Affordable iPhone experience
Apple's iPhone 17e is designed for people who want the core iPhone experience without stepping into flagship territory. It features a handy 6.1-inch OLED display and brings the A19 chip to a more affordable model. Although it comes with only a single 48MP rear camera, the iPhone 17e still delivers solid performance and the usual iPhone ecosystem perks.
Pros
- Much faster A19 chip
- Lighter, slimmer, and smaller form factor
- Support MagSafe/Qi2 natively
- Base storage of 256GB
Cons
- 60Hz display
- Smaller battery
- Only a single rear camera with no ultra-wide sensor
Google's reliable mid-ranger
The Google Pixel 10a isn't dramatically different from last year's Pixel 9a, but it still ticks the right boxes for a mid-range phone. It runs on Google's Tensor G4 chip and features a 6.3-inch OLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, along with a dual-camera setup and a sizeable 5,100 mAh battery.
Pros
- Smooth 120Hz display
- Brighter and slightly larger display with no notch
- Larger 5,100 mAh battery
- Versatile dual-camera system
Cons
- Build quality is less premium
- Tensor chip is slower than Apple silicon
- Base storage of only 128GB
We all love flagship phones for their performance and capabilities, but let's be honest, not everyone can afford top-end devices, and sometimes they are simply not necessary. Brands like Xiaomi, Poco, Samsung, and OnePlus offer plenty of capable mid-range smartphones.
The problem is that many of them are not widely available in the U.S., where buyers usually end up choosing between Google and Apple. That brings us to the iPhone 17e and the Pixel 10a.
Both are new mid-range smartphones from Apple and Google that promise solid specs and features for the price. But which one actually makes more sense to buy? Let's take a closer look and see how they compare.
iPhone 17e vs. Google Pixel 10a: Pricing, colors, and availability
What used to be a mid-year launch for Pixel A series phones has slowly moved earlier on the calendar. Google has been pushing the launch forward in recent years, and it has not even been a full year since the Pixel 9a debuted, yet we already have the Pixel 10a.
The Pixel 10a officially launched on February 18, 2026, with the same starting price as last year at $499. However, the base storage still starts at 128GB, and if you want the 256GB version, you will need to pay $599.
The Pixel 10a comes in four colors: Obsidian (black), Fog (a pale green), Berry (a vibrant red-pink), and Lavender (blue-purple).
Apple, on the other hand, introduced the iPhone 17e on March 2, 2026, alongside its Chromebook competitor, the MacBook Neo. The iPhone 17e starts at $599, but the base storage is 256GB. That means the equivalent storage configuration between the two phones ends up costing the same at around $600.
Apple also offers a 512GB variant of the iPhone 17e priced at $799. In terms of colors, the iPhone 17e comes in three options: Soft Pink, White, and Black.
iPhone 17e vs. Google Pixel 10a: Design and display
Google moved to a new design language with the Pixel 9a, dropping the iconic camera visor, and the Pixel 10a continues with that same approach. In fact, if you place the Pixel 9a and Pixel 10a side by side, you won't be able to notice any differences.
The design is almost identical, with only two small changes. The first is the new color options, and the second is that the Pixel 10a is about 0.1mm thicker than the Pixel 9a.
Thanks to that slight increase in thickness, the Pixel 10a now sits completely flush on a table, something very few smartphones offer right now, including the iPhone 17e. In terms of design, the Pixel 10a features a flat back with a small dual-camera island in the top left corner, flat edges, and rounded corners. The back panel is made of plastic, while the frame around the device is aluminum.
The iPhone 17e follows the same design language introduced with the iPhone 16e. You get a notch on the front, a glass back, and an aluminum frame. The materials on the iPhone 17e are arguably more premium than those on the Pixel 10a. It's also lighter at 169g compared to the Pixel 10a's 183g, and it has a slightly smaller overall footprint.
Both phones offer IP68 dust and water resistance. One notable difference, however, is the display protection. The iPhone 17e uses Apple's Ceramic Shield 2, while the Pixel 10a relies on Corning Gorilla Glass 7i.
Moving onto the front, the Pixel 10a continues to use the same display setup as the previous generation, with a punch-hole camera, relatively thick bezels, and a 6.3-inch pOLED panel with a resolution of 1080 x 2424 pixels and support for up to a 120Hz refresh rate. It can also reach brightness levels of up to 2000 nits in high brightness mode.
The iPhone 17e, meanwhile, still uses a notched display even in 2026. It features a smaller 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel with a resolution of 1170 x 2532 pixels.
Even though Apple upgraded the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup to support 120Hz refresh rates, the iPhone 17e remains limited to 60Hz. Its peak brightness is also lower than the Pixel 10a at around 1200 nits.
iPhone 17e vs. Google Pixel 10a: Hardware, specs, and software
Apple has traditionally held the edge over Android phones when it comes to raw performance, and the same seems true with the iPhone 17e. The phone features the same A19 chipset found in the base iPhone 17.
Built on a 3nm process, the chip delivers impressive performance for a mid-range device and easily handles demanding tasks.
On the other hand, while many expected the Pixel 10a to move to the Tensor G5 chip used in the Pixel 10, Google has kept the same processor from last year. That means the Pixel 10a runs on the Tensor G4. It isn't the most powerful chip available, so if you care primarily about raw performance, the iPhone 17e and its A19 processor will likely come out ahead.
That said, Google has still brought some Pixel 10 features to the Pixel 10a, including Magic Cue and support for the Pixel Screenshots app. It's also worth noting that both devices support Emergency SOS via satellite, meaning you can still contact emergency services even in areas without cellular coverage.
As for the rest of the internals, both phones ship with 8GB of RAM. Storage is where the two differ. The Pixel 10a starts at 128GB, while the iPhone 17e begins with 256GB on the base model. Apple also offers higher storage tiers, whereas the Pixel 10a does not have a 512GB option. That means Pixel users who need more space may end up relying more on cloud storage.
Category |
iPhone 17e |
Google Pixel 10a |
|---|---|---|
Operating System |
iOS 26 |
Android 16, seven years of OS upgrades |
Display |
6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED with notch, 1170 x 2532 resolution, 60Hz, 1200 nits peak brightness, Ceramic Shield 2 |
6.3-inch Actua pOLED display, 1080 x 2424 resolution, 120Hz LTPO, 3000 nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass 7i |
Processor |
Apple A19 |
Google Tensor G4 |
Connectivity |
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, Emergency SOS via satellite |
Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 6.0, Emergency SOS via satellite |
RAM |
8GB |
8GB |
Storage |
256GB, 512GB |
128GB, 256GB |
Rear cameras |
48MP wide camera |
48MP wide camera, 13MP ultrawide camera |
Front camera |
12MP |
13MP |
Battery |
4,005mAh |
5,100mAh |
Charging |
Fast wired charging, 15W wireless MagSafe/Qi2 charging |
30W wired, 10W wireless |
Durability |
Aluminum frame, glass back |
Aluminum frame, plastic back |
IP rating |
IP68 |
IP68 |
Weight |
169g |
183g |
Dimensions |
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm |
153.9 x 73 x 9 mm |
Colors |
Black, White, Soft Pink |
Obsidian, Fog, Berry, Lavender |
Moving on to battery life, the Pixel 10a carries the same 5,100mAh battery as last year's Pixel 9a. The good news is that Google has increased the wired charging speed to 30W and bumped wireless charging up to 10W.
However, the Pixel 10a still does not support Qi2 like some of Google's more expensive models, which means you will need a third-party case if you want magnetic charging accessories.
The iPhone 17e uses a smaller 4,005mAh battery. While we have not tested the phone yet, its more efficient A19 chipset and 60Hz display should help it deliver battery life that is not drastically different from the Pixel 10a. The iPhone 17e also supports fast wired charging, and Apple has added Qi2-based MagSafe support to the device. That means it works with the full range of MagSafe chargers and accessories without needing a case.
Of course, the biggest difference between the two phones is still the software. The Pixel 10a runs Google's latest Android 16, while the iPhone 17e runs iOS 26. Each platform offers its own design, features, and ecosystem advantages.
In the end, the decision mostly comes down to which operating system you prefer. The good news, thankfully, is that both phones are expected to receive software updates for several years, so whichever one you choose should remain supported for a long time.
iPhone 17e vs. Google Pixel 10a: Cameras
The cameras are where one of the biggest differences between the two phones is most apparent. The Pixel 10a has a hardware advantage over the iPhone 17e in this department. It features a dual camera setup with a 48MP primary sensor and a 13MP ultra-wide lens.
On the other hand, the iPhone 17e comes with only a single 48MP rear camera. Neither phone includes a dedicated telephoto lens, but both can achieve 2x zoom by cropping into the main sensor.
The cameras on the Pixel 10a are the same as those on the Pixel 9a, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Pixel phones are known for their natural-looking image processing, and the Pixel 10a continues that trend. You can check out some of the photos we captured with it in our Pixel 10a review.
We haven't tested the iPhone 17e yet, but one thing is clear. If you prefer having an ultrawide camera on your phone, that option is missing on the iPhone 17e. It's worth noting that for video recording, the Pixel 10a does not support 4K at 60fps, offering only 4K at 30fps. The iPhone 17e, on the other hand, can record 4K video at 24, 25, 30, and 60fps.
iPhone 17e vs. Google Pixel 10a: Which should you buy?
So which smartphone should you buy, the iPhone 17e or the Pixel 10a? The Pixel 10a may not look very different from last year's Pixel 9a, but that doesn't make it a bad mid-range phone. In fact, I would argue that at $500, it's still one of the best mid-range smartphones you can buy.
With faster wired charging, a completely flat design that means you may not even need a case, a large battery, and up to seven years of OS updates, the Pixel 10a remains a great option for Android users who want timely software updates and Google's clean Android experience.
That said, the iPhone 17e is also a great option for anyone looking to enter the iPhone ecosystem. Sure, the notch in 2026 doesn't look particularly modern, and the lack of a dual-camera setup may disappoint some people. But aside from that, it's still a capable mid-range smartphone with strong performance, solid battery life, and long-term software support.
That said, we haven't had a chance to properly test the iPhone 17e yet, so we will reserve final judgment until we have spent more time with the device.
Pixel software, lower price
The Pixel 10a continues Google's approach to affordable smartphones with a focus on software and cameras. It comes with a big, bright 6.3-inch OLED display with support for a 120Hz refresh rate, something you don't get on the iPhone 17e. And even though it is powered by the previous generation Tensor G4 processor, it comes with a few Pixel 10 flagship AI features.
Affordable iPhone entry point
The Apple iPhone 17e is purely for those who want the iPhone experience at a lower price. There are some drawbacks, like a display with a notch in 2026 and only a single rear camera on the back, but it still offers strong performance and long-term iOS updates. Plus, there are some benefits over the Pixel 10a, like support for native MagSafe/Qi2 and a smaller overall form factor.
