Now a 3-year-old model, Google’s budget Pixel 6a smartphone has seen two cases of device catching fire after excessive battery overheating. To mitigate the risks, the company is set to introduce a mandatory software update to specific units, which will limit charging capacity and reduce charging performance, according to Android Authority.
Google Pixel 6a Battery Issues
“A subset of Pixel 6a phones will require a mandatory software update to reduce the risk of potential battery overheating. The update will enable battery management features that will reduce capacity and charging performance after the battery reaches 400 charge cycles,” Google told the publication.
While Pixel 6a is not officially sold in Malaysia (Google only started selling smartphones here in Malaysia in official capacity since 2024), some models may still circulate here through third-party sellers. If you’re one of the few users who owns this model, pay attention to Google’s alerts – after 375 charge cycles, you will be informed ahead of time that battery performance will be reduced once the cycle count hits 400 (which is roughly two years of usage), and Google recommends replacing the battery to rectify the issue.
This is far from the first incident with Google’s Pixel lineup pertaining to battery-related issues. Per Engadget, Pixel 4a manufactured in 2020 was subjected to a similar update earlier this year to increase stability of the battery; some Pixel 7a also reported swollen batteries, prompting the company to initiate a repair and payout program which occurred this April.
Pokdepinion: Hopefully quality control is better for the newer models now.
