Google’s Pixel 10a Launch Imminent, Challenging Samsung and Apple in Mid-Range Market
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A potential launch date of February 17, 2026, positions Google’s upcoming Pixel 10a to directly compete with rivals like Samsung and Apple in the crucial mid-range smartphone segment. New details, sourced from European retail listings and reported by smartphone source MysteryLupin, reveal pricing, storage options, and colorways for the highly anticipated device.
The Pixel 10a will be the fifth smartphone in the Pixel 10 family, following the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel Fold, all unveiled at the Made by Google event in August 2025. This strategic positioning aims to capture a broader consumer base seeking premium features at a more accessible price point.
Pixel 10a Pricing and Storage
According to the retail listings, the Pixel 10a will mirror last year’s Pixel 9a by offering configurations with either 128 GB or 256 GB of storage. The 128 GB model is listed at €499, while the larger 256 GB variant will retail for €599. This pricing strategy places the Pixel 10a in direct competition with the Samsung Galaxy A series and the Apple iPhone 17e.
Color Options and Accessories
Interestingly, the wider range of color options will be exclusive to the 128 GB model, with consumers able to choose from obsidian, berry, lavender, and fog. The 256 GB model will be available solely in obsidian. It’s crucial to note that these details originate from retail listings, and Google may offer additional colorways through its own online store.
Official cases for the Pixel 10a will also be available, mirroring the phone’s color portfolio and priced at €20 each.
Strategic Launch Window
The proposed February 17, 2026, launch date is over a month earlier than the announcement of the Pixel 9a, which was revealed on March 18, 2025, with a retail release initially slated for March 26, 2025. Though, a “component quality issue” ultimately delayed the Pixel 9a’s availability untill april 10, 2025.
This early timing for the Pixel 10a is notably noteworthy, falling just one week before Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event and the launch of the Galaxy S26 family, and two weeks before the start of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. this presents Google with a unique possibility to generate notable buzz around the Pixel 10a, the broader Pixel family, and its advancements in Gemini AI features.
Given the critical acclaim of the Pixel 9a, this launch window could prove to be a pivotal moment in shaping the smartphone landscape in 2026.
