Google's Pixel 10a Is the Same Damn Phone As the Pixel 9a (gizmodo.com)
- Reference: 0180824394
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/02/18/2152215/googles-pixel-10a-is-the-same-damn-phone-as-the-pixel-9a
- Source link: https://gizmodo.com/google-pixel-10a-is-the-same-damn-phone-as-pixel-9a-2000722838
> We use words like "candy bar" or "slab" to describe our full-screen smartphones, but Google has designed what is likely the slabbiest phone of the modern era. During an hour-long hands-on with Google's all-new Google Pixel 10a, I slid the phone across a desk and felt oddly satisfied that it could glide as neatly as a figure skater without any hint of a camera bump hindering its path. It's the first thing I need to bring up regarding the Pixel 10a, because there's no other discernible difference between this phone and the previous-gen Pixel 9a.
>
> And that seems to be the point. The Pixel 10a starts at $500, exactly how much the Pixel 9a cost at launch. In a Q&A with journalists, Google told Gizmodo that the company wanted to offer the same price point as before. That apparently required Google to stick with the same Tensor G4 chip as last year. You still have the same storage options of 128GB or 256GB and the minimum of 8GB of RAM. Think of the Pixel 10a as a Pixel 9a with a reduced camera bump. If you're one of the heretics who uses a phone without a case, that fact alone may be enough to pay attention. Otherwise, you'll be scrounging to find any real difference between the Pixel 10a and one of last year's best mid-range phones.
[1] https://gizmodo.com/google-pixel-10a-is-the-same-damn-phone-as-pixel-9a-2000722838
So? (Score:2)
So don't buy it. In fact don't buy any phone until yours is 5 or 6 years old.
The new phone every year phase is so 6 years ago.
also Satellite SOS and BT v6 (Score:3)
Engadget says it also has
satellite SOS which is kinda neat.
also has Bluetooth v6 which may offer some neat edge improvements for Airtag type stuff. (better range and also distance)
(https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-pixel-10a-vs-pixel-9a-whats-changed-and-which-one-should-you-buy-150000786.html )
Also just by virtue of being a new model it'll get 1 year longer support than the old model
(apologies for posting an Engadget link... but as the web dies... well... at least it's not a FB post ...)
Not much but there are upgrades... (Score:2)
Faster wired charging, faster wireless charging, bluetooth 6, and a few other bits.
> while dropping features like Pixelsnap Qi2 charging and advanced Gemini AI capabilities found in higher-end models
Can't drop something you never had. The 9a definitely did not have Pixelsnap, so I'm not sure why it's even mentioned. It's an easy thing to omit from the "budget" device in the lineup.
The real question would be what the new price point for the 9a would be - if they drop it at all. I'd normally expect the previous gen to see a price drop, but these are overall so close in spec, I'm not sure if they'll bother.
Camera bumps are annoying. (Score:4, Informative)
Bought a new 12" tablet and it's paper thin, but when you sit it flat on the table it rocks because of the camera in the corner. That's just dumb.
If I press in the middle while it's on the table I am now flexing the case. That's really dumb. It's like these things assume you are going to put a case on it that makes it nearly twice as thick.
Re:Camera bumps are annoying. (Score:4, Interesting)
> It's like these things assume you are going to put a case on it that makes it nearly twice as thick.
To be fair, I *am* always going to put a case on it.
Re: (Score:3)
> Bought a new 12" tablet and it's paper thin, but when you sit it flat on the table it rocks because of the camera in the corner. That's just dumb. If I press in the middle while it's on the table I am now flexing the case. That's really dumb. It's like these things assume you are going to put a case on it that makes it nearly twice as thick.
Camera bump: the thing that case designers make an indent, resulting in a 3D rectangle.
It's stupid. The OEMs should fill that area with either more battery or... empty volume.
Re: (Score:2)
> "Camera bump: the thing that case designers make an indent, resulting in a 3D rectangle. It's stupid. The OEMs should fill that area with either more battery or... empty volume."
Is it stupid? Like most people, I am ALWAYS going to use a case that protects the phone (or tablet). The hump in a case is slightly recessed (even with a thin case), maintaining most of the protection of that area. And the rest of the device is fully protected, making it, overall, X thin. If they were to fill the rest of th
Re: (Score:2)
I actually like my camera bump- when I put it my last phone without one on a slightly curved surface (such as the side of my bathtub) it would slide off. With the bump, there's enough friction to prevent that. So while ugly, that's enough of a QOL increase I'd rather have the bump.