Google Pixel 10a vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: There's only one winner

Samsung's Galaxy FE line of phones has always been very exciting, as it offers nearly all the features of the standard Galaxy S line but at a lower cost. That's precisely the idea behind Google's A series of phones, too, which is why a Google Pixel 10a vs. Galaxy S25 FE debate is something many of you will be considering.

The Pixel 10a has officially arrived and it competes in a way with Samsung's budget FE series phone. Google has been able to undercut Samsung here, which is one reason that makes it more attractive. At the same time, the Galaxy S25 FE offers more features than the Pixel 10a and it's not that much more expensive.

Let's explore the features of both phones and see if we have a definitive winner.

Google Pixel 10a vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: Design and display

The Google Pixel 10a features the same design as the Pixel 9a but you do get two new colors, Berry and Fog. The dimensions and weight are similar too which means its much lighter than the Galaxy S25 FE, but not as slim. Google has kept the IP68 rating just like before. The Pixelsnap tech we first saw in the Pixel 10 series is not present as I have the feeling that would have driven up the cost.

On the display front, Google has so far done incremental upgrades, and the Pixel 10a once again gets minor updates only. Scratch protection is one area which was in dire need of fixing and Google has finally bumped up the spec to Gorilla Glass 7i from 3. The maximum brightness has also gone up to 3,000 nits, making this nearly twice as bright as the S25 FE.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE lacks any flashy shades, but you do get a choice of four colors. It's a very well-built phone with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and back, along with the aluminum frame. This model does away with the glossy finish on the back panel in favor of a matte finish. This helps keep fingerprints at bay and gives the phone a clean look if you're not using a case.

It only measures 7.4mm in thickness, which is slimmer than the Pixel 10a. The weight, though, is roughly the same at 190 grams. The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is also IP68 rated to survive dust and water ingress.

The Galaxy S25 FE is a much larger phone than the Pixel 10a, as it features a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a higher PWM-dimming rate. Scratch protection is also stronger, which makes it more resilient to drops. The bezels around the display are also quite narrow, which doesn't give it that cheap look.

Google Pixel 10a vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: Hardware and specs

The Google Pixel 10a should have ideally featured the Tensor G5 SoC that powers the Pixel 10 series, but we get the older Tensor G4 from the 9a instead. Samsung's chip should be way ahead in performance compared to what the Pixel 10a can manage.

Even with the sky-high prices of RAM these days, the Pixel 10a costs the same $499 as the 9a. This is for the 128GB variant, while the 256GB variant is priced at $599 more. Despite still using the Tensor G4, the Pixel 10a still gets a few AI features that are present on the Pixel 10 series but not the 9a like Magic Cue and Pixel Screenshots.

The Pixel 10a uses the same 5,100mAh battery capacity as the 9a. This is still plenty good for a phone at this price, and it's more than what you get with the FE. Thankfully, Google has increased the charging speed of the 10a to 30W for wired and 10W for wireless.

I'd would have loved for the Pixel 10a to get a third telephoto camera, but that's probably asking for too much at this price The Galaxy S25 FE does have one in comparison, which is what gives it an edge in photography. The cameras on the Pixel 9a were good and since there's no change in sensors on the 10a, you should expect very similar if not identical performance.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE launched in September 2025, and the launch prices are still holding strong. Outside of seasonal sales, the Galaxy S25 FE still retails for $649.99 and $709.99, for the 128GB and 256GB variants, respectively. This makes it more expensive than the Pixel 10a, although I've seen S25 FE prices drop to nearly $600 on Amazon.

It has a smaller 4,900mAh battery than the Pixel 10a that can be charged at a much faster speed of 45W. You even get 15W wireless charging and Qi2 compatibility with the right case.

The Galaxy S25 FE has a decent set of cameras, including a telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. There's a main 50MP sensor and 12MP ultrawide on the back, and a 12MP selfie camera on the front. The S25 FE is also capable of 8K video recording, something that the 10a probably won't have. We've not tested the cameras of the S25 FE, but going by the previous model, they should be more than adequate for casual use.

Google Pixel 10a vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: Software

Both phones run the latest version of Android and have a seven-year commitment for OS upgrades and security updates. The Pixel 10a stands to get an extra year of support since it will launch in 2026, but the Galaxy S25 FE should not trail behind by much.

AI features are going to be some of the main differentiators here as the Galaxy S25 FE gets Galaxy AI, and the Pixel 10a gets some exclusive features from Google. There will be some overlap, though, as Google's Circle to Search, Gemini, and more are available on the Samsung as well.

While both phones offer robust software, the Pixel 10a will be getting day-one updates from Google when a new version of Android is out. The Galaxy S25 FE might face some delays in getting these updates, depending on Samsung's release window.

Google Pixel 10a vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: Which one to buy?

Since the price difference between the two phones is generally around $150, I'd happily spend that extra amount and get the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE. It's one of the best Samsung phones currently, and the software keeps getting better with time. The fact that there are seven years of support for this phone makes it worth the slight premium it holds over the Pixel 10a. Plus, it's slimmer, more powerful, has better camera hardware, and comes with quicker charging.

The Google Pixel 10a is good for what it offers at its current pricing. But since it's not much different than the Pixel 9a which is already down by $100, one could argue that the 9a is actually better value than the 10a right now. I do appreciate some of the upgrades Google has given the 10a but they are too little in my opinion. Using an almost two-year old SoC (and not a great one at that) for a 2026 phone is frankly unacceptable. The Pixel 9a is still a solid choice, plus you can save a cool $100.