The Pixel 10a and Galaxy S26 aren’t new, but that’s because they aren’t for you

Ben Schoon | Feb 22 2026 - 9:00 am PT

This week saw the debut of the Google Pixel 10a which, frankly, feels like a mostly recycled Pixel 9a. As we approach the launch of another barely-changed release, the Galaxy S26, it’s a good time to take a step back and remember that, while these phones aren’t all that new, that’s in part because they’re not for you.

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The Pixel 10a’s list of changes is incredibly small. A new camera design that’s fully flat. New colors. A new modem with satellite support. And upgraded cover glass over the display that has imperceptibly smaller bezels. While some of those are meaningful, the glass especially, they don’t really seem worth a whole new smartphone.

Similarly, the Galaxy S26 series, the base and Plus models especially, look like very minor upgrades. A new chip, a slight design tweak, and that’s kind of it. Pretty boring if you ask me.

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But these phones aren’t really for the crowd that gets excited about every new model. The Pixel 10a, while a tiny jump at best from the Pixel 9a, is a huge upgrade for someone using a Pixel 4a, 5a, 6a, or even 7a. And with the Google Store boosting trade-in values for those devices, it’s clear that’s who the company’s target audience is. But the question then becomes, why not just keep the Pixel 9a around for another year?

That’s something we talked about on Pixelated, 9to5Google’s weekly podcast. There are a few answers. One is simply branding. Having a Pixel 9a on store shelves alongside the eventually Pixel 11 will not be the best look. Another reason is the carrier model, as we’ve heard time and time again how carrier timetables and promotions demand new devices each year. Personally, I’d love if we could drop this insistence on yearly refreshes, but there are reasons this continues on.

So what about the Galaxy S26?

Like the Pixel 10a, this very much feels like a phone trying to appeal to upgraders and to simply keep up appearances.

On the one hand, the Galaxy S26 will be a major familiar upgrade for someone giving up their Galaxy S21 or Galaxy S22, but one that also feels really familiar. They get to stick with something that feels like what they’ve been using, but with a much faster chipset, a new lease on software support, and a bunch of new features too.

But I think another side to this is that Samsung just needs to look like it’s still pushing forward. From all of the reporting we’ve heard, it sounds like the development of the Galaxy S26 series was an absolute mess of last-minute decisions. Samsung just can’t say that publicly. As such, we’re getting some new phones that, while mostly unchanged, still have a purpose to exist. Inherently, they’ll be great for people who have been waiting for an upgrade.

What do you think?