Google’s Pixel 10a might need the identical processor, but it surely has one benefit

The brand new Google Pixel 10a makes a couple of compromises this yr, maybe the most important being that it’s now not powered by Google’s newest yearly flagship processor. As an alternative of the newest Tensor G5, the Pixel 10a settles for final yr’s Tensor G4 processor. These hoping for a bit extra efficiency on a finances will little question be disillusioned.

To be truthful to the 10a, the Tensor G4 was a flagship-tier processor (of types) simply final yr and is definitely no slouch for each day duties. Nonetheless, because of this the Pixel 10a isn’t any quicker than its predecessor, no less than on paper. This definitely seems to be the case after we ran the telephone by means of the favored GeekBench 6 CPU take a look at as properly.

The Pixel 10a and 9a are throughout the margin of error of one another, which you’d count on for similar chips operating the identical clock speeds. Exterior Google’s ecosystem, these CPU outcomes are within the ballpark of Samsung’s reasonably priced Galaxy S23 FE from 2023. Nonetheless not dangerous for a $500 telephone, but it surely does present how far Pixels are from the innovative of contemporary efficiency.

Whereas common efficiency seems to be basically unchanged, the Pixel 10a does appear to have a slim benefit over its predecessor — stress take a look at temperatures.

3DMark’s Wild Life Excessive stress take a look at, the efficiency begins out the identical as final yr’s mannequin and is a long way behind the Pixel 10. Nonetheless, because the take a look at continued, the Pixel 10a maintained the bottom temperatures of the three, after ranging from the identical level.  The telephone lasts a full seven minutes earlier than we see a dip in efficiency, however at which level the Pixel 9a has already began to throttle again, and the brand new finances mannequin is now competing straight with the costlier Pixel 10.

So what does this imply for actual video games? Effectively, the Pixel 10 undoubtedly has a efficiency lead for lighter video games and quick play periods over the 10a and 9a. Nonetheless, for longer gaming periods with demanding graphics, the Pixel 10a might not truly be that far behind. Actual video games aren’t as demanding as these stress checks, so it’ll take various minutes for the hole to shut. However half an hour of play is likely to be sufficient to even out the body fee, particularly when you love emulating traditional video games.

After all, there are numerous variables right here. We take a look at all our telephones at room temperature, however enjoying in hotter or cooler environments, utilizing a case, or attaching a controller all make a distinction. This isn’t a robust sufficient end result to say the Pixel 10a is all the time higher, but it surely’s a small win for the finances mannequin over its predecessor. On the very least, the decrease temperatures will make the Pixel 10a extra snug.

Within the spherical, I nonetheless suppose $500 for a telephone with this degree of efficiency — together with Google’s different {hardware} and software program goodies — is fairly good worth for cash. It’ll don’t have any drawback operating apps and lighter video games, helps a variety of Google’s AI goodies, and, after all, powers what continues to be a strong low-cost digicam setup.

In comparison with the Samsung Galaxy A56 5G, Nothing Cellphone 4a Professional, or Moto G Stylus (2025), which all retail for across the similar worth or simply below, the Tensor G4 nonetheless runs rings round them, notably for gaming. Whereas we would see some barely quicker rival telephones seem within the coming months, they’re unlikely to leapfrog the Pixel 10a in uncooked efficiency for $500 or much less.

Nonetheless, a part of Google’s gross sales pitch is that the Pixel 10a will obtain seven years of Android updates. That means at this time’s fairly common {hardware} has to maintain up with no matter our cellular OS seems like in seven years’ time. On condition that some Pixel fanatics already complain that their flagship handsets can really feel a bit sluggish only a yr or so down the road, I wouldn’t purchase the Pixel 10a with the expectation of utilizing it for fairly that lengthy.

Should you really need opt-tier efficiency on a finances that’s sturdy sufficient to final for the long run, the OnePlus 13R (or OnePlus 15R when you should) and the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE are maybe higher picks. Sure, they’re costlier, however they nonetheless are available in a little bit cheaper than the Google Pixel 10 and provide efficiency that not solely beats the Tensor G4 but in addition Google’s newer Tensor G5.

Maybe the most important concern is just not that the Pixel 10a makes use of the identical processor as final yr, however that it doesn’t value far more to purchase a telephone that’s a lot nearer to a flagship — with superior efficiency and extra.