The Google Pixel 10a was announced just a few hours ago, but there are already some preorder deals that could make the midrange smartphone incredibly cheap (or even free) if you play your cards right. One of my favorite offers is coming from AT&T’s website, where you can grab the upcoming Pixel 10a for only $3.99 per month when you add a line with ANY Unlimited plan.
As if those savings alone weren’t enough, the carrier is also throwing in a free pair of Google Pixel Buds 2a (a $129 value) at no additional cost. Two great pieces of AI-boosted tech for the price of a cup of coffee every month? Sign me up.
✅Recommended if: you want to buy one of the best cheap Android phones of 2026 before it officially reaches store shelves; you want flagship-level camera tech, great battery life, and all of the latest AI features for less than $500.
❌Skip this deal if: you can afford the standard Google Pixel 10; you’re already the happy owner of a Google Pixel 9a and see no reason to upgrade.
Although it wasn’t the dramatic upgrade that we were hoping for, the Google Pixel 10a is still a solid smartphone for the price, with AI software features powered by Gemini, a refined 6.3-inch pOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and seven years of OS and security upgrades guaranteed.
One of the biggest drawbacks of the Pixel 10a is that it’s powered by Google’s Tensor G4 chipset rather than the Tensor G5 that’s found in the rest of the Google Pixel 10 lineup. The good news is that the new Pixel 10a still ships with Android 16 and the Material 3 Expressive UI, so it’s unlikely you’ll notice much of a difference with regular day-to-day use.
When comparing the two phones, the Google Pixel 10a also boasts the exact same main and ultrawide cameras that are found in the regular Google Pixel 10, plus you get a larger battery with faster charging support. Simply put, the Google Pixel 10a packs a bunch of the Pixel 10’s best features into a design that looks almost indistinguishable from last year’s Google Pixel 9a. Whether or not that’s a good thing depends on you.
Needless to say, it wasn’t the transformation that we wanted, but the Google Pixel 10a is still destined to rank among the best cheap Android phones released in 2026. Throw in a huge AT&T discount and a free pair of earbuds and the Pixel 10a suddenly seems like a pretty great choice for any Pixel fan.
