To make amends for last year's Pixel 9a launch missteps, Google is reportedly getting ready to officially unveil and commercially release the Pixel 10a a bit earlier than we all expected just a little while ago.
But according to Evan Blass, the recent speculation on this matter is "only sorta true", with the schedule eyed by the search giant likely to prove slightly less ambitious... but still pretty exciting for many Android purists.
It sounds like no dates are etched in stone yet
That's definitely a tad disappointing to hear, but at least we know to expect a pre-order start in "late February" and an actual retail debut in "the first week of March." That's pretty much as close to a specific timeline as we can get without seeing firm dates leaked, and although there are bizarrely no words today on when the Pixel 10a's announcement could take place, I'm willing to bet that's going to line up (more or less) perfectly with the handset's pre-order kickoff.
Are you happy with this newly rumored Pixel 10a launch schedule?
Very much so
16.67%
Pretty happy
16.67%
No, I was expecting an even earlier release
0%
Who cares about schedules when the phone is so boring?
66.67%
Still, with the Pixel 9a unveiled on March 19 of last year and a (delayed) commercial release taking place nearly a month later, the schedule tipped by the almost always reliable Evan Blass of @evleaks fame continues to sound great for many prospective Pixel 10a buyers. Now let's just hope no issues will crop up at the eleventh hour to push Google's new Android mid-ranger to a different release window than early March.
Does Google have a hit on its hands here?
It may not seem like it based on those leaked renders from a few months back that revealed a very familiar design, but while many smartphone vendors are jacking up the prices of their 2026 releases compared to their 2025 predecessors, the Pixel 10a is somehow rumored to cost less than the Pixel 9a.
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That looks a lot like the Pixel 9a, but it's apparently the Pixel 10a.
Not a lot less, of course, and the European price points tipped a few days ago are obviously not confirmed at this time or guaranteed to be representative of the entire world. But if the Pixel 9a's sequel does end up starting at €500 instead of €550 on the old continent while fetching €600 and not €650 in a 256GB storage variant, I can certainly see Google's market share in a lot of key territories improving this year.
And yes, the Pixel 10a is unfortunately expected to retain pretty much all of its predecessor's specs in addition to keeping the external appearance virtually unchanged, but surely, there's nothing wrong with a 6.3-inch phone packing a Tensor G4 processor, 8GB RAM, and a 5,100mAh battery at a starting price of $450 in the US in 2026. Once again, that number is far from confirmed, but with the Pixel 9a typically costing $500 and up stateside, it's currently very possible.
Should we expect an early release for the Pixel 11 family as well?
I'm just guessing here, but I really don't think so. That's because the Pixel 9 series already shifted Google's high-end launch schedule radically from October to August in 2024, and with the Pixel 10 lineup also seeing daylight in August last year, I believe this could turn into a habit for the company for years to come.
In other words, my gut tells me that you'll have to wait until August 2026 to see the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold in (official) action, although history also suggests the revealing leaks could already start piling up in a matter of weeks.
Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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