My disappointment with the Google Pixel 7a is well-documented. I struggled with the device from the very beginning, and it never fully recovered for me.
Its modem performance was poor, only outdone by the awful battery life at launch. The Tensor G2 overheated, and I never loved it as much as the Pixel 6a.
The Pixel 10a may not be the world’s most exciting update, and upgrading from something like a Pixel 8a or 9a is pointless. However, you’ll really enjoy the experience coming from a Pixel 7a.
If you’re still holding on to Google’s midranger from yesteryear, here’s why the Pixel 10a is worth stepping up for.
The Google Pixel 10a is easy to criticize — until you use it
Google knows who is buying
What I like about the Pixel 10a
Solid performance and excellent camera
Google didn’t completely overhaul the Pixel 10a for 2026, but it didn’t have to. It’s still the midrange phone I’d recommend for under $500 because it’s a complete package. If you’re coming from an older phone, you’ll absolutely notice upgrades.
The Tensor G4 chipset may not be the latest Google has to offer, but it runs circles around the Tensor G2. I still get relatively smooth performance from my Pixel 7a, but the phone suffers from other faults. The Tensor G2 was not the most efficient, and battery life was dismal as a result.
Not only will you notice a performance boost from the newer Tensor G4, but the Pixel 10a will run cooler as well.
I often struggled to get four or five hours of screen time with my Pixel 7a. The 5,100 mAh battery and chipset in the Pixel 10a combine to deliver two days (or more) of mixed use on a single charge. It’s a drastic difference, and if you’re constantly topping off your Pixel 7a to make it through the day, it’s time to upgrade.
The Pixel 7a was released before Google launched its Actua displays. The 6.1-inch OLED panel on the 7a isn’t awful, but it’s not nearly as bright or enjoyable to use as the 6.3-inch Actua screen on the Pixel 10a.
I mentioned earlier that you won’t get the latest and greatest Gemini features, but that’s not exactly a bad thing.
Many buyers may not spend too much time thinking about the modems in their phones, but on Pixels, it’s worth the attention. Even though it only ships with a Tensor G4, the Pixel 10a includes the newer Exynos 5400 modem. It enables satellite SOS communication, but more importantly, it solves many of the connectivity issues that many users (including myself) suffered from.
My Pixel 7a was a disaster switching between carrier signals, and I’ve not had any of those issues on the Pixel 10a. If you live in a more rural area, the upgraded modem should help.
It’s subjective, but the design and build quality of the Pixel 10a have improved. Its Gorilla Glass 7i-covered display should hold up better over time than the Gorilla Glass 3 on the Pixel 7a. The 10a is now IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, a bump up from the Pixel 7a’s IP67 rating.
You’re also resetting the clock on software support by upgrading to the Pixel 10a. You may not care, but the Pixel 10a will receive more AI features over time than older Pixels. If you are looking forward to features like Auto Best Take and Camera Coach, the Pixel 10a is the only way to go.
What I still like about the Pixel 7a
Great camera and excellent software
I may not prefer the Pixel 7a at this point, but it’s not useless if you own one.
The Material 3 Expressive update is running smoothly and is fun to use on the Pixel 7a. You also have two years of software support remaining, so there’s no need to worry about using your banking and financial apps on the device.
I mentioned earlier that you won’t get the latest and greatest Gemini features, but that’s not exactly a bad thing. The Pixel 7a has Gemini Live for quick questions, and I can download apps for most everything else if I really need to.
Despite having older camera hardware, the Pixel 7a gets the job done. Night Sight is impressive, even if it’s slightly less detailed than what you get on the Pixel 10a.
If you elect to upgrade your Pixel 7a, I don’t think it will be because of the camera performance in 2026.
Enough of a jump to warrant the change
The Pixel 10a isn’t a phone I’d recommend to Pixel 8a or 9a buyers, but if you have a Pixel 7a, there are enough mission-critical improvements you’ll notice to warrant making the switch.
You’ll enjoy better (and cooler) chipset performance. In most cases, your modem connectivity will improve, and the Pixel 10a will get significantly better battery life.
If you’re on the fence, it’s time to take a hard look at the Pixel 10a.
9/10
- SoC
- Google Tensor G4
- RAM
- 8GB
- Storage
- 128 or 256GB
- Battery
- 5,100mAh
The Google Pixel 10a features a Tensor G4 chipset and 8GB of RAM. It includes a 6.3-inch Actua panel and a 1080p resolution. The phone packs a 5,100mAh battery and a 48MP primary camera sensor, with a 13MP ultrawide lens. It ships with Android 16, and Google promises 7 years of software updates.Â
