Google Pixel 10a specs leak brings disappointing news

For years, Google’s “Pixel a” phones have been fairly compelling devices for those looking for the virtues of Pixel devices—including camera quality—and long-term support at a more affordable price. That said, the upcoming Google Pixel 10a could maintain a fairly conservative approach to spec upgrades, reusing more old hardware than ever.

Google Pixel 10a specs leak shows old Tensor G4 chip, no telephoto

A tech specs leak suggests that the Google Pixel 10a may share some hardware components with its predecessors as a way to manage costs. It is tipped to use the Tensor G4 chip, which was featured in the Pixel 9 series—including the Pixel 9a. The company appears to be scrapping its strategy of using the same chipset from the main lineup. This decision could stem from the potential cost increase of moving production of the Pixel 10's Tensor G5 chip to TSMC.

The Pixel 10a could also stick with UFS 3.1 storage. While this is an older standard, it remains a common choice in many mid-range phones. However, newer phones often use UFS 4.0, which offers faster read and write speeds and better power efficiency. In a similar vein, the Pixel 10a appears to be forgoing a dedicated telephoto camera, a feature that the standard Pixel 10 got this year.

Pixel 10's Magic Cue also missing

Lastly, regarding software, the new phone is expected to launch without Magic Cue, Google's new on-device AI feature that provides live, contextual information during calls and chats. On a more positive note, the display is tipped to receive a minor brightness increase, reaching 2,200 nits compared to the 9a’s 2,000 nits.

This potential strategy change could be in favor of maintaining the same current price tag for its "Pixel a" phones. However, the Pixel 10a is expected to arrive in 2026, and by then, it might be a better option to opt for a “non-a” Pixel 9 model.