Google gives you two chances to buy a smartphone from them each year. You can either go for all the bells and whistles and go for the flagship phones that it releases in the second half of each year, or you can money and go for its more cost-friendly “a” series of smartphones that launch in the new year.
We’ve seen the flagship Pixel 9 phones already, so next up will be the Google Pixel 9a, which should launch in some months. However, even with that still being unreleased, we’re already hearing about the Pixel 10a that’s still more than a year off. Unfortunately, what we’re hearing is it might see a notable chipset downgrade to save costs.
2026’s Google Pixel 10a Might Stick with 2024’s Tensor G4 to Lower Production Costs
I’m a fan of what Google does with its “a”-series devices. It gives people the opportunity to enjoy the magic of the Pixel flagships without needing to pay as much. You’re able to get a lot of the same excellence in the camera and software departments, without needing to compromise on performance—since the “a” devices have consistently used the same chips as the flagships.
Unfortunately, even with the Pixel 9a still being unreleased as of now, what we’re hearing about its successor, the Pixel 10a, doesn’t sound good at all. It looks like Google is intent on cutting costs for 2026’s “a” device and one way it plans to do that is by targeting the chipset.
Under normal circumstances, the Pixel 10a would come with the Tensor G5 which should launch with the main Pixel 10 devices much later this year. However, a report from Android Authority states that the tech giant might be considering using the older Tensor G4 to keep costs low. That’s bound to be a very unpopular decision and it seems like a step in the wrong direction.
An Older Chip in the Google Pixel 10a Could Potentially Mean Less Capable AI Features
When buying a newer model of a smartphone, consumers expect better performance than they were able to get the previous year. If Google uses the Tensor G4 in the Pixel 10a, it means you’re getting mostly the same performance as the company is going to offer in a few months with the Pixel 9a.
That’s not everything though. For a company that is making such a major push toward AI features, it isn’t crazy to assume that the Tensor G5 will be built with a much beefier NPU in place. If the Pixel 10a misses out on that, the Tensor G4 might prove to be relatively insufficient for whatever new AI and Gemini features Google might have unveiled by then, and it’s never fun to be left out.
Would You Buy the Google Pixel 10a If It Has The Tensor G4?
With this new info, there’s a pretty big chance that the Google Pixel 10a might have the same chip as the Pixel 9a. Plus, if it’s a lazy year for Google, you might see the same camera on paper and very few hardware changes beyond that. You would be getting a phone built with a focus on the newest version of Android though. For most though, that’s not enough.
Would you buy the Google Pixel 10a if it sticks to the Tensor G4? Would you get the Pixel 9a instead, to save even more money in 2026? Or would you just steer clear of Google entirely? Let us know in the comments!
