This time around, we’re comparing two smartphones from Google. This is a Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Google Pixel 9a comparison. In other words, we’re comparing Google’s flagship compact Pixel phone with its budget counterpart. The Pixel 9a is a bit older than the Pixel 10 Pro, of course. The Pixel 10a did not launch just yet, at the time of writing this article, but it’s coming in the near future.
With that being said, we’ll first list the specs of both of these smartphones. Following that, we’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio output. They are, of course, quite similar in some ways, but there are also quite a few differences. Needless to say, the Pixel 10 Pro is not only more powerful but also notably more expensive.
Specs
Google Pixel 10 Pro
Google Pixel 9a
| Google Pixel 10 Pro | Google Pixel 9a | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 152.8 x 72 x 8.6 mm | 154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9 mm |
| Weight | 207 grams | 185.9 grams |
| Display | 6.3-inch Super Actual LTPO OLED display | 6.3-inch pOLED |
| Refresh rate | Smooth Display (1-120Hz) | 120Hz adaptive |
| Resolution | 2856 x 1280 | 2424 x 1080 |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G5 | Google Tensor G4 |
| RAM | 16GB (LPDDR5X) | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB (UFS 4.0) | 128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1) |
| Main camera | 50MP (f/1.68 aperture, 1/1.3-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 | 48MP (f/1.7 aperture, 1/2.55-inch sensor size, 123-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 | 48MP (f/2.8 aperture, 1/2.55-inch sensor size, 5x optical zoom, 22-degree FoV) | N/A |
| Selfie camera | 42MP (f/2.2 aperture, 103-degree FoV) | 13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 96.1-inch sensor size) |
| Battery size | 4.870mAh | 5,100 mAh |
| Charging | 30W wired, 15W Qi2 wireless (charger not included) | 23W wired, 7.5W wireless (charger not included) |
| Colors | Moonstone, Jade, Porcelain, Obsidian | Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris and Peony |
Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Google Pixel 9a: Design
If you look at these two phones from the front, you’ll notice how similar they are. It’s easy to differentiate them, though, as the Google Pixel 9a has thicker bezels. The bezels are uniform on both smartphones, though. They both have a centered display camera hole up top, and that camera hole is basically the same size on both phones. The corner curvature is also the same, and they both include flat displays.
Both phones have a frame made out of aluminum. The Pixel 10 Pro includes a glass back, while the Pixel 9a’s backplate is made out of plastic. The frame on both phones is flat all around, while they both curve slightly towards the edges. The frame design is basically the same on these two phones. They both include the power/lock and volume rocker buttons on the right-hand side, while the power/lock key sits above the volume buttons on both phones.
If we flip them around, you’ll notice considerably different rear camera designs. The Pixel 10 Pro has a camera visor on the back, a pill-shaped one. Three cameras are included there, and it protrudes quite a bit. The Pixel 9a has a pill-shaped camera cutout as well, in the top-left corner. It’s much smaller. It also doesn’t protrude nearly as much as the one on the Pixel 10 Pro. The phone also doesn’t wobble on the table as much, considering that this protrusion is not considerable. The Pixel 10 Pro doesn’t wobble at all due to the positioning of its camera visor.
The Pixel 10 Pro is the heavier phone of the two. It’s heavier by 21 grams, but not exactly heavy. It does feel more premium in the hand, though. Both phones are IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. They’re both also quite slippery.
Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Google Pixel 9a: Display
Both of these phones have compact displays of the same size, but they are different. The Pixel 10 Pro includes a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED panel, a flat display. It has a 120Hz refresh rate and supports HDR10+ content. The peak brightness here is 3,300 nits, and the resolution is 2856 x 1280 pixels. The screen-to-body ratio is around 87%, while the display aspect ratio is 20:9. Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects this panel.
The Google Pixel 9a, on the other hand, has a 6.3-inch P-OLED display. This panel is also flat, and it has a resolution of 2424 x 1080. Its peak brightness is 2,700 nits, while the screen-to-body ratio is at around 83%. The display aspect ratio here is 20:9, while the Pixel 9a’s display is protected by the Gorilla Glass 3 from Corning. This display is also offers a 120Hz refresh rate, though it’s not an LTPO panel.
While both of these panels are really good, the Pixel 10 Pro does have the edge. Both displays are sharp, vivid, and have great viewing angles. The Pixel 10 Pro’s panel, however, is sharper, and it has the advantage of an LTPO display. It also does get a little bit brighter, which is a difference you’ll notice in direct sunlight if you compare the two. The Pixel 9a is plenty bright, though. The Pixel 9a’s panel will be more than enough for most people, it’s a good display.
Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Google Pixel 9a: Performance
The Google Pixel 10 Pro is fueled by the Google Tensor G5 processor. That’s a 3nm chip from Google, and the first Tensor chip made by TSMC. It’s paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Google also includes UFS 3.1 or UFS 4.0 flash storage here. Only the 128GB storage model has UFS 3.1, other storage options come with UFS 4.0 storage.
The Google Pixel 9a, on the other hand, utilizes the Google Tensor G4 chip. That one is manufactured by Samsung, and it’s a 4nm chip. It is paired with 8GB of RAM, and Google offers a choice between 128GB and 256GB storage options for this smartphone. Neither of these two phones has the option to expand its storage via a microSD card.
So, is there a performance difference? Well, in day-to-day use, you wouldn’t really notice it, in all honesty. Both phones are really good in that regard. Well, you would notice it if you use them side-by-side, as the Pixel 10 Pro is ever so slightly faster, but they’re both doing a good job in that regard. The Pixel 10 Pro does have a more powerful chip, though, and it’s technically more future-proof.
The company’s compact flagship also does a better job when it comes to gaming. It doesn’t heat up as much during intense gaming sessions, and it also performs better with more demanding games. Do note that neither of these two phones is made for gaming, however.
Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Google Pixel 9a: Battery
The Google Pixel 10 Pro includes a 4,870mAh battery on the inside. The Pixel 9a, on the other hand, has a 5,100mAh battery pack. In case you’re wondering, yes, the Pixel 9a ended up offering more battery juice most of the time, but only barely. At times, we managed to get more from the Pixel 10 Pro with similar usage. The point is, the battery life is kind of similar on both of these phones.
The Pixel 10 Pro’s chip is more battery-friendly, and despite the fact that the phone has a smaller battery pack, things are kind of balanced. It’s a shame Google didn’t use a silicon-carbon battery in the Pixel 10 Pro, though. The company would have managed to squeeze much more capacity inside the device, and we would have gotten great battery life, instead of just… fine. Neither one of these two phones shines when it comes to battery life, in all honesty, though both will provide more than enough juice for most people.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro supports 30W wired, 15W wireless (Qi2), and reverse wired charging. The phone also has magnets for proper Qi2 charging and accessories. The Pixel 9a, on the other hand, does not have magnets, and it supports 23W wired and 7.5W wireless charging. Neither phone comes with a charger in the box. The Pixel 10 Pro can be fully charged in an hour and a half with a compatible charger. The Pixel 9a can get there in about an hour and 40 minutes.
Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Google Pixel 9a: Cameras
The Pixel 10 Pro has three cameras on the back. It includes a 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.31-inch sensor size), a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (1/2.55-inch sensor size, 123-degree FoV), and a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (1/2.55-inch sensor size, 5x optical zoom).
The Google Pixel 9a, on the other hand, has only two cameras on the back. They are also different than what the Pixel 10 Pro is offering. A 48-megapixel main camera (1/2.0-inch sensor size) is backed by a 13-megapixel ultrawide snapper (1/3.1-inch sensor size, 120-degree FoV). So, yes, the camera hardware is inferior here. It also has an inferior selfie shooter.
While the camera hardware is superior on the Pixel 10 Pro, the Pixel 9a does a great job of keeping up in terms of camera performance, for the most part, thanks to Google’s camera processing. The images do look contrasty on both phones, they do have that Pixel camera look. They don’t look realistic on either phone, but they look great, which is something that most people will likely prefer.
The Pixel 10 Pro retains more detail in low light, and it also does slightly better when it comes to dynamic range, though Google’s processing masks the Pixel 9a’s deficiencies really well, so the Pixel 9a does come out on top at times.
Audio
Both phones do have stereo speakers on the inside. The ones on the Pixel 10 Pro are louder, though, noticeably louder. The audio output is better on the Pixel 10 Pro as well, though not by much.
Neither phone includes an audio jack. You can connect your wired headphones to both of them via the Type-C port. If you prefer wireless audio, the Pixel 10 Pro supports Bluetooth 6.0, while the Pixel 9a supports Bluetooth 5.3.
The post Phone Comparisons: Google Pixel 10 Pro vs Google Pixel 9a appeared first on Android Headlines.
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