Google Pixel 10a vs Samsung Galaxy S26+

Google Pixel 10a

The 6.3-inch 1080×2424 pOLED with 120Hz refresh is identical in resolution and panel tech to the 9a, but Google bumped peak brightness 11% to 3,000 nits and finally replaced the ancient Gorilla Glass 3 with Gorilla Glass 7i. Reviewers agree it is good rather than great — bright enough for outdoor use, sharp, fast — but the bezels remain noticeably thick by 2026 mid-range standards, and the panel still ships with 120Hz off by default.

• The Gorilla Glass 7i upgrade from the ancient Gorilla Glass 3 might secretly be the best improvement here, bringing the screen's protection and feel closer to the base Pixel 10.
• After two weeks of use I can't see a single scratch on the Pixel 10a's screen — the Gorilla Glass 7i upgrade noticeably improves on the older Gorilla Glass 3.
• The display is fast, responsive, vibrant, and the on-screen fingerprint sensor is in an easy-to-reach spot toward the middle of the phone.
• Display brightness climbs to 3,000 nits at peak, matching the iPhone 17 Pro — readability is excellent even on sunny days outdoors.
• Slimmer bezels than the 9a, but still pretty thick — only a 0.8% increase in screen-to-body ratio, and noticeably thicker than the OnePlus Nord 5 or Honor 400.
• The 11 percent boost to 3,000 nits matches the Pixel 10, but the difference won't be obvious unless you put a 9a and 10a side by side in strong sunlight.
• The display ships with refresh rate set to 60Hz out of the box — you have to manually flip it to 120Hz in settings, which most casual buyers never will.
• Coming from a 7a's 90Hz panel, the 10a's 120Hz feels noticeably smoother — and the measured peak brightness over 4,000 nits SDR is brighter than most content you'll ever watch.

Samsung Galaxy S26+

The 6.7-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate is familiar territory — essentially the same excellent display as the S25+. No Privacy Display here; that remains an Ultra exclusive.

• The 6.7-inch QHD+ panel continues to be one of the best in its class with vibrant colors and excellent brightness
• No Privacy Display on the S26+ is a real missed opportunity — the best S26 feature is locked to the Ultra

Google Pixel 10a

The 5,100 mAh cell is identical to the 9a's — Engadget measured 28 hours in their video rundown (matching last year), and most reviewers report comfortable all-day life with two-day endurance on lighter use. Charging is the bigger story: wired jumps from 23W to 30W (~50% in 30 minutes, full in ~98 minutes), and wireless from 7.5W to 10W. The non-negotiable disappointment is the lack of Pixelsnap magnets — every single reviewer flags it.

• The 10a ran 28 hours in Engadget's video rundown test — exactly where the Pixel 9a landed last year, putting it middle of the pack for 2026 flagships.
• After a heavy workday — off charger at 8am, messaging, snaps, scrolling, evening event — the 10a still had 26% left by midnight. Two-day life is achievable on lighter use.
• Battery life has been OK — the 10a lasts a full day with average use but still requires daily charging, and heavier travel use pushes me to top up in the afternoon.
• The 10a actually outperformed my personal Pixel 10 on raw battery life — and on lighter days I squeezed two full days of use out of a single charge.
• Wired charging hits 30W and delivers ~50% in 30 minutes as advertised, with a full charge in about 98 minutes — serviceable but not class-leading.
• No Pixelsnap magnets is the biggest letdown — Google should have brought Qi2 wireless charging to the A-series the way Apple brought MagSafe to the iPhone 17e.
• The lack of Pixelsnap is the biggest let down here by far — Google should have found a way to get it on the 10a, and a third-party magnetic case ruins one of the best aspects of this phone's design.
• There are no Pixelsnap magnets inside the 10a, which feels arbitrary — almost as if Google is gating the feature to make the $800 Pixel 10 look like a better upgrade.
• Adding Pixelsnap magnets across the entire Pixel 10 lineup would have been a clean win and a great moment for Google — instead the A-series gets left out yet again.
• Wireless charging up to 10W from 7.5W is a real bump — but without Pixelsnap, I can't imagine throwing this thing on a wireless charger very often.

Samsung Galaxy S26+

The 4,900 mAh battery pairs with 45W wired charging (unchanged) and 20W Qi2 wireless charging (up from 15W). A modest wireless charging improvement, but no increase in wired speed or battery capacity.

• Qi2 wireless charging at 20W is a nice bump from 15W, and confirms Qi2 adoption across the S26 lineup (except the base S26)
• 45W wired charging is unchanged from the S25+ — Samsung reserves its 60W upgrade for the Ultra only