Google announced the Pixel 10a at $499, bringing its latest Tensor G4 chip and Satellite SOS to the mid-range.
The Tensor G4 inclusion is the headline. Previously exclusive to the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro, the G4 brings Google's full on-device AI stack—Gemini Nano, real-time translation, and advanced photo processing—to a phone that costs half as much as the flagship.
Satellite SOS is the other standout. Emergency satellite connectivity was an iPhone 14 innovation that's now trickling across the industry. Having it in a $499 device democratizes a genuinely life-saving feature.
The rest of the spec sheet is solid but predictable: 6.2-inch OLED at 120Hz, 8GB RAM, 128GB base storage, and Google's promise of seven years of OS updates. The camera setup is a single 64MP main sensor—no ultrawide at this price point.
Google's strategy is clear: use the a-series to get Tensor and Google AI features into more hands. With Samsung's comparable Galaxy A-series still running Snapdragon chips without on-device AI parity, the Pixel 10a carves out a distinct value proposition.
Available for pre-order now, shipping March 6.
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