Google debuts $499 Pixel 10a

Google on Wednesday unveiled its newest entry-level Pixel smartphone, adding another budget-friendly option to its lineup. Priced at $499, the Pixel 10a arrives with fresh AI software features and a handful of modest hardware upgrades. The phone is available for preorder now, with shipments scheduled to begin March 5. Buyers can choose from Lavender, Berry, Fog, and Obsidian colour options.

One of the more noticeable design changes is the Pixel 10a’s completely flat back. With this new approach, the camera bar no longer protrudesasd on earlier models — instead, it blends into the rear panel and sits flush, allowing the phone to lie flat when placed on a table or other surface.

Google says the handset’s 6.3-inch Actua display is 11% brighter than the Pixel 9a. The company also points to faster charging compared with the previous generation, along with more than 30 hours of battery life in regular use and up to 120 hours when the “Extreme Battery Saver” mode is enabled.

Under the hood, the Pixel 10a uses the same Tensor G4 chip that powered last year’s Pixel 9a. For cameras, it includes a 48 MP main sensor — which Google claims is the best camera on a phone priced under $500 — paired with a 13 MP ultrawide camera for wider shots.

After rolling out a suite of AI-powered camera tools on the Pixel 10 series last summer, Google is now extending those features to the A-series device. “Auto Best Take” captures multiple frames with a single shutter press and then automatically selects the strongest result so everyone looks their best in group photos. Meanwhile, “Camera Coach” offers step-by-step tips to help users improve lighting and composition while shooting.

Google is also bringing Satellite SOS to the A-series for the first time. The feature enables users to contact emergency services even when Wi-Fi and cellular service aren’t available, providing another layer of safety for travel and outdoor use.

As with recent Pixel releases, the Pixel 10a will include seven years of software and security updates, keeping the device supported well into the future.

However, the Pixel 10a does not include the “PixelSnap” magnetic Qi charging feature found on the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which may matter to users who prefer magnet-assisted wireless charging accessories.

The phone’s debut also arrives just ahead of Apple’s next entry-level iPhone, the iPhone 17e. That device is expected to carry a $599 price tag, matching last year’s iPhone 16e.

Alongside the phone announcement, Google also shared that it’s launching Pixel Buds 2a in two new colours — Berry and Fog — designed to complement the Pixel 10a’s updated palette.