Google will get the $499 Pixel 10a

Google Wednesday be explained the latest Pixel smartphone. The $499 Pixel 10a debuts with new AI software capabilities and minor hardware updates. The smartphone is available for preview now and will ship starting March 5. It comes in Lavender, Berry, Fog, and Obsidian.

The Pixel 10a has a completely flat back, which means that the camera bezel is flush with the back of the phone and lies flat when you place it face down.

Google notes that the smartphone’s 6.3-inch Actua display is 11% brighter than the Pixel 9a. It also has faster charging than its predecessor, with battery life extended from 30 hours to 120 hours with the “Extreme Battery Saver” switch enabled.

The Pixel 10a comes with the same Tensor G4 chip that powered the Pixel 9a last year. It has a 48 MP main camera, which Google says is the best camera for a phone under $500, along with a 13 MP Ultrawide camera.

After introducing an AI-powered camera feature on the Pixel 10 last summer, Google is now bringing it to the A-series phone. The “Auto Best Take” feature captures multiple frames in a single shutter and selects the best color to make everyone look good in the crowd, while the “Camera Coach” feature gives users step-by-step guidance on lighting and composition.

In addition, Google is bringing Satellite SOS for the A-series for the first time, allowing users to connect to emergency services even without Wi-Fi or cellular.

Like recent Pixel phones, the Pixel 10a will come with seven years of software and security updates.

It’s worth noting that the Pixel 10a doesn’t have the “PixelSnap” magnetic Qi feature on the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

The arrival of the smartphone is coming soon Apple’s new upcoming phone, iPhone 17e. The device is expected to cost $599, like last year’s iPhone 16e.

Google also announced that it is launching Pixel Buds 2a in two new colors, Berry and Fog, to go with the Pixel 10a.