{"id":1282,"date":"2025-04-02T05:19:23","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T05:19:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1282\/"},"modified":"2025-04-02T05:19:23","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T05:19:23","slug":"5-reasons-to-wait-for-the-pixel-10a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1282\/","title":{"rendered":"5 reasons to wait for the Pixel 10a"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Google<\/p>\n

Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

The Google Pixel 9a<\/a> \u2014 Google\u2019s latest budget phone \u2014 is shaping up to be one of the year\u2019s best values. Its spec sheet is pretty impressive, offering a 120Hz OLED display, a 48MP primary camera, seven years of software updates, and an IP68 dust\/water resistance rating. Throw in a healthy dose of AI features, and it\u2019s a strong offering for just $499.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re still waiting for Google to start preorders and launch the Pixel 9a, and having had some time to sit and wait since the phone\u2019s announcement on March 19, it\u2019s gotten me thinking about it a bit more critically. While the phone overall looks solid, I can see why some folks aren\u2019t entirely thrilled with the Pixel 9a<\/a>. Whether you\u2019re concerned about long-term performance, AI feature availability, 5G support, or something else, there are valid concerns to have with Google\u2019s latest.<\/p>\n

So, today, let\u2019s dig into that a bit more. If you\u2019re looking at the Google Pixel 9a and aren\u2019t sure if it\u2019s the phone for you, here are a few reasons why it might pay off to wait a year for the Google Pixel 10a instead.<\/p>\n

Are you going to buy the Google Pixel 9a?<\/p>\n

415 votes<\/p>\n

Tensor G5 chip<\/p>\n

\"Google<\/p>\n

Every new generation of a Pixel A Series phone brings a new Tensor chipset. Where last year\u2019s Pixel 8a<\/a> had a Tensor G3, this year\u2019s Pixel 9a has a Tensor G4. This has been a reliable pattern for the last few years, and as such, we can pretty confidently assume that the Pixel 10a will naturally be powered by a Tensor G5 chip.<\/p>\n

We recently reported an exclusive look at how Google is building the Tensor G5<\/a>. In that report, we discovered that the G5 will have a new IMG DXT GPU to replace the Arm Mali graphics GPU Google used in previous Tensor chips. We also learned that the Tensor G5 will have a fully custom ISP (image signal processor), compared to the Tensor G4, which uses a Samsung ISP combined with some custom Google blocks.<\/p>\n

\"Google<\/p>\n

Robert Triggs \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

While the GPU and ISP changes are potentially exciting, we still aren\u2019t entirely sure what the Tensor G5 will mean in terms of performance and power efficiency upgrades. Another Android Authority\u00a0report from October found that the G5 will have the same Arm Cortex-X4 primary core<\/a> for its CPU but a different arrangement for its mid-powered cores \u2014 one that could deliver a \u201cdecent multi-core performance improvement.\u201d The G5 chip also appears to have a slightly upgraded TPU, which should improve overall AI tasks by around 14%. While that all sounds good in theory, what that means for real-world use remains to be seen. Additionally, we don\u2019t know if\/how the Tensor G5 will improve battery life \u2014 one of the Tensor series\u2019 biggest weaknesses.<\/p>\n

Although these don\u2019t sound like game-changing year-over-year improvements, the Tensor G4 wasn\u2019t a radical upgrade compared to the G3 either. Google\u2019s made modest upgrades to its Tensor silicon year after year, and if the Tensor G5 is just that again \u2014 a little faster, a little better at AI tasks, and a little more power efficient \u2014 those modest tweaks and improvements should add up in a fairly meaningful (if not groundbreaking) way.<\/p>\n

More RAM and AI features<\/p>\n

\"google<\/p>\n

Rita El Khoury \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

While we\u2019re talking about performance, there\u2019s another spec that could see a nice upgrade with the Pixel 10a: RAM.<\/p>\n

The Google Pixel 9a has just 8GB of RAM, and while that\u2019s fine, it\u2019s certainly on the lower end in 2025 \u2014 even for a phone that only costs $499. Further, it\u2019s a spec that hasn\u2019t changed in years. The Pixel 8a and the Pixel 7a also had 8GB of RAM. It\u2019s possible Google will stick with 8GB for a fourth year in a row, but I think it\u2019s more likely that we\u2019ll see it upgraded to 12GB on the Pixel 10a.<\/p>\n

It’s hard to see Google sticking with that same RAM amount for another year.<\/p>\n

In addition to that additional RAM helping with multitasking, it would also benefit the Pixel 10a\u2019s AI features. For context, the Pixel 9a has on-device Gemini Nano, but it\u2019s the \u201cextra extra small\u201d Nano 1.0 XXS model. Comparatively, the flagship Pixel 9 series uses the \u201cextra small\u201d Nano XS version. In practice, that means the Pixel 9a misses out on a few of the Pixel 9\u2019s AI features \u2014 namely, the Pixel Screenshots app and the Call Notes feature that generates summaries of your phone calls.<\/p>\n

Overdue camera upgrades<\/p>\n

\"Google<\/p>\n

Lanh Nguyen \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Pixel 9a<\/p>\n

Speaking of overdue spec upgrades, we also have the camera. The Pixel 9a\u2019s primary camera got a very respectable upgrade this year \u2014 offering specs that should translate to better low-light performance, improved autofocus, and a wider field of view. However, the phone\u2019s secondary ultrawide camera is starting to feel quite stale.<\/p>\n

The Pixel 9a has a 13MP ultrawide camera with an f\/2.2 aperture \u2014 the exact same specs found on the Pixel 8a and the Pixel 7a. It\u2019s not a horrible sensor by any means, but if the Pixel 10a launches in 2026 with that same camera, it\u2019s going to look pretty darn ancient. I don\u2019t expect a flagship-grade sensor, but we\u2019re due for something new.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, history suggests an ultrawide camera upgrade wouldn\u2019t be out of the question for the Pixel 10a. The Pixel 5a had a 16MP ultrawide sensor. That changed to a 12MP sensor on the Pixel 6a, then the same 13MP sensor we\u2019ve now had on the Pixel 7a, Pixel 8a, and now the Pixel 9a. This is the longest Google has stuck with the same ultrawide camera, and considering it\u2019s a sensor that\u2019s been in the A Series since 2023, I\u2019d be shocked if the Pixel 10a launches in 2026 with the same old ultrawide camera tech.<\/p>\n

mmWave 5G support<\/p>\n

\"Status<\/p>\n

C. Scott Brown \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

The Pixel 9a supports 5G connectivity on sub-6 networks, giving you moderately improved speeds over 4G LTE. However, if you want really\u00a0<\/strong>fast speeds that are only possible with mmWave 5G, you\u2019re out of luck.<\/p>\n

A few years ago, mmWave 5G was completely unnecessary. Carriers were still building out their 5G networks, 5G availability was slim, and it was all but useless in only the most populated cities \u2014 and even then, it could still be hard to come by.<\/p>\n

But 5G is in a much better place in 2025, and for the Pixel 9a not to offer mmWave connectivity is a bummer. While not an absolute necessity, it\u2019s a more essential and expected feature today than it used to be. It\u2019s difficult to say if Google feels similarly and will give the Pixel 10a mmWave support, but I hope it does.<\/p>\n

A new design<\/p>\n

\"Google<\/p>\n

Lanh Nguyen \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

If you really can\u2019t stand how the Pixel 9a looks, waiting a year for the Pixel 10a may not be a bad idea. Although I don\u2019t imagine Google will completely redesign the 10a, we should see the 9a\u2019s design refined and tweaked for the next generation. That\u2019s what Google did for the last couple of years with the Pixel 7a and Pixel 8a, and I imagine it follows that pattern again with the Pixel 10a.<\/p>\n

What might those design tweaks look like? It\u2019s far too early to say, but there are many possibilities. Google might play with the camera design, whether that includes bringing back the camera bar or finding a new placement\/style for the cameras without it. The company could also offer some different color options, possibly a lighter body, and other design elements we haven\u2019t thought of yet. Again, a total makeover for the Pixel 10a is unlikely, but some smart design adjustments could go a long way to get more people on board with the Pixel\u2019s new look.<\/p>\n

Should you wait for the Pixel 10a?<\/p>\n

\"Google<\/p>\n

Lanh Nguyen \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Those are a few reasons why skipping the Pixel 9a and waiting for the Pixel 10a may be the right call. But is it the right call for you? That ultimately depends on how your current phone is doing.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in desperate need of an upgrade and like what you see with the Google Pixel 9a, I don\u2019t think you\u2019ll be disappointed. The Pixel A Series has been pretty consistent for the last couple of years, and the Pixel 9a looks like a strong new entry in Google\u2019s budget lineup.<\/p>\n

The best advice is to buy a new phone when you need one.<\/p>\n

However, if you\u2019re content with the phone you have right now and you aren\u2019t in love with what the Pixel 9a brings to the table, waiting might be your best option. Nothing suggests that the Pixel 10a will be a revolutionary upgrade over the Pixel 9a, but with the Tensor G5 chip, the possibility of RAM and camera changes, and maybe some new design elements, your patience shouldn\u2019t go to waste.<\/p>\n

Of course, you can always wait for the next big thing. The Google Pixel 10a will undoubtedly be a better phone than the Pixel 9a, and the Pixel 11a will be even better yet. The best advice is to buy a new phone when you need one. If that time happens to be now, the Pixel 9a should absolutely be on your shopping list. But if it\u2019s not, there should be a fair amount to look forward to with the Pixel 10a.<\/p>\n

Google Pixel 9a<\/a>\"Google<\/p>\n

Google Pixel 9a<\/p>\n

Built-in Gemini \u2022 Incredible camera \u2022 All-day battery<\/p>\n

All the Pixel essentials for less.<\/p>\n

The Google Pixel 9a brings built-in Gemini, an incredible camera, all-day battery, and seven years of updates for under $500.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Joe Maring \/ Android Authority The Google Pixel 9a \u2014 Google\u2019s latest budget phone \u2014 is shaping up…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1283,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[867,868,869,53,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-1282","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-technology","8":"tag-google","9":"tag-google-pixel","10":"tag-google-pixel-9a","11":"tag-technology","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114266686307096996","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1282"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1282\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}