Small phones are rare in 2026, and good small phones with a sensible price tag are rarer still. That is why two models now sit at the top of many shortlists: the brand-new Poco X8s, which went global on October 26, and Google's Pixel 10a, which has been on sale since March. Both have screens around 6.3 inches, both are IP68 rated, and both cost far less than a flagship. Poco focuses on hardware: a bigger battery, much faster charging and a real telephoto camera. Google focuses on software, image processing and long support. Here is how they compare.
Poco X8s vs Pixel 10a: key specs
| Spec | Poco X8s | Google Pixel 10a |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.35" LTPO AMOLED, 1220 x 2656, 120Hz, 3,500 nits peak | 6.3" P-OLED, 1080 x 2424, 60–120Hz, 3,000 nits peak |
| Size / weight | 151.1 x 71.8 x 8.1 mm, 187 g | 153.9 x 73.0 x 9.0 mm, 183 g |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (4nm) | Google Tensor G4 (4nm) |
| RAM / storage | 8GB/256GB, 12GB/512GB | 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main (OIS), 50MP 2.5x periscope telephoto, 8MP ultrawide | 48MP main (OIS), 13MP ultrawide |
| Selfie camera | 20MP or 32MP (sources differ) | 13MP ultrawide, 4K video |
| Battery / charging | 6,330mAh silicon-carbon, 100W wired, 22.5W reverse wired | 5,100mAh, 30W wired, 10W wireless |
| Software | HyperOS 3 (Android 16); no model-specific update promise yet | Android 16; 7 years of OS and security updates |
| Durability | IP68, aluminium frame, glass back | IP68, aluminium frame, plastic back, Gorilla Glass 7i |
| Price / availability | Early-bird $399 (8/256), $499 (12/512); rolling out globally | $599 / £599 / €649 (128GB) at the Google Store since Oct 2 |
Design & Display
On paper the Poco is the more compact phone. It is almost 3mm shorter, about 1mm narrower and nearly a millimetre thinner than the Pixel, although it weighs 4 grams more. The Poco has a glass back, while the Pixel uses a matte plastic back that feels less premium but is less fragile, plus a flat camera bar that no longer sticks out.
The screens are close in size, but the Poco's panel is better on paper. It has a sharper 1.5K resolution (about 460ppi against 422ppi), LTPO technology for more efficient variable refresh rates, Dolby Vision support and a higher claimed peak brightness of 3,500 nits. The Pixel's 6.3-inch OLED is a proven panel: GSMArena measured 2,169 nits in its review, which is plenty for outdoor use. Its bezels are thicker than the Poco's 1.18mm borders.
Performance
Both phones use 4nm chips, but they are tuned for different things. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 in the Poco is a strong upper mid-range chip with an Adreno 722 GPU, and the 12GB version gives it more room for multitasking than the Pixel's fixed 8GB. Google's Tensor G4 is a former flagship chip. Its graphics power is not class-leading, but it runs Google's on-device AI features, such as call screening and Magic Eraser, well.
There is also an open question about the Poco's storage. GSMArena lists the slower UFS 2.2 standard, while Gadgets360 and News18 report fast UFS 4.0. Until review units confirm which is correct, we would not count storage speed as a clear advantage for either phone. What is certain: the Poco doubles the entry storage, 256GB against 128GB.
Cameras
The Poco wins on hardware. It has a 50MP main camera with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide and, unusually for this price, a 50MP periscope telephoto with 2.5x optical zoom. The Pixel 10a has no telephoto at all, only a 48MP main camera and a 13MP ultrawide. Google relies on its Super Res Zoom processing up to 8x.
Hardware is not the whole story, though. Pixel phones have been known for years for consistent colours, reliable HDR and excellent Night Sight, and the 10a gets the same processing as more expensive Pixels. Its ultrawide is also sharper than the Poco's 8MP unit, and it is the only one of the two that records 4K video with the selfie camera. Sources also disagree about the Poco's front camera: GSMArena lists 20MP, while Gadgets360 and News18 report 32MP. Since there are no full reviews of the X8s yet, the Pixel is still the safer choice for point-and-shoot photos, and the Poco is the more versatile one.
Battery & Charging
This is where the Poco pulls well ahead. Its 6,330mAh silicon-carbon battery is about 24% larger than the Pixel's 5,100mAh cell, and the difference in charging speed is even bigger: 100W wired against 30W. Google says the Pixel reaches about 50% in 30 minutes, and only with a 45W charger that you have to buy separately. The Pixel does offer one feature the Poco lacks: 10W wireless charging. GSMArena measured an Active Use Score of 15:13h for the Pixel 10a, a good result. The Poco has not been tested yet, but given its larger battery, we expect it to last at least as long.
Software
Google promises seven years of Android, security and Pixel Drop updates for the Pixel 10a, so it should stay supported into 2033. You also get clean Android, new features first and Satellite SOS in supported regions. The Poco X8s runs HyperOS 3 on Android 16. It is fast and highly customisable, but it comes with more preinstalled apps. Poco has not yet published a specific update policy for the X8s. Xiaomi's general policy guarantees at least two years of security patches, while the larger Poco X8 and X8 Power are promised four Android upgrades and six years of patches. Do not assume the X8s gets the same until Poco confirms it.
Price
Price is where the balance shifts the most. The Pixel 10a launched at $499, but on October 2, 2026, Google raised it to $599 for 128GB and $699 for 256GB; Google gave no reason, but reports point to rising memory costs. It now costs £599 in the UK and €649 in Europe. Some third-party stores tracked by GSMArena still list older stock for around $400–€400, so it is worth shopping around. The Poco X8s has an early-bird price of $399 for 8GB/256GB and $499 for 12GB/512GB, and GSMArena estimates about €360 in Europe. Local prices vary; in Vietnam it starts at VND 11.5 million.
Who should buy which
- Buy the Poco X8s if you want the longest battery life and fastest charging in a small phone, a real zoom camera, a sharper LTPO screen and more storage for less money.
- Buy the Pixel 10a if you care most about reliable photo processing, clean software, Google's AI tools, wireless charging and seven years of guaranteed updates.
- Wait for reviews if you want the Poco but care about camera quality or storage speed. In-depth tests should arrive within weeks.
Verdict
Google's price increase made this comparison much easier. At $599, the Pixel 10a costs about $200 more than the base Poco X8s, which has a bigger battery, more than three times the charging power, a telephoto camera, a better display and twice the storage. For most buyers who want a compact phone, the Poco X8s is the better value. The Pixel 10a is still the right choice for people who plan to keep their phone for five years or more and want photos they can trust without effort. If you find the Pixel discounted close to its old $499 price, it becomes a much closer contest.
Sources: GSMArena (Poco X8s launch), GSMArena (Poco X8s specs), Gadgets360, GSMArena (Pixel 10a review), Google Store, 9to5Google, Xiaomi support policy
