Google’s Pixel 10a launched earlier this month. Despite similarities to last year’s Pixel 9a, in his review Scott found the few updates to be just as good with the hardware additions improving on Google’s entry level phone.
Priced at $849, the Pixel 10a was built to a budget, launching at the same price as last year’s Pixel 9a, a fairly impressive feat in today’s economic climate.
As well as sharing the price, the phone includes almost the same specs as last year’s Pixel 9a, which has caused some confusion While the Pixel ‘a-series’ has previously adopted features from the ‘main’ Pixel series, the Pixel 10a is one of the first to not bring the new Tensor processor and those newer features over.
I’ve been checking out the software side of the Pixel 10a, and taking Google’s ‘brilliant photography, a durable design, and helpful AI’ slogan for the Pixel 10a to heart, testing these over the last couple of weeks.
So what’s included and what is missing on the Pixel 10a? Let’s get into it.
What it’s Got!
Gemini
Gemini is present everywhere from the moment you set up the Pixel 10a, ready to help you at whatever stage you want.
The Pixel 10a runs Gemini 3 – the latest version of their Large Language Model (LLM), with Google using the latest ‘nano’ model, called ‘Banana’ running on-device.
Gemini runs the same queries you can see on desktop as on the mobile – so your search and AI queries are synced, letting you continue discussion or research on the go.
One big advantage is the Pixel 10a has Gemini Live, which is a more local version that also includes multimodal input support so you can share your phone desktop, or even the camera. You can then load up either and just talk, asking it questions about the desktop, or what’s being seen by your camera – like “What breed is this cat?” and Gemini just does its thing…yes, it’s a ragdoll.
It also works well connecting to your various Google and third-party apps, letting you do things like set your air-conditioning or turn on lights through Google Home using Gemini, or skipping songs or loading a playlist in apps like Spotify.
Satellite SMS
Google launched Satellite SMS on their main Pixel line with the Pixel 9 series of devices, continuing it on the Pixel 10 series last year. This year, Google has brought Satellite SMS to the Pixel 10a series for the first time, expanding peace of mind to their lower end devices so you have options when you’re completely out of service.
Satellite SMS isn’t a new way to send texts to your friends, instead it’s a way to contact emergency services, with the fine print from Google reading:
Off-the-grid emergency calling via satellite. Restrictions apply. Setup required. Service included at no additional charge for the first two years after activation of devices. Connection and response times vary based on location, site conditions and other factors. See g.co/pixel/satellitesos for details.
You can give it a whirl though, with the Safety Demo…..but I was unable to get it working.
I have tried the Satellite SMS Demo a number of times, and it failed each time. I’ve tried in multiple places – most notably I spent a couple of hours in the middle of a double oval in a cloudless sky, and it still failed the demo each and every time.
Let’s just hope this one works a little better in real world conditions, but as it connects to emergency services, I’m not ready to waste their time on a test. It’s pertinent to note that the SMS Satellite test failed on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and PIxel 10 Pro XL as well.
AI Camera
Google has been adding more and more to the Pixel camera in each iteration, but the latest ones brought over from the PIxel 10 series are ‘Camera Coach and Auto Best Take’ – both of which are present on the Pixel 10a.
Camera Coach
While we all think we can take a great photo, sometimes there’s a better way, and that’s where Camera Coach comes into it.
The feature uses Gemini models, which have been trained on output from professional photographers to offer tips on how to take a great shot.
On the Pixel 10 I didn’t really see many ways different that the Gemini powered Camera Coach suggested, but on the 10a it looks like the models have been updated and the results are good.
It all starts with Gemini scanning the camera input – once you hit the Camera Coach icon at the top of the app.
Camera Coach will guide you through, step by step on how to actually take the shot, telling you to change position, lighting etc. to get the shot. I can be a lazy photographer, but this was a good way to get you involved in the process – and I’ll remember some of the tips for next time.
One of the options I like about this is you can choose what style of image you want to take based on the initial scan that Gemini does.
Auto Best Take
The introduction of Best Take on the Pixel 8 was one of those ‘magic’ moments where AI seems to just work. Able to take faces from variety of shots and seamlessly meld them into a cohesive image where everyone is looking ahead/smiling in the shot is brilliant – then Google introduced Auto Best Take on the Pixel 10 series, and now it’s here on the Pixel 10a.
It’s a mix of Google’s Top Shot and Best Take in Google Photos and while it’s good, it’s also inconsistent. Out of several goes I managed to get one working.
Audio Magic Eraser
I’m including this as it’s one of my favourite features that just ‘works’ when it comes to the camera, and for once it’s a video feature which Google hasn’t done a lot of as yet.
First announced on the Pixel 8 series, Audio Magic Eraser lets you take more control over ambient noise, with Gemini able to isolate and remove background noise. It’s a simple process, simply edit the video in Google Photos and find the ‘Audio’ editing options to really take advantage.
What it’s missing?
The Pixel 10a is a fairly complete phone when it comes to featureset, however the Tensor G4 processor does preclude it from coming up to speed with the main Pixel 10 Series line sporting the newer Tensor G5.
Magic Cue
One of the major announcements with the Pixel 10 series was Magic Cue, powered by the Tensor G5.
Magic Cue is Google’s way of making AI more helpful in your day-to-day life. Quite simply, after you turn it on, monitors your phone use to find ways to be helpful. This includes offering to add something to your calendar or give you details from a calendar event, find a picture if you mention it, supply a contact in the right context and more.
Magic Cue has become a very useful part of my Pixel 10 usage, though it’s still quite hit and miss. It feels like Google needs to ramp up the intensity of Magic Cue so it appears more consistently.
Pixel Screenshots
Of the Pixel features ‘missing’ from the Pixel 10a, Pixel Screenshots feels its an oversight. Launched on the Pixel 9 series, Pixel Screenshots was a way for Google to attempt to organise all those screenshots we take using AI.
In theory, you take a screenshot and the Pixel adds it to the Screenshots app. The Google Nano LLM scans the image and analyses it, gleaning text, context and even the metadata so you can review it at a later date or find the information when you want it.
You can actually even ask Gemini to find the information including ‘Where is the receipt for….’ if you have one in your Pixel Screenshots App.
Alas, it’s missing on the Pixel 10a and with the Pixel 9 sharing the same processor, the limited 8GB of RAM on the Pixel 10a (compared to 12GB on Pixel 9) means this feature is missing, and sadly won’t launch.
Do you need a Pixel 10a?
The big question is the Pixel 10a worth it to update to?
At its core the Pixel 10a is a good phone. Scott said it best ‘Same, same, but still brilliant.
Compared to the mainline Pixel 10 series, the Pixel 10a does fall short in terms of what features it comes with. What it does do well are the core functions we’ve come to know the Pixel 10 for, with the Pixel 10a living up to its core slogan of ‘brilliant photography, a durable design, and helpful AI’’.
The hardware similarities between the Pixel 10a and Pixel 9a makes it hard to recommend updating, but down at the Pixel 7a and below there’s a case to be made if you want the newer AI features.
If you want the latest Pixel series phone on a budget, then the Pixel 10a does have a lot to add. The refinements in hardware including the brighter display, flat camera bump and the addition of Gorilla Glass to bolster the IP68 dust and water resistance make it a good proposition, and you also now have Satellite SMS for added peace of mind.
Price wise, Google kept the phone at $849 while still adding in a few nifty features and covering it with a 7-year software update schedule so you can keep using it without worrying about security.
If you want the best of Google, but on a budget, then it’s hard to go past the Pixel 10a. You can find the Pixel 10a on the Google Store online, or through JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Officeworks and The Good Guys, as well as Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.
Daniel has been talking about, learning about and using tech since he was able to toggle switches and push buttons. If it flashes, turns on or off or connects he wants to use it, talk about it and learn more about it. Like this article? Buy me a coffee!
