In this article, we’ll be comparing two Pixel phones. We’ll be comparing the vanilla Pixel 10 vs the company’s latest budget offering. In other words, this is a Phone Comparisons: Google Pixel 10 vs Google Pixel 9a comparison. Both of these phones were announced last year. The Pixel 10 arrived in August, alongside three other Pixel 10 devices, while the Pixel 9a was announced back in March 2025.
The first thing we’ll do is list the specs of both Google smartphones. Following that, we’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio output. These two phones are quite similar in some ways, but there are also some notable differences between them. They are both compact devices, however, which is rather interesting. So, let’s get to it.
Specs
Google Pixel 10
Google Pixel 9a
| Google Pixel 10 | Google Pixel 9a | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 152.8 x 72 x 8.6mm | 154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9 mm |
| Weight | 204 grams | 185.9 grams |
| Display | 6.3-inch Actua OLED display | 6.3-inch pOLED |
| Refresh rate | Smooth Display (60-120Hz) | 120Hz adaptive |
| Resolution | 2424 x 1080 | 2424 x 1080 |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G5 | Google Tensor G4 |
| RAM | 12GB (LPDDR5X) | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1) |
| Main camera | 48MP (f/1.7 aperture, 1/2.0-inch sensor size, 82-degree FoV) | 48MP (wide, f/1.7 aperture, 1/2.0-inch sensor size, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS) |
| Ultra-wide camera | 13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1/3.1-inch sensor size, 120-degree FoV) | 13MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV, 1/3.1-inch sensor size) |
| Telephoto camera | N/A | N/A |
| Periscope telephoto camera | 10.8MP (f/3.1 aperture, 1/3.2-inch sensor size, 5x optical zoom, 23-degree FoV) | N/A |
| Selfie camera | 10.5MP (f/2.2 aperture, 95-degree FoV) | 13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 96.1-inch sensor size) |
| Battery size | 4,970mAh | 5,100 mAh |
| Charging | 30W wired, 15W Qi2 wireless (charger not included) | 23W wired, 7.5W wireless (charger not included) |
| Colors | Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, Obsidian | Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris and Peony |
Google Pixel 10 vs Google Pixel 9a: Design
Looking from the front, these two phones are actually quite similar. They have the same shape. The corners are rounded on both phones, and to the same degree, basically. Both displays are flat and have uniform bezels around them. The bezels on the Pixel 10 are a bit thinner, however. There is a display camera hole at the top that goes for both phones, and it’s centered up there.
Both phones also have flat frames. Those frames are flat all around, and they’re made out of aluminum. You’ll also find all the physical buttons on the right-hand side of both devices. The power/lock key sits above the volume up and down buttons. The Google Pixel 10 has a glass back, while the Pixel 9a includes a plastic back. The backplates on these phones are also flat, but they are different due to camera setups.
You’ll notice a centered Google logo on the back of both smartphones. The Pixel 10 has a large camera bar at the top of its backplate. It’s pill-shaped, and it’s centered up there. There are three cameras included in it. The Pixel 9a, on the flip side, includes a much smaller horizontal pill-shaped camera island in the top-left corner. There are two cameras inside the camera island. The Pixel 9a’s camera bar sits almost flush with the back, while the Pixel 10’s protrudes quite a bit.
Both of these smartphones are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. They’re both also quite slippery, but they’re quite comfortable to use due to their size. The Pixel 10 is noticeably heavier in comparison, however, while it’s also slightly shorter, narrower, and thinner.
Google Pixel 10 vs Google Pixel 9a: Display
The Google Pixel 10 features a 6.3-inch OLED display. That panel is flat, and it supports a 120Hz refresh rate. HDR10+ content is also supported here, while the peak brightness is 3,000 nits. The screen-to-body ratio this phone offers is around 86%, while the resolution you’re getting is 2424 x 1080 (fullHD+). The display aspect ratio is 20:9, while the panel is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
The Google Pixel 9a, on the other hand, has a 6.3-inch display as well, and that panel has the same resolution, 2424 x 1080. The refresh rate is also the same, 120Hz. This is a P-OLED panel, however, and the peak brightness is 2,700 nits. The screen-to-body ratio is around 84%, while the display aspect ratio is 20:9. The Pixel 9a’s display is protected by the Gorilla Glass 3 from Corning, a much older solution.
Both of these displays are good, though. They are vibrant, have good viewing angles, and good touch response. Both are quite sharp as well and have a high refresh rate. The Pixel 10’s display does get a bit brighter, while it has better protection as well. Both will do the trick for the vast majority of users, though both are technically inferior to the panels on the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL.
Google Pixel 10 vs Google Pixel 9a: Performance
Inside the Google Pixel 10, you’ll find Google’s Tensor G5 processor. That chip is made by TSMC, and it’s the first Tensor chip made by the company. It’s a 3nm processor, and it’s paired with 12GB of RAM and UFS 3.1 or UFS 4.0 flash storage. The 128GB storage variant comes with UFS 3.1 storage, while the 256GB storage model utilizes UFS 4.0 flash storage. Choose wisely, as you cannot expand that storage.
The Google Pixel 9a, on the flip side, is fueled by the Google Tensor G4 chip. One generation older processor made by Samsung. This is a 4nm chip, and it’s paired with 8GB of RAM inside the Pixel 9a. The phone also includes UFS 3.1 flash storage. You cannot expand this phone’s storage either, by the way.
Is the performance any good, though? Well, yes, generally speaking. The Pixel 10 will feel slightly faster, especially in a UFS 4.0 variant. However, both offer really good performance, regardless of what you throw at them. Neither one of these phones is a gaming handset, however, so do note that demanding games may not run as smoothly as you’d like. The Pixel 10 is definitely the better choice for that, but not ideal.
Google Pixel 10 vs Google Pixel 9a: Battery
There is a 4,970mAh battery included in the Google Pixel 10. The Pixel 9a, on the other hand, includes a slightly larger 5,100mAh battery. In terms of battery longevity, these battery packs are somewhat representative of what you’ll be getting. The Pixel 9a did offer slightly more in terms of battery life for us, but not much, in all honesty. For most people, both phones will be able to last through the day, but that may not be the case for power users.
There are devices out there that offer much better battery life, and that even goes for compact phones these days. Unfortunately, Google opted not to go with silicon-carbon batteries inside either of these devices, so the capacity is quite limited. As already mentioned, however, both phones will be able to last through the day for most people. The battery life is not bad, not at all, but it’s not great either. Gaming, in particular, will deplete them considerably faster than anything else.
The Google Pixel 10 supports 30W wired, 15W wireless, and reverse wired charging. The Pixel 9a, on the other hand, supports 23W wired and 7.5W wireless charging. Neither smartphone ships with a charger, by the way. If you do get a compatible charger, however, the Pixel 10 will charge a bit faster. It will take the phone around an hour and a half to reach a full charge. The Pixel 9a, on the other hand, can fully charge in about an hour and 40 minutes.
Google Pixel 10 vs Google Pixel 9a: Cameras
The Google Pixel 10 includes three cameras on the back. The main camera on the phone is a 48-megapixel unit with a 1/2.0-inch sensor size. That camera is backed by a 13-megapixel ultrawide snapper (1/3.1-inch sensor size, 120-degree FoV). The third camera on the back is a 10.8-megapixel telephoto unit (1/3.2-inch sensor size, 5x optical zoom).
The Google Pixel 9a, on the other hand, has two cameras on the back. This smartphone does not include a telephoto camera at all. The main camera that Google opted for is a 48-megapixel unit with a 1/2.0-inch sensor size. The phone uses the same main camera as the Pixel 10, basically. Thesame goes for the ultrawide snapper, actually, it’s a 13-megapixel unit with a 1/3.1-inch sensor size.
As you’d expect, considering the same camera hardware and software similarities, the two devices do shoot very similar photos, despite having different processors. You’ll be getting rather contrasty shots from both, which have that Pixel processing people seem to like. Both phones could offer more sharpness in some shots, but they both generally do a good job with photos, especially with their main cameras. These are not the best cameras around, but for the asking price, they’re quite good and reliable.
Audio
Stereo speakers are included on both of these smartphones. The ones on the Pixel 10, however, are louder in comparison, and that is noticeable. The sound quality is not bad from either pair, though.
There is no audio jack on either of the two phones. You can connect your wired headphones via the Type-C port on both devices, however. Alternatively, the Pixel 10 supports Bluetooth 6.0, while the Pixel 9a supports Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless audio connectivity.
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