By Bloomberg
Publication Date: 2026-02-18 16:50:00
By Chris Welch, Bloomberg
Alphabet Inc.’s Google introduced its latest entry-level Pixel smartphone, hoping that new AI software capabilities, minor hardware refinements and an unchanged $499 price can make up for an otherwise iterative update.
The Pixel 10a is available for preorder now with shipments starting March 5, Google said in a statement on Wednesday. Like other recent Pixel phones, the 10a will receive seven years of software and security updates. It will be offered in a range of colors including fog (light green), obsidian (black), berry (red) and lavender.
The company is also releasing matching green and red versions of its $129 Pixel Buds 2a earbuds. The new phone can be purchased directly from Google or through carrier partners.
The Pixel 10a arrives before Apple Inc. is set to introduce a new budget-friendly model of its own, the iPhone 17e. That device is expected to make its debut in the near future, with a $599 price matching last year’s iPhone 16e. If…