New leaks suggest that the upcoming Pixel 10a may stick closely to the design of its predecessor, the Pixel 9a. Recently, a back cover was spotted online, raising speculation about the look of Google’s next affordable phone. If the leak is accurate, the Pixel 10a will follow a similar design language, featuring a flat back cover with a cutout in the top-left corner for the camera system. The iconic camera bar seen in previous models is reportedly absent, and there may be just two cameras, mimicking the Pixel 9a.
However, the LED flash is expected to be positioned to the right of the cameras.
One of the most notable design features of the Pixel 10a is its flat back and frame, a design choice that aligns with recent Google leaks regarding the Pixel 10 series. The back cover, which appeared on the Chinese auction site Goofish, was listed as the ‘Google Pixel 10A engineering back cover’ and has since sold out. While it’s too early to confirm the authenticity of this leak, it’s an exciting glimpse into the potential look of the affordable Pixel device.
The Pixel 10a is expected to launch in spring next year, although no official date has been set. Given the release of the Pixel 9a in March this year, it’s likely we’ll see the 10a around the same time. While Google is gearing up for the Pixel 10 series launch this August, including the base Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold, the 10a will likely compete with other mid-range devices. In particular, if Apple releases the rumored iPhone 17e, the Pixel 10a will face stiff competition from it, as well as the anticipated Galaxy S25 FE or other affordable Galaxy A models.
Personally, I’m still unsure whether this will be the final design for the Pixel 10a. I do miss the camera bar on previous Pixels-it gave them a unique and quirky look. While I’m not fond of the camera bar on iPhones, I think it worked well on the Pixel. We’ll have to wait for official announcements to see how accurate these leaks are.