Google's Pixel 10a is the best smartphone for the money among every Pixel phone WIRED has tested, according to a buying guide by WIRED staff writers Julian Chokkattu and Simon Hill. The device is priced under $500 and delivers seven years of software support — the longest on any Android phone in that price range — plus a 6.3-inch OLED display, a 5,100-mAh battery, and a 48-megapixel main camera. WIRED updated the guide in August 2026 to include the new Google Pixel 11 series, Pixel Watch 5, and new Pixel software features.
According to WIRED, Google Pixel phones have been the publication's favorite Android phones for a few years, with industry-leading cameras, speedy software and security updates delivered directly from Google, and competitive pricing. The lineup now spans the Pixel 10a, Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and the 2025 Pixel 10 series.
The Best Pixel for Most People
The Pixel 10a is all the phone most people need.
WIRED called the Pixel 10a the best Pixel for most people, noting it isn't drastically different from the Pixel 9a. Even though Google just released the Pixel 11 series, the publication said buyers shouldn't expect a Pixel 11a until 2027. The 6.3-inch display is brighter, sharp, colorful, and smooth with a 120-Hz refresh rate. Google also removed the plastic ring around the camera module, leaving a flatter back.
Powering the Pixel 10a is Google's Tensor G4 chipset — the same processor used in 2024's flagship Pixel 9 series and Pixel 9a — rather than the Tensor G5 inside the Pixel 10 series. WIRED reported that comparing the Tensor G4 and G5 chips, performance is pretty much identical, smooth and fast whether gaming or multitasking. The Pixel 11 series introduced Google's new Tensor G6 processor, making the G4 two generations behind. The Pixel 10a has 8 gigabytes of RAM and doesn't support some exclusive smart software features of the flagship Pixel devices, but the important ones are here, including Quick Share to AirDrop for sending files and photos to iPhone owners.
Camera System
The Pixel 10a's 48-megapixel main camera is joined by a 13-megapixel ultrawide and a 13-megapixel selfie camera, all reliable, according to WIRED. The camera system is mostly identical to the Pixel 10, except the 10a lacks the 5X optical zoom that makes close-ups look better, and the selfie camera isn't as sharp because it doesn't autofocus. Still, like most Pixel phones, the camera is terrific, and most pictures snapped with the Pixel 10a will look great.
Battery, Charging, and Durability
The 5,100-mAh battery lasts a full day, though heavy users may still need to carry a power bank to top up in the evenings. The phone has faster Qi wireless charging but is the only Pixel in the lineup without Qi2 Pixelsnap magnets. It carries an IP68 water-resistance rating and includes secure face unlock in addition to fingerprint unlock, offering two biometric authentication methods.
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.3 inches, 60 to 120 Hz, OLED, 3,000-nit peak brightness |
| Processor and RAM | Tensor G4 with 8 GB RAM |
| Storage | 128 or 256 GB |
Software Support and Updates
Seven years of software support makes the Pixel 10a the longest-supported Android phone under $500, according to WIRED, which described it as one of the best smartphone bargains around. Google Pixel phones receive speedy software and security updates directly from Google, like iPhones get from Apple, the guide noted.
The Wider Pixel Lineup
The WIRED guide also evaluates the Pixel 11 as a step up, the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL as the best upgrade for current Pixel users, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold as the folding option. The Pixel 10 series represents the 2025 models. Additional sections in the guide cover how long each Pixel is supported, Qi2 wireless charging, older Pixel phones, Pixel A-series battery issues, Pixel Care+ coverage, deGoogling a Pixel phone, cases and accessories, more Pixel devices, and the publication's favorite Pixel software features.
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