Sketchy Pixel 10a leak suggests a barely noticeable upgrade over Pixel 9a

I spotted this post on Reddit that’s got me scratching my head about Google’s upcoming budget phone strategy. A user by the name of Stock-Treacle-9858 dropped some screenshots in the r/GooglePixel subreddit, and honestly, what I’m seeing makes the Pixel 10a (codename: Stallion) look like it’s barely trying to differentiate itself from the 9a.

The alleged firmware files and configuration screenshots paint a picture of a phone that’s playing it extremely safe. We’re talking about the same Tensor G4 chip that’s already powering the current 9a, paired with identical UFS 3.1 storage. That’s right – Google apparently decided to recycle the exact same storage setup instead of bumping things up to the faster UFS 4.0 standard that even some mid-range competitors are using.

The display does get a modest brightness boost to 2000 nits, which is 200 nits brighter than what you’ll find on the 9a. The leaked screenBrightnessMap configuration files show this bump clearly, but let’s be real here – that’s hardly the kind of upgrade that’ll make anyone rush to the store. For context, the regular Pixel 10 already hits 3000 nits peak brightness, so the 10a is still playing in a completely different league.

What’s particularly disappointing is the camera situation. The OP claims there will be no telephoto lens making its way to the 10a, which honestly isn’t shocking but still stings. The phone might also miss out on Magic Cue, Google’s new contextual AI feature that’s been getting attention on the Pixel 10 models. But that isn’t surprising either, because Magic Cue seems to be powered by the newer Tensor G5, alongside Gemini Nano.

These alleged leaks align with previous reports about the Pixel 10a’s codename and the mention of Google being undecided whether to use the Tensor G5 or the older Tensor G4 for the upcoming midranger.

That said, I’d still suggest taking these alleged specs with a grain of salt. We’ll have to wait and see if these leaks match other leaks from more reputable sources.

But this whole situation feels like Google is trying to squeeze every last drop of value from their existing components rather than pushing boundaries. Sure, you’ll get an extra year of software support, but beyond that and a slightly brighter screen, the 10a seems destined to be the Pixel 9a’s less exciting twin.

For more coverage on Google’s Pixel 10 lineup, check out our dedicated Pixel 10 section.