In summary:
- Tech Advisor reports that Google’s Pixel 10a preview reveals a familiar design similar to the Pixel 9a but promises to be the most durable A-Series device yet.
- The device features a completely flat camera module with no bump and will be available in four colors: Obsidian, Fog, Lavender, and Berry.
- Pre-orders for the enhanced mid-range smartphone are expected to begin February 18th, offering improved durability for budget-conscious consumers.
Google has essentially announced the Pixel 10a smartphone less than two weeks out from its launch.
The company has put up a fairly detailed preview page that offers a full look at the new Google Pixel 10a, as well as some of the new mid-range smartphone’s key attributes.
Google’s unexpected reveal might have something to do with the fact that respected leaker Evan Blass yesterday posted a selection of official-looking images of the phone (below).
Whatever the reason, here’s what we learned from Google’s Pixel 10a (pre) announcement.
We now know its release date
It was previously rumoured that Google would be launching the Pixel 10a on either 17 or 18 February.
We now know that it’ll be the latter – reportedly a day before the iPhone 17e.
Google’s preview page tells us that you’ll be able to pre-order the phone from 18 February. You can sign up for a reminder right now.
We also get the (somewhat vague) promise that the phone will be “in store soon”, which presumably means a swift turnaround on availability, and that we’ll be able to grab a Pixel 10a before the end of the month. Fingers crossed.
However, the Pixel 9a was announced in March last year, then went on sale in April, so the Pixel 10a could hit shelves next month if the timeframe is the same.
That’s it for solid details. Rumour has it the Pixel 10a will be nigh-on identical to the Pixel 9a before it, including the very same Tensor G4 processor.
Familiar design, except for two details
Google’s preview page (and the aforementioned leak) has seemingly confirmed previous reports (and fears to an extent) about the Pixel 10a design.
That is: it looks exactly the same as the Google Pixel 9a. Same flat-edged shape, same minimal camera module. It’s the same.
Except, it isn’t. Not quite. For one thing, Google mentions that its new mid-ranger is the “most durable Google Pixel A-Series yet”.
Does this mean that it’s made of tougher materials than the Pixel 9a? Perhaps it has a more scratch- and crack-resistant display, or better water resistance than the Pixel 9a’s IP68. We shall see.
The other detail we picked out is that the camera module now appears to be completely flat. There was a slight lip on the Pixel 9a camera, but its successor’s module seems to be completely flush with the rear panel.
This would make it the first major phone in countless years to have no camera bump whatsoever.
We know one of the colours
Previous leaks suggested that the Pixel 10a would come in four colours: Obsidian, Fog, Lavender and Berry.
Just recently, Android Headlines leaked the Berry colour, which appears to be a much deeper shade of Pink than the Pixel 9a’s Peony.
Berry, along with Fog, will reportedly match two new colourways for the Pixel Buds 2a.
This first official image (or officially sanctioned image, at least) appears to show the Lavender model. It looks a lot like the Pixel 9a’s Iris, but the two shades aren’t identical.
It’s a smidge closer to the Indigo of the Pixel 10.
Author: Jon Mundy, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Jon is a freelance journalist who got his start covering mobile games at the dawn of the App Store. He has since covered everything from smart home tech and laptops to food and culture, but always seems to return to his fascination with smartphones.