Apple iPhone 17 vs Google Pixel 10a

Our Verdict: The Pixel 10a is the obvious budget play, costing much less on contract and SIM-free while still matching the iPhone 17's 48MP rear camera figure and adding a large 5100mAh battery. The iPhone 17 feels more premium on the spec sheet, with a sharper 458 PPI LTPO display, Apple A19 Pro chipset, 18MP front camera and storage up to 512GB. It is also a little lighter and slimmer than the Pixel. Buy the Pixel 10a if price is the deciding factor; buy the iPhone 17 if you want the better screen, more storage headroom and iOS.

The Pixel 10a is the cheaper one to own: around £359 over a typical contract, £442 less than the iPhone 17.

Expert Rating
4.5
12 reviews
4.2
11 reviews
Screen
6.3" 6.3"
Display
LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED P-OLED, HDR, 120Hz, 2000 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Resolution
1206 x 2622 1080 x 2424
Pixels Per Inch
458 421
Rear Camera
48 Megapixels 48 Megapixels
Front Camera
18 Megapixels 13 Megapixels
Chipset
Apple A19 Pro Google Tensor G4 (4nm)
Battery
3,692 mAh 5,100 mAh
Storage
256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB
OS
Apple iOS Android 16
SIM Type
nano-SIM and e-SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity
Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth
6.0, A2DP, LE 6.0, A2DP, LE
Dimensions
149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm 153.9 x 73 x 9 mm
Weight
177 grams 183 grams
Water Resistance
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68/IP69 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts
£29.99/mo (£59.00 upfront) £12.99/mo (£25.00 upfront)
SIM-free
£623.00 £389.99

Prices updated 11 July 2026

Apple iPhone 17 Apple iPhone 17 Google Pixel 10a Google Pixel 10a
Expert Rating 4.5
12 reviews
4.2
11 reviews
Screen 6.3" 6.3"
Display LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED P-OLED, HDR, 120Hz, 2000 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Resolution 1206 x 2622 1080 x 2424
Pixels Per Inch 458 421
Rear Camera 48 Megapixels 48 Megapixels
Front Camera 18 Megapixels 13 Megapixels
Chipset Apple A19 Pro Google Tensor G4 (4nm)
Battery 3,692 mAh 5,100 mAh
Storage 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB
OS Apple iOS Android 16
SIM Type nano-SIM and e-SIM nano-SIM and e-SIM
Connectivity Up to 5G Up to 5G
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e
Bluetooth 6.0, A2DP, LE 6.0, A2DP, LE
Dimensions 149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm 153.9 x 73 x 9 mm
Weight 177 grams 183 grams
Water Resistance IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins) IP68/IP69 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Contracts £29.99/mo
£59.00 upfront
£12.99/mo
£25.00 upfront
SIM-free £623.00 £389.99
Prices updated 11 July 2026
Deals Deals

Cheapest Deals

Apple iPhone 17
Apple iPhone 17

24 Months

256GB

Black

Refurbished

50GB

Data

£29.99 per month, £59 upfront.

Use code: IDM10OFF (£10)

Google Pixel 10a
Google Pixel 10a

24 Months

128GB

Fog

25GB

Data

Exclusive Deal Details

£12.99 per month, £25 upfront.

Use code: SUMMER10 (£10)

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Apple iPhone 17 or Google Pixel 10a cheaper on contract?

Based on total cost of ownership, the Google Pixel 10a is cheaper on contract at £359.16 over the life of the deal from £12.99 per month with £25.00 upfront.

Which has the better screen, the Apple iPhone 17 or Google Pixel 10a?

Both phones have a similar screen size at around 6.3", the Apple iPhone 17 has the sharper display at 458 pixels per inch versus 421, and the Apple iPhone 17 uses a LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED panel while the Google Pixel 10a has a P-OLED, HDR, 120Hz, 2000 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak).

Which has the better camera, the Apple iPhone 17 or Google Pixel 10a?

The Apple iPhone 17 features a 48 Megapixels rear camera, while the Google Pixel 10a has a 48 Megapixels rear camera. Both devices also have front-facing cameras for selfies and video calls.

Which is cheaper to buy SIM-free, the Apple iPhone 17 or Google Pixel 10a?

The Google Pixel 10a is cheaper SIM-free, starting from £389.99.

What storage options are available for the Apple iPhone 17 and Google Pixel 10a?

The Apple iPhone 17 is available in 256GB, 512GB, while the Google Pixel 10a comes in 128GB, 256GB.

What processors do the Apple iPhone 17 and Google Pixel 10a use?

The Apple iPhone 17 is powered by the Apple A19 Pro, while the Google Pixel 10a uses the Google Tensor G4 (4nm).

Which is easier to carry and hold, the Apple iPhone 17 or Google Pixel 10a?

The Apple iPhone 17 is the more portable of the two: it's 6g lighter at 177 grams, it's also the more compact phone at 149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm, and is slimmer at 7.95mm thick.

Which is more water resistant, the Apple iPhone 17 or Google Pixel 10a?

The Apple iPhone 17 is rated IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 mins), while the Google Pixel 10a is rated IP68/IP69 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min).

What operating system do the Apple iPhone 17 and Google Pixel 10a run?

The Apple iPhone 17 runs Apple iOS and the Google Pixel 10a runs Android 16. This is one of the biggest factors when choosing between the two, as each ecosystem has its own apps, services and features.