The Pixel 10a looks like a lazy update, which is why I like it

Oftentimes, it’s easy to put stock in the phrase “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” After all, when it comes to things like a favorite pair of shoes, a favorite bike, or a go-to recipe you’ve trusted for years, there’s almost no need to rock the boat. You probably won’t make something you like much better, so why change it?

Well, the opposite is often true in the tech space. When it comes to phones, headphones, and even digital cameras, it’s always been about getting a little better.

But now that we’re seeing Pixel 10a leaks, it looks like Google is bucking the trend. It keeps the features that have already made their mid-ranger better, and I think it’s the best option. Here is the reason.

The thing with small reviews is that they often open the door to disappointment. After calling the Pixel 9a the best $500 phone I’ve ever tested, it’s hard not to expect a little tweak that makes things worse. Google choosing to mess up the careful balance between hardware and software could easily lead to the situation of the Galaxy A56 – making a mid-range phone that misses the mark by promising too much and delivering too little.

Fortunately for Google, its Pixel A series has never been about promising the world. It was all about giving you access to the best of the Pixel’s capabilities with a few carefully chosen omissions to keep the value there. Look no further than the Tensor chip. It powers all of Google’s phones, yet it doesn’t quite measure up to the likes of the Snapdragon 8 Elite or Apple’s A19 Pro. While it’s not the best of its kind, Google’s Tensor chip still powers the Gemini’s encyclopedia of features and image processing power — things you want in a Pixel phone.

So, when I saw that the Pixel 10a would hold onto many of the same people from the Pixel 9a, I wasn’t put off. Would I like to see Google use its own custom Tensor G5 chipset? Of course, it would open the door to several other aspects. However, it would put the expected price point of $500 at risk, which could close the gap on the Pixel 10 and lead to, well, the average situation for Samsung that I mentioned.

Besides, the Pixel 9a had already carved out enough of a niche to warrant its presence apart from the flagship Pixel lineup. Its design is unique, its cameras are unique except for the telephoto sensor, and its battery is already the largest outside of the Pixel 10 Pro XL. For Google to make more changes it will come a little closer to recreating an existing phone. Also, if you’re going to build a phone with the Tensor G4 with three cameras, why not just go back and buy the Pixel 9 Pro?

Perhaps there is another way of looking at this, which is, if you have nothing to say, why not say anything? It’s possible that Google has decided that its central watchdog has nothing meaningful to say now that it’s at the top of the platform, so it’s refreshing its colors and calling it a day.

And honestly, if you’re going to put your Pixel 10a in a case right after you get it, who really cares what it looks like? Not me. If I did, I’d be cringing at the simplified design instead of praising Google’s clever way of moving its camera sensors into the phone’s body. Google’s design is great, and if you’re buying a phone for looks alone, I have some big questions for you.

Why? Because software is very important, of course. What you can do with the phone, and how long you can do it, is the real key to deciding when to upgrade. And, on that front, I have no complaints at all about the Pixel 10a. It will receive seven years of updates, meaning Android versions and security patches. Divide Google’s expected price of $499 by that length, and you’re looking at an almost-flagship phone that doesn’t cost more than a flagship video game.

Granted, those updates won’t keep the Pixel 10a up to date with Google’s new flagships, and they won’t be the same as any Pixel A generation that gets the Tensor G5 chip, but that’s okay. In fact, most people will probably stick to the basics of what Gemini can do, which means mixing Pixel Studio, Gemini Live, and plugging Gemini into apps like Maps and Gmail. They may not need Pixel Screenshots, and they won’t be asking their Pixel 10a to use Nano Banana very often.

And, if you’re not going to use some of those advanced features, why bother with them? You can buy a Pixel 10a knowing that it will be supported until the 2030s, and you probably won’t have to think about your next upgrade until we talk about the Tensor G10. You might as well pick up a Pixel 9a right now and get all that convenience, in one year a few updates – it won’t make much of a difference.

Then again, you can label everything I just recommended as a problem. You could argue that Google probably doesn’t need to make this phone, and I wouldn’t have much reason to disagree. We may have gotten to the point where we don’t need a new phone every year, and I’ll be happy if the Pixel 10a starts that conversation.

But, if you’re not ready to have that conversation, you can buy the Pixel 9a right here.