You can keep your flagships. This is the matchup I’m excited for because it’ll determine the best cheap phone you can buy right now. Just weeks ago, Google pulled the curtain back on the Pixel 10a, and it’s now on a collision course with the iPhone 17e following Apple's announcement of its latest budget model.
That’s why an iPhone 17e vs. Pixel 10a comparison is necessary to see which of these phones offers more value. Considering that more phones are seeing price hikes, it’s a relief that both remain unchanged in terms of cost.
Even though both phones still need to be put through our lab testing to see how they perform in all the key areas, I’ll take everything that’s official about them and show you how they stack up against one another.
iPhone 17e vs Pixel 10a: Specifications
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | iPhone 17e | Pixel 10a |
Starting price | $599 | $499 |
Display | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.3-inch OLED |
Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60-120Hz |
Rear cameras | 48MP main (f/1.6) | 48MP (f/1.7) main, 13MP (f/2.2) ultrawide |
Front cameras | 12MP selfie (f/1.9) | 13MP (f/2.2) |
Chipset | Apple A19 | Tensor G4 |
Storage | 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB |
Battery | N/A | 5,100 mAh |
Charging | 20W wired, 15W wireless with MagSafe | 30W wired, 10W wireless |
Water/dust resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
Size | 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm) | 6.1 x 2.9 x 0.4 inches (153.9 x 73 x 9 mm) |
Weight | 5.96 ounces (169 grams) | 6.5 ounces (183 grams) |
Colors | White, Black, Soft Pink | Lavender, Berry, Fog, Obsidian |
iPhone 17e vs Pixel 10a: Price and release
As I’ve mentioned, I’m thrilled that both phones remain at the same price points as their predecessors. Yet, it’s the Pixel 10a that draws my attention most because of its more affordable $499 starting cost. While that’s certainly enticing, it’s worth pointing out that you only get 128GB of storage — whereas with the iPhone 17e, Apple is giving you 256GB for $599.
Preorders for the Pixel 10a are available right now, ahead of its March 5 release. Meanwhile, Apple will open preorders for the iPhone 17e starting March 4, followed by a wider release on March 11.
iPhone 17e vs Pixel 10a: Design
This is a tough one. While these designs might seem stripped down compared to their flagship counterparts, they share a quality I love: a compact size and lightweight feel.
With the Pixel 10a, Google harkens back to a design philosophy that’s been lost to time: a flush camera housing. In a world of protruding lenses, it’s a refreshing change that gives the phone a uniform look. Plus, I love that the Pixel 10a comes in several vibrant colors rather than just black and white.
Apple’s design isn’t far off, as the iPhone 17e maintains a similar, minimalist aesthetic. While I personally find the look a bit duller than the Pixel's, there is one major upgrade that makes it more appealing: the inclusion of proper MagSafe wireless charging.
With the necessary magnets finally embedded inside, the iPhone 17e offers a level of convenience I appreciate. It also opens up access to the MagSafe accessories I use religiously, like my MagSafe wallet and the many best MagSafe chargers I’m frequently testing.
iPhone 17e vs Pixel 10a: Display
Apple is falling behind the times here. Despite featuring the same 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR panel as before, the iPhone 17e is still stuck with a 60Hz refresh rate. It’s a disappointment because it won't achieve the same fluid look as the Pixel 10a’s 6.1-inch Actua display when running games, nor will it offer the same responsiveness with all the interface animations.
To Apple’s credit, it’s great that the screen is protected by a sturdier Ceramic Shield 2 cover that's reportedly much more scratch-resistant — while a new coating supposedly reduces glare. These are solid assets for the iPhone 17e, but the real test will be its peak brightness.
In my previous Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16e face-off, Google’s phone was nearly double the brightness of Apple's budget offering, and I'm eager to see if the iPhone 17e can close that gap.
iPhone 17e vs Pixel 10a: Cameras
Nothing matters more to me than a phone’s camera. Until we can properly put these devices through our testing, it’s tough to say if the iPhone 17e can prove the naysayers wrong about sticking to a single rear camera. That’s right, folks: the iPhone 17e is back with the same 48MP rear camera as before, along with a 12MP TrueDepth camera up front. Since the specs indicate the hardware is identical to the iPhone 16e, I’m not confident it can come out on top of the Pixel 10a.
That’s because, from the jump, the Pixel 10a benefits from a dual-camera system consisting of a 48MP main camera paired with a 13MP ultrawide. This combo gives most shooters the versatility they need, providing a significant advantage. At the same time, Google has far more shooting modes — complete with new AI-assisted tools like Auto Best Take and Camera Coach at its disposal.
If my 200-photo shootout between the Pixel 9a and iPhone 16e is any indication, Apple has a massive hurdle ahead to convince people that one camera is enough.
iPhone 17e vs Pixel 10a: Performance
This is a major area of interest for the simple fact that the iPhone 17e likely has the upper hand, as it benefits from the latest A19 chip. That’s the same processor found in the iPhone 17, so I suspect it’ll deliver nearly identical benchmark scores.
In contrast, Google has decided to reuse the Tensor G4 chip for another year — marking the first time it has done so in the series. This could end up being a major mistake because in previous years, the A-series phones received the same processor as the latest base Pixel model. That would have been the Tensor G5 found in the Pixel 10.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | iPhone 17 | Pixel 9a |
Processor | A19 | Tensor G4 |
Geekbench (single core/multicore) | 3,701 / 9,460 | 1,707 / 4,512 |
WildLife Original Unlimited (fps) | 130.97 | 57.44 |
Adobe Premiere Rush (mins:secs) | 0:22 | 1:24 |
As you can see in the chart above, our benchmarking of both chips gives us a clear idea of how the iPhone 17e and Pixel 10a will perform in the real world.
iPhone 17e vs Pixel 10a: Battery life and charging
Neither phone is expected to reach the longevity of the longest-lasting phones we’ve tested, but the Pixel 10a may prove to have an advantage yet again — considering how the Pixel 9a outlasted the iPhone 16e in our battery drain test. While it doesn't appear that Apple has upgraded the battery capacity in the iPhone 17e, the new A19 chip could provide a dramatic efficiency boost.
This is significant because Google has kept the battery at 5,100 mAh, while reusing the Tensor G4 chip. This effectively means there shouldn’t be a major change in the Pixel 10a’s battery performance, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the iPhone 17e narrows the gap or even eclipses the Pixel this year.
On the flip side, I’m thrilled that the iPhone 17e now supports MagSafe wireless charging. This is an extra convenience I personally love, as it makes charging and using accessories much easier. But while the iPhone 17e benefits from faster 15W wireless charging courtesy of MagSafe, the Pixel 10a still holds the lead in wired charging with 30W speeds compared to the 20W limit on the iPhone.
iPhone 17e vs Pixel 10a: Software
In the timeless debate of Android vs. iOS, I’m inclined to favor the former, given the sheer number of AI features at its disposal. The Pixel 10a runs Android 16 out of the box and features many of the new tools found in the rest of the Pixel 10 lineup — including Gemini Live, Circle to Search, Nano Banana, and more.
Even though Apple has made great strides with iOS 26 — particularly with its robust personalization and the unique Liquid Glass aesthetic — it still pales in comparison to Google’s offerings in Android 16.
For example, in my Call Screening comparison, the Pixel remains the gold standard. Furthermore, Pixel Studio does a much better job of generating images from scratch than Apple's Image Playground.
iPhone 17e vs Pixel 10a: Outlook
Ultimately, it'll come down to how both phones perform in our testing before we can confidently say which is better. But based on what we’ve covered in this iPhone 17e vs. Pixel 10a face-off, each phone clearly has its own strengths and weaknesses.
With the iPhone 17e, it’s a win that Apple is providing double the starting storage, proper MagSafe connectivity, and the latest A19 chip. However, it’s still $100 more than the Pixel 10a and is limited to a single rear camera. Until more Apple Intelligence features are released, it continues to trail the software experience offered by its rival.
Meanwhile, the Pixel 10a benefits most from its software and more intuitive AI features. It also maintains the more appealing display, thanks in part to its 120Hz refresh rate. However, it’s disappointing that Google is recycling the same Tensor G4 and 5,100 mAh battery as its predecessor.
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