iPhone 17e vs Pixel 10a: What to expect
The Apple iPhone 17e and the Google Pixel 10a are poised to make a debut next month. Which one is the best gateway to its respective ecosystem?
The Apple iPhone 17e and the Google Pixel 10a are poised to make a debut next month. Apparently, Google and Apple can't wait to launch their affordable flagships and it's not a coincidence that those two are launching at nearly the same time.
According to leaked certification documents from Verizon (thanks to Evan Blass), it seems that Google is jumping the gun and launching the Pixel 10a mid-February to compete with the iPhone 17e.
These to look rather different on paper and today we're going to put them side by side. The iPhone 17e is expected to sport a smaller 6.1-inch display and only one single camera, while the Pixel 10a will most likely come equipped with the same 6.3-inch screen and dual camera system as its predecessor.
On paper the iPhone 17e has a raw performance advantage as it's expected to sport the A19 chipset, while the Pixel 10a will have the Tensor G5 we already know from the Pixel 10 series. Let's dive deep into the comparison. Bear in mind that the specs are based on leaks and rumors at this point and will be updated once both phones become official.
iPhone 17e vs Pixel 10a expected differences:
| iPhone 17e* | Pixel 10a* |
|---|---|
| More compact and probably lighter | Heavier and bulkier device |
| 6.1-inch display, Dynamic Island, 60Hz refresh rate | 6.3-inch display, punch hole camera, 120Hz refresh rate |
| Faster A19 chipset on board | Google Tensor G5 processor, slower in raw performance |
| A single 48 MP camera on the back | Dual camera system - 48 MP main + 13 MP ultrawide |
| Smaller battery (around 4,000 mAh) and slower charging | 5,100 mAh battery, potentially faster charging |
| 8GB/128GB base configuration | The same 8GB/128GB base configuration here as well |
Table of Contents:
Design and Size
More of the same
The design of the Google Pixel 10a leaked a couple of weeks ago, thanks to Android Headlines. The official-looking renders are nearly identical to the Pixel 9a, and only new colors are expected design-wise.
The iPhone 17e, on the other hand, is still under wraps, but judging from the info about the single camera and the same 6.1-inch screen, we should expect a very similar design here as well.
| iPhone 17e* | Pixel 10a* |
|---|---|
| Thickness 7.8 mm | Thickness 8.9 mm |
| Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 | Dimensions 154.7 x 73.3 |
| Weight Around 167 grams | Weight Around 186 grams |
In terms of size and weight, there's not much info at the moment, so we have to extrapolate from the previous model. We expect the iPhone 17e to be more compact and lighter than the Pixel 10a, thanks to its smaller screen and single main camera.
When it comes to building blocks, the iPhone 17e will probably have a slight advantage featuring glass front and back, while the Pixel 10a will rely on some kind of plastic for its back panel.
The Pixel 10a is expected to arrive featuring new colors, following Google's latest Nest cam and thermostat, these are Berry (bright red), and Fog (light gray color with a greenish tint). We don't expect Apple to change its black and white color policy regarding the iPhone e-series, so expect the iPhone 17e to be available only in black and white.
Display Differences
There's some good news and some bad news, at least regarding the iPhone 17e. Now that Apple has switched to a 120 Hz screen refresh rate across the iPhone 17 series, the company seems to want to differentiate the "e" series. The iPhone 17e is expected to feature the old and laggy 60 Hz display refresh rate. The good news is that we might get rid of the notch in favor of a more modern dynamic island on the front.
The Pixel 10a will most likely feature a much more modern display refresh rate, 120Hz just like its predecessor. The brightness might be higher as well, judging by the correlation between the main Pixel series lineup and the "A" series devices.
| iPhone 17e* | Pixel 10a* |
|---|---|
| Size 6.1" | Size 6.3" |
| Brightness 3000 nits (peak) | Brightness 2000 nits (peak) |
| Refresh rate 60Hz | Refresh rate 120Hz |
*based on rumors
In terms of biometrics, the iPhone 17e will have an intrinsic advantage, being a device equipped with Apple's Face ID tech. It's a standard for biometrics, facial recognition, and security, unmatched to this day. The Pixel 10a will most likely feature an under-display fingerprint sensor, probably of the optical variety, and some kind of simple facial recognition using just the selfie camera, with no radar or ToF tech involved.
Performance and Software
А19 versus Tensor G5
The hardware battle was fought last year - both the iPhone 17e and the Pixel 10a will feature the same silicon as their respective flagship brothers. In the case of the iPhone 17e it's the A19 chip found in the base iPhone 17 model, and inside the Pixel 10a we expect the Tensor G5, the same chip used across the Pixel 10 series.
The advantage in raw performance will go to the iPhone 17e, judging from benchmarks between the Pixel 10 and the iPhone 17 (2298 vs 3527 in Geekbench single), but we have to wait and do the tests on the Pixel 10a and the iPhone 17e.
| iPhone 17e* | Pixel 10a* |
|---|---|
| Chip Apple A19 | Chip Google Tensor G5 |
| Process 3nm | Process 3nm |
| RAM, Storage 8/128GB 8/256GB LPDDR5X RAM NVMe | RAM, Storage 8/128GB 8/256GB LPDDR5X RAM UFS 3.1 storage |
The RAM and storage situation is expected to be identical - both models will start at 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard memory - a rather modest configuration for the year 2026. The software support will be a tad longer on the Pixel 10a - seven years just like every other Pixel phone of late.
Camera
2 versus 1
The respective camera systems on both the iPhone 17e and the Pixel 10a are expected to remain the same as the ones on their predecessors. We're talking about the same 48 MP main camera for the iPhone 17e, and the dual 48MP wide and 13MP ultrawide system for the Pixel 10a.
| iPhone 17e* | Pixel 10a* |
|---|---|
| Main 48 MP, f/1.6 26mm (wide) 1/2.55" sensor size | Main 48 MP, f/1.7 25mm (wide) 1/2.0" sensor size |
| Ultrawide - | Ultrawide 13 MP, f/2.2 120˚ (ultrawide) 1/3.1" sensor size |
We have to snap some samples to be able to give you an objective comparison but extrapolating from the previous generation, we expect the Pixel 10a to have a slight advantage, mainly due to the fact that it has a second camera.
In our camera benchmark the Pixel 9a scored 134 points, while the iPhone 16e managed just 118, so we expect the difference to be carried over to the new models. When it comes to image quality from the main camera, we think both the Pixel 10a and the iPhone 17e will be able to capture good photos.
Battery Life and Charging
The silicon-carbon revolution has been postponed
Apple and Google are still lagging behind, while in the same time the battery revolution is already happening. We have many smartphone models with 7,000-8,000 mAh batteries coming from the Far East, and some of them are midrange or affordable models as well.
The iPhone 17e will most likely feature the same battery as its predecessor, somewhere around 4,000 mAh, and the same goes for the Pixel 10a - there are leaked specs pointing toward a 5,100 mAh cell. And while it's larger on paper, we expect very similar battery life from the Pixel 10a and the iPhone 17e.
| iPhone 17e* | Pixel 10a* |
|---|---|
| Battery size 4,000 mAh | Battery size 5,100 mAh |
Charging speeds 20W wired 7.5W wireless charging USB-C 3.0 | Charging speeds 23W wired 7.5W wireless charging USB-C 2.0 |
The charging is another disappointment, as it stands at the moment. No upgrades are expected for both models, meaning the iPhone 17e will be stuck with 20W wired and 7.5W wireless charging. The Pixel 10a is not much better at 23W wired and 7.5W wireless.
Specs Comparison
|
|
| Apple iPhone 17e | Google Pixel 10a |
| Size | |
|---|---|
| 6.1-inch | 6.3-inch |
| Type | |
| OLED, 60Hz | P-OLED, 120Hz |
| System chip | |
|---|---|
| Apple A19 (3 nm) | Google Tensor G4 (4 nm) |
| Memory | |
| 8GB (LPDDR5)/128GB (NVMe) 8GB/256GB 8GB/512GB |
8GB (LPDDR5X)/128GB (UFS 3.1) 8GB/256GB |
| OS | |
| iOS (18.x) | Android (16), up to 7 OS updates |
| Type | |
|---|---|
| 5100 mAh | |
| Charge speed | |
| Wired: 23.0W Wireless: 7.5W |
|
| Main camera | |
|---|---|
| 48 MP (OIS, Autofocus) Aperture size: F1.6 Focal length: 26 mm |
48 MP (OIS, PDAF) Aperture size: F1.7 Focal length: 25 mm Sensor size: 1/2" Pixel size: 0.8 μm |
| Second camera | |
| 13 MP (Ultra-wide) Aperture size: F2.2 Sensor size: 1/3.1" Pixel size: 1.12 μm |
|
| Front | |
| 12 MP (Time-of-Flight (ToF), Autofocus, Autofocus) | 13 MP |
See the full
Apple iPhone 17e vs Google Pixel 10a specs comparison
or compare them to other phones using our
Phone Comparison tool
Summary
These two phones are shaping up to be just a minor upgrade compared to their respective predecessors. If you already own a Pixel 9a device or an iPhone 16e, there's no reason to consider either of the new models.
For people who are looking to get the essential iPhone or Pixel experience for the first time, both phones can do this rather well. The Pixel 10a is expected to be cheaper; it features a better display, one additional camera, and a bigger and brighter screen. Stay tuned for tests and benchmarks and a final verdict soon.
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