The Pixel A-series has always followed a simple formula. Deliver core flagship features while limiting hardware to keep the price midrange.
The Pixel 9a, at $500, is the best expression of that idea. It offers the Tensor G4, a solid display, a 5,100mAh battery, and a camera that holds its own against pricier phones.
It’s one of the best values in its class. However, the trade-offs are starting to feel less like cost-saving necessities and more like intentional limitations.
Waiting on slow charging or dealing with outdated glass feels like a push toward flagship pixels. Rivals are bringing formerly premium features into their midrange devices.
Here are five upgrades that could close the annoyance gap and make the 10a a worthy step up, even for satisfied 9a owners.
5
Pixel 10a needs 12GB of RAM and full AI features
One shortcoming of the Pixel 9a is that Google paired its flagship-grade processor with only 8GB of RAM, leading to a few feature compromises.
8GB handles most apps for daily use, but heavy multitasking and gaming hit limits.
Moreover, Pixel 9a runs a scaled-down AI model due to lower memory and misses software features like Pixel screenshots.
Google should raise the RAM to 12GB, which is currently the sweet spot, to make the Pixel 10a a no-compromise upgrade. It keeps more apps in memory and supports the full suite of on-device AI features instead of trimmed versions.
Going beyond that isn’t necessary for now and the foreseeable future. It’s not unheard of for midrange phones to have such specs.
The OnePlus Nord 3 offers a 16GB RAM option at around $500. Google could stick with a single 12GB variant or offer it as an upgrade over a base 8GB model.
4
Optical zoom is the missing piece for the Pixel A series
Pixel phones are known for their cameras, and the Pixel 9a’s 48MP main camera performs well, with strong low-light results and detail. Zoom is where the A-series and many midrange phones lag.
Like its predecessors, the Pixel 9a relies on digital zoom from the primary sensor for distant subjects.
Without a telephoto lens, detail drops beyond 2x. The base Pixel 10 now includes a 5x telephoto lens, bringing crisp zoom to the non-Pro model.
I hope the Pixel 10a will follow suit. If it did, adding a telephoto lens would raise the midrange experience.
Realistically, adding a dedicated telephoto to the 10a would break Google’s pattern.
Recent leaks suggest the 10a will keep only a main and ultrawide camera with no telelens. Still, one can hope.
Google could also pair with Super Res Zoom for stronger hybrid results. Even a modest 2–3× optical zoom on a $500 Pixel would set it apart from most competitors.
The mid-range market often skips telephoto at this price, favoring macro or depth sensors.
As someone who loves mobile photography, an optical zoom on a Pixel 10a would justify an upgrade.
3
Outdated Gorilla Glass should not hold the Pixel back
The Pixel 9a has a 6.3-inch, 120Hz OLED Actua display with up to 2,700 nits peak brightness, brighter than many flagships, such as the iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Despite the premium panel, Google protects it with Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
This material, which was introduced in 2013, is less resistant to scratches and impacts than modern alternatives.
This reflects product segmentation, as the flagship Pixel 9 uses the far more durable Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Competitors have also made modern protection a standard feature in the mid-range phone market.
Samsung’s Galaxy A56 uses Gorilla Glass Victus+, and the OnePlus Nord 5 and Nothing Phone (3) use Gorilla Glass 7i.
I don’t understand why Google pairs a flagship-quality screen with decade-old protection.
It raises the risk of screen damage from everyday drops and pushes buyers to use thick protectors that hide the design and diminish the feel of the aluminum frame.
Upgrading the Pixel 10a to modern glass, such as the Victus series, is a simple, high-impact fix.
2
Bringing charging speeds in line with rivals
The Pixel 9a sets a high bar for battery life with a massive 5,100mAh battery — the largest in a Pixel to date. So, how can we improve on that? The answer is charging.
Google has been conservative with speeds. The Pixel 9a tops out at 23W wired and typically takes 1.5 to 2 hours to fill its large battery.
That’s not terrible, but it doesn’t feel good when some rivals can do it in under 40 minutes.
The OnePlus Nord 3, for example, uses 80W charging to reach about 60% in 15 minutes. A Pixel 10a that I’d upgrade to needs to charge noticeably quicker than the 9a.
Google could push the wired charging to 30W, as on the Pixel 10. That cut in downtime is a quality-of-life win.
It would also fix the 9a’s shortcoming of the 9a, which needed to be left on the charger for a while to recharge that 5,100mAh battery.
1
Qi2 is the next logical step for the Pixel midrange
Faster wired charging helps, but the next step is Qi2 wireless charging. The Pixel 9a’s 7.5W wireless charging is slow and needs precise placement.
Qi2, the next generation of the universal standard, solves this with a magnetic ring for accurate alignment, modeled on Apple’s MagSafe.
It also supports a consistent 15W wireless charge, about double the 9a’s rate.
Adopting Qi2 would also unlock a growing ecosystem of magnetic accessories for A-series users.
Car mounts, desktop stands, wallets, and battery packs can snap onto the phone, making it easier to use.
Google already supports Qi2 on the Pixel 10 series under its Pixelsnap accessories branding, so bringing it to the A-series is logical.
As rivals adopt Qi2, skipping it would make the 10a feel dated at launch. Including Qi2 gives A-series buyers the same modern, ecosystem-friendly experience as flagship owners.
Pixel 10a could finally be complete if Google plays its cards right
The Pixel 10a has the potential to be a killer midrange phone. The upgrades above are realistic for Google to deliver while keeping the Pixel 10a affordable.
They address the Pixel 9a’s weak spots and match rivals such as Samsung Galaxy A series, OnePlus Nord, Nothing Phone, and Apple’s iPhone SE.
Some are more aspirational. Given Google’s conservative approach, the 2026 Pixel 10a may not include a telephoto lens or 12GB of RAM.
However, as a Pixel 9a user, I want a Pixel 10a that feels complete, not held back. I’m even willing to pay a few extra dollars if it delivers these practical changes.
- SoC
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Google Tensor G4
- RAM
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8GB
- Storage
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128GB, 256GB
- Battery
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5,100mAh
Google’s Pixel 9a takes everything that was great about the Pixel 8a and looks to modernize it. With an all-new Pixel 9-inspired look and no camera bump, this might be the best $500 smartphone we’ve seen yet.
