First Google Pixel 10a renders do nothing to raise our expectations

Where have we seen this before?

In summary

• Pixel 10a dimensions leak leads to CAD renders
• Design looks almost identical to Pixel 9a
• Slightly smaller but thicker

With the Pixel 10 smartphone series in our rear view mirrors, it’s the turn of the junior member of the team to get some attention.

Google always follows up its mainline series with a more affordable ‘a’ option, and this time that means the Google Pixel 10a.

Leaker OnLeaks has teamed up with Android Headlines to compile some CAD renders of the Pixel 10a’s alleged design based on leaked dimensions.

What the Pixel 10a renders tell us

Here’s the main takeaway from these renders – the Pixel 10a is going to look exactly like the Google Pixel 9a.

That’s really no surprise, because the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold all look like their immediate predecessors. Which would Google’s new cheaper option take a different (which generally means more expensive to develop) path?

Unfortunately, this means the return of the Pixel 9a’s polarising design. In particular, Google’s decision to remove the Pixel line’s signature width-spanning camera bar was not a popular one.

Instead, the Pixel 9a – and now the Pixel 10a too, it seems – went for a completely flat plastic back with an unassuming camera module in the top left corner.

According to the report, we can expect dimensions of 153.9 x 72.9 x 9mm, which is actually a little shorter, narrower, and thicker than the Pixel 9a. Google may have just reduced the bezel size a tad, which is a positive design development.

Otherwise, the display is said to be the same 6.2-inch size. We’ve heard it said that this could hit a brighter 2000 nits this time around, matching that of the Pixel 10.

Pixel 10a expected specs

Previous leaks have claimed that Google Pixel 10a is going to use the exact same Tensor G4 processor as the Pixel 9a rather than the improved Tensor G5 chip of the rest of the Pixel 10 range.

This could have an adverse knock-on effect of restricting some of the AI features that the forthcoming phone can access. Don’t expect Magic Cue to make the journey over from the Pixel 10.

In short, don’t expect a particularly consequential upgrade from the Pixel 9a – PixelSnap Qi2 support (hopefully) excepted.

Google Pixel 9a

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