Pixel 10a: Why Google Needs This Hardware Upgrade

Pixel A-series phones have faced increasingly strong competition from other midrange devices since the Pixel 3a. Nevertheless, they've consistently stood out as a reliable purchase for anyone not willing to shell out for a flagship phone. The Pixel 9a continued this successful run thanks to its excellent battery life and performance, but the Pixel 10a may be a forgettable and irrelevant device. Previously, we expected to wait until April or May to see the Pixel 10a, but multiple leaks indicate that Google may unveil the device in mid-February instead. There's less agreement on when it will hit shelves, but no leaker has suggested a release date later than early March. But should we be excited? The Pixel 10a could be a Pixel 9a in all but name No major hardware improvements are coming We rarely expect an A-series phone to debut with exciting features; the flat camera bar on the Pixel 9a is the most dramatic development we've seen. Nevertheless, to keep its A-series afloat in an increasingly competitive price bracket, Google must keep the hardware up to date. That's why early leaks surprised us, as they indicated the Pixel 10a could be the most forgettable Pixel yet. In December 2025, we saw a screenshot of the key specs of the Pixel 10a. Apparently, it will have the same display, camera, battery, storage, memory, and chipset as the Pixel 9a. That's right, the Pixel 10a may feature the Tensor G4, not the Tensor G5 found in the Pixel 10 series. It's not all bad news, as leaked pricing indicates it will cost the same as the Pixel 9a. If you're thinking that the Pixel 10a sounds like a pointless phone, you're not alone. While it will likely have an extra year of software support, there will be little to no reason to pick one up when Pixel 9a deals start dropping the price to budget phone levels. Google will have cooked up some incentive for buying the Pixel 10a, but, right now, it's unclear what that will be. So if you're as baffled as we are about why one would buy the Pixel 10a, mark your calendars for February 18. Google hasn't confirmed the date, but this is rumoured to be when it will open preorders for the Pixel 10a. I would pay more for the Pixel 10a But it needs the right hardware I was expecting Google to raise the price for the Pixel 10a. Tech giants are rapidly building data centers to keep up with the AI boom, which has dramatic consequences for consumer electronics. Data centers require memory, and suppliers are allocating an increasingly limited supply to the demand for AI servers rather than consumer electronics. Thus, manufacturers of electronic devices, including PCs, smart TVs, and Android phones, are faced with a tough decision. Raise prices, or suffer losses. Early leaks regarding the Pixel 10a suggested that Google was actually going to drop the price, which made sense considering the competition. However, the increase in memory prices has likely led to the compromise of keeping the same memory for the same price. The best decision you can make when buying a new phone is to ensure it'll last for years. That's why I wish the Pixel 10a did cost more, so it could include hardware that would make it worth holding onto for years. The Pixel 10a needs more storage and more memory The Pixel 10a doesn't offer better value than the Pixel 10 The most upsetting part of the Pixel 10a leaks was regarding its memory and storage limitations. I agree that the Pixel 10a doesn't need the Tensor G5, but higher storage and memory are crucial for long-lasting phones. The more RAM your phone has, the more tasks and processes it can handle simultaneously. Modern smartphones need at least 8GB of RAM to avoid lag during regular use, but flagships tend to have 12GB or more to handle complex AI tasks. While Pixel A-series phones tend to be light on AI features compared to flagship Pixel phones, Google's update cadence suggests we'll likely see features like Magic Cue appear on older phones as Google shifts more processing to the cloud. Without more RAM, the Pixel 10a will struggle to maintain reasonable performance levels as Google adds more features to its workload. Storage is also crucial to avoid the consequences of feature bloat. Shipping a phone with 128GB of storage is inadequate in 2026; 256GB ought to be the standard going forward for any midrange or flagship phone. Longevity should be your primary concern when buying a phone in 2026 I would cheerfully pay $50 or $100 more for the Pixel 10a if it shipped with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage by default. Google's commitment to seven years of software support is admirable, but without matching hardware, it's an empty boast. As it stands, I wouldn't recommend buying the Pixel 10a for any reason. The Pixel 10 is the best phone to use until 2030 and beyond, and last year's midrange releases like the OnePlus 13R and Samsung Galaxy S24 FE offer fantastic value for money. I'm still intrigued by how Google will market the Pixel 10a, but without an increase in storage or memory, it's not worth buying.