Google Pixel 10a - 30+ Hours Battery, Camera Coach, Gemini - Obsidian 128GB

Why it's worth it

Google's small Pixel runs the same AI camera tricks as its expensive siblings, holds a charge for more than 30 hours, and comes with a long update promise. It's the phone we'd buy for a teenager, a parent, or anyone who just wants something that works.

Seven years of updates is the headline, and it should be. Google guarantees seven years of Android OS updates and seven years of security patches on its recent Pixel phones — the longest commitment any major Android maker publishes. Buy this and it'll still be getting real software support long after phones bought at the same time have gone dark. That outlasts most people's patience with a phone.

Battery is the second reason to look. Google rates it for more than 30 hours on a charge, and owner feedback lines up: full days of normal use with charge to spare. If your current phone needs a top-up before dinner, this fixes that specific frustration, and it does it without the weight of a big flagship.

From our review of 8 smartphones, by Ben Carter, Tech Editor

What we like

• +Seven years of updates is the headline, and it should be
• +Battery is the second reason to look
• +The camera is a Pixel camera, which means the software does the heavy lifting
• +It's also built for normal life, not a display case

What to know

• –You get 128GB and no card slot
• –The chip is a step behind the Pro Pixels, and it shows in demanding games and long camera sessions