals are offering more and more at the same price while Google is lowering the ceiling. And that's a big problem.

If the Pixel 10a doesn't course correct before it launches, it suggests that Google is no longer paying attention to what made the series a success and kept people coming back for upgrades.

That's not a future I want because the Pixel A lineup, even if not the flashiest, has been one of the best smartphone releases from Google.

It's the one that everyone could count on to deliver a smooth, secure, and well-rounded user experience for years to come without breaking the bank on a flagship.

 

[Jurong640]

The Pixel A-series has held a special place in my heart ever since it was announced in 2019.

.

I hope they can upgrade their internals and give consumers more flagship grade. Just look at how their competitor iPhone 17 fare. Very good internals.

 

[garychengjw]

I hope they can upgrade their internals and give consumers more flagship grade. Just look at how their competitor iPhone 17 fare. Very good internals.

Uh? Shouldn't you compare with 16e with A Series instead?

 

[limmk]

I hope they can upgrade their internals and give consumers more flagship grade. Just look at how their competitor iPhone 17 fare. Very good internals.

Ya, if Pixel a-series got flagship-level internals, sure more value for money but Apple got crazy scale, can churn millions of iPhones easily, cost lower. Pixel volume small, so end up iPhone 17 cheaper but spec better bah

 

[limmk]

The Google Pixel 9a was released earlier this year, featuring a combination of decent hardware and an excellent battery life for a phone at its price point. A successor to the midranger isn't due for a while, although we've seen it appear in leaks for a while now.

We stumbled upon an extensive hardware leak of the Pixel 10a this month, suggesting that no major hardware changes are on the cards. The same source is back again, this time offering information on some of the colorways of the Pixel 10a, along with what appear to be matching wallpapers, as well as a big surprise on the potential launch date.

According to MysticLeaks on Telegram, the Pixel 10a will be available in five colors: Black, Blue, Dark Blue, Red, and Green. The leaker doesn't specify if these will be the only color options on offer, though we're pretty excited about the Red and Dark Blue variants. It will be interesting to see if green resembles the Aloe variant we last saw on the Pixel 8a, though the wallpaper leaked here indicates a slightly darker shade of green.
You can view the wallpapers shared by MysticLeaks below, or download the zip file yourself from their Telegram channel (via Android Central).

The Pixel 10a's rumored launch date might surprise everyone​

It's worth remembering that the Pixel 9a's wallpapers were also leaked well in advance of its release, so this isn't particularly surprising. What is out of the ordinary, however, is MysticLeaks' mention of an earlier launch date than previously expected.

As per the leaker, Google may release the Pixel 10a before the end of 2025, which is the most surprising element to emerge from this particular leak. For reference, the Pixel 9a was released in April this year, while the Pixel 8a made its debut in May 2024.

Although Google has a recent history of launching the Pixel A-series phone a month sooner than expected, moving up the release to the end of 2025 seems a bit far-fetched in our opinion. Let's not forget that releasing a Pixel 10a model this early in the day also risks cannibalizing the more premium vanilla Pixel 10, which starts from $800.

A leak supposedly depicting the Pixel 10a's back panel in July suggested that Google may not make too many changes in the design department. With the hardware also expected to remain largely unchanged from the Pixel 9a, this revelation by MysticLeaks may have some merit.
Would you be interested in the Pixel 10a if it were to launch before the end of the year?

 

[limmk]

After releasing almost every detail of the Pixel 10 series ahead of the official launch in August, we’re back at it again with the upcoming Pixel 10a. There have been rumors that the Pixel 10a would launch before the end of 2025, but given where we are in the rumor mill, we don’t believe that is accurate. We do believe it’ll launch in early 2026.

With that said, we have official renders based on CADs for the Pixel 10a. And to your surprise, it doesn’t look that different versus the Pixel 9a. Unfortunately, this blue color might not be real, but we’d love for Google to use it.

Google Pixel 10a CAD Renders​

We have three CAD renders to show off here. This shows different angles of the Pixel 10a, which look identical to the Pixel 9a. Now, unfortunately, we can’t confirm or deny if there is a SIM card slot on the Pixel 10a, since that detail is typically not included in CAD renders. It is included in the CAD render here, but that doesn’t confirm that it will be available on the final model when that launches.

As you can see from these renders, Google is sticking with what looks to be a plastic back that is completely flat and flush with the camera module. Google is also sticking with a dual-camera setup on the rear, and some rather thick bezels on the front. The volume rocker continues to be below the power button – the opposite of almost every Android phone on the market.

There are antenna lines on the sides, top and bottom. With a microphone hole at the top as well as the bottom. It also looks like Google has made the bottom symmetrical with the speaker and microphone holes.

Google Pixel 10a Specifications (rumored)​

We’re currently pretty early in the rumor mill for the Pixel 10a, so the specs haven’t surfaced as much. But we do know that it’ll be roughly the same physical size as Pixel 9a. With a 6.2-inch display and dimensions of 153.9 x 72.9 x 9mm. That’s actually rather thick compared to a lot of other phones on the market today.

There is also a rumor that is pointing to the Pixel 10a using the Tensor G4 (same as Pixel 9a) instead of the newer Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10 series. This could be due to the cost of the Tensor G5, since it is a TSMC-manufactured chip and does cost significantly more than the Tensor G4 did. This is said to be a “boosted” Tensor G4, likely a higher clocked chipset.

Last year, Google surprised us with the Pixel 9a, outfitting it with a 5,100mAh battery. Since the phone is actually thicker, we are expecting an even larger battery this year. But, I don’t think many would complain about a 5,100mAh battery on Pixel 10a either, considering battery life was so great on the 9a.

Google should stick with the same cameras again this year, and it’ll also have 7 years of software support. Pricing should also remain almost identical to last year, at $499 for 128GB of storage.

How will it compare to the Pixel 9a?​

From what we know so far about the Pixel 10a, it’s going to be almost identical to the Pixel 9a. Perhaps slightly better performance, WiFi signal, and battery life. That would likely be about it here. Along with some new colors, but that doesn’t really determine whether you’d buy it or not.

Above, you can see how similar these two look side-by-side. Really, the only way to tell them apart is going to be the colors. Though, bezels do look significantly smaller this year. We’ll have to wait for the final renders to see if that is indeed the case, as CADs are usually approximate, and not always 100% correct.

Google Pixel 10a vs Pixel 9a Spec Comparison​

As mentioned, specs haven’t really surfaced all that much yet for the Pixel 10a. So we’ve compiled what we’ve seen rumored so far, and speculated with the rest, given what we can see in these CADs, as well as how often Google sticks with the same specs.

When will the Google Pixel 10a launch?​

Of course, the biggest question of all is, when will the Google Pixel 10a launch? There was a wacky rumor about a month ago that claimed the Pixel 10a would launch before the end of 2025. Which we do not believe. Here’s why.

To launch the Pixel 10a before the end of the year would be a really bad decision, especially in the US. Really anything launched after October is a terrible idea because of holiday shopping. On top of that, all of the new flagships with Qualcomm and MediaTek’s new chips are launching at this time. So it would get buried. But if we take the holidays out of the equation, we are just not seeing images of the Pixel 10a. This usually happens about 6 months ahead of the actual launch. Which means we’re likely gonna see a March or April launch once again.

Device	Announcement Date	Release Date
Google Pixel 9a	March 19, 2025	April 10, 2025
Google Pixel 8a	May 7, 2024	May 14, 2024
Google Pixel 7a	May 10, 2023	May 10, 2023

As you can see from the previous release dates, the Pixel 10a is likely going to launch in March. The Pixel 9a was delayed a bit because they found an issue with manufacturing which delayed the device’s shipping by a couple of weeks. So very unlikely that the Pixel 10a will launch in 2025; however, Google has been adjusting the release timelines for its devices and software lately.

 

[limmk]

 

[limmk]