Pixel 9a Battery Health Assistance: Difference between revisions

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===Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 Jan 2025 |title=Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program |url=https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861 |archive-date=7 Jan 2025 |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref>===

Google is known for reducing the charging voltage of Pixel 4a from 4.4V to 3.95V via a software update, resulting in a 44% drop in theoretical usable charge<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Wojciechowska |first=Kamila |date=5 Feb 2025 |title=There is even more to the Google Pixel 4a's horrific battery update than we thought |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-4a-battery-update-explained-3522417/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=AndroidAuthority}}</ref>. Pixel 4a users report much higher real-world runtime loss.

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===Battery Performance issues===

Charging the battery at a lower voltage will not fully charge it. A partly charged battery exhibit shorter runtime. Lowering the charging voltage by 0.1V lowers the capacity by about 10%<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=25 Oct 2021 |title=BU-409: Charging Lithium-ion |url=https://batteryuniversity.com/article/bu-409-charging-lithium-ion |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=Battery University}}</ref>.

Charging the battery at a lower voltage will not fully charge it. A partly charged battery exhibit shorter runtime. Lowering the charging voltage by 0.1V lowers the capacity by about 10%<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=25 Oct 2021 |title=BU-409: Charging Lithium-ion |url=https://batteryuniversity.com/article/bu-409-charging-lithium-ion |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=Battery University}}</ref>. Charging the battery at a lower current will increase the charging time.

~~Charging~~ the battery at a ~~lower current will increase~~ the charging ~~time~~.

Google claimed that on Pixel 8a and later, the battery "should retain up to 80% capacity for about 1000 charge cycles"<ref name=":1" />. However, Google also said that "your battery’s actual lifespan depends on usage patterns and other factors"<ref name=":1" />. The "Battery Health Assistance", being a "factor", potentially causing battery lifespan to be considerably worse than advertised after the first thousand charging cycles.

====Analysis====

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*When the user recharges the battery to a lower percentage frequently ''(only charging to 100% when necessary)'', the battery is aged less, which ultimately result in better battery health and longer runtime should the user need 100% capacity, compared to always fully charging.

*The manufacturer blocked part of the available capacity ''after'' a certain amount of charging cycles. Meaning that after the user has degraded a certain amount of the battery, the manufacturer artificially limits its capabilities by further removing a second portion of the battery~~. Leaving the remaining amount available to degrade faster than normal~~.

*The manufacturer blocked part of the available capacity ''after'' a certain amount of charging cycles. Meaning that after the user has degraded a certain amount of the battery, the manufacturer artificially limits its capabilities by further removing a second portion of the battery.

==Possible technical rationale==

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Google claimed that this Battery Health Assistance will be '''voluntary''' for '''previously''' launched devices<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Abner |date=31 Mar 2025 |title=Google Pixel adding ‘Battery health assistance’ for long-term use, starting with Pixel 9a |url=https://9to5google.com/2025/03/31/pixel-battery-health-assistance/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=9to5Google}}</ref>. It is unclear whether some or all Pixel devices released in the future will be impacted by this program.

===~~Potentially defective battery unit~~===

===Safety consideration===

Concerns arise over the delayed launch date of Pixel 9a over an "an unnamed component issue", suspecting that the issue could be the battery<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mundy |first=Jon |date=20 Mar 2025 |title=Pixel 9a flaw uncovered before it even hits shops |url=https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2643405/google-pixel-9a-delayed-due-to-component-issue.html |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=Tech Advisor}}</ref>.

Concerns arise over the delayed launch date of Pixel 9a over an "an unnamed component issue", suspecting that the issue could be the battery<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mundy |first=Jon |date=20 Mar 2025 |title=Pixel 9a flaw uncovered before it even hits shops |url=https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2643405/google-pixel-9a-delayed-due-to-component-issue.html |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=Tech Advisor}}</ref>. If the battery of the Pixel 9a is found to be defective, it might no longer be safe to charge at full voltage after 200 cycles.

==Consumer reaction==

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==References==

[[Category:Google Pixel ~~Smartphones~~]]

[[Category:Google Pixel 9a]]

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 ===Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 Jan 2025 |title=Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program |url=https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250107002112/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861 |archive-date=7 Jan 2025 |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Google]]}}</ref>===
+{{Main|Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program}}
 Google is known for reducing the charging voltage of Pixel 4a from 4.4V to 3.95V via a software update, resulting in a 44% drop in theoretical usable charge<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Wojciechowska |first=Kamila |date=5 Feb 2025 |title=There is even more to the Google Pixel 4a's horrific battery update than we thought |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-4a-battery-update-explained-3522417/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=AndroidAuthority}}</ref>. Pixel 4a users report much higher real-world runtime loss.
@@ Line 14: / Line 15: @@
 ===Battery Performance issues===
-Charging the battery at a lower voltage will not fully charge it. A partly charged battery exhibit shorter runtime. Lowering the charging voltage by 0.1V lowers the capacity by about 10%<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=25 Oct 2021 |title=BU-409: Charging Lithium-ion |url=https://batteryuniversity.com/article/bu-409-charging-lithium-ion |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=Battery University}}</ref>.
+Charging the battery at a lower voltage will not fully charge it. A partly charged battery exhibit shorter runtime. Lowering the charging voltage by 0.1V lowers the capacity by about 10%<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=25 Oct 2021 |title=BU-409: Charging Lithium-ion |url=https://batteryuniversity.com/article/bu-409-charging-lithium-ion |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=Battery University}}</ref>. Charging the battery at a lower current will increase the charging time.
-Charging the battery at a lower current will increase the charging time.
+Google claimed that on Pixel 8a and later, the battery "should retain up to 80% capacity for about 1000 charge cycles"<ref name=":1" />. However, Google also said that "your battery’s actual lifespan depends on usage patterns and other factors"<ref name=":1" />. The "Battery Health Assistance", being a "factor", potentially causing battery lifespan to be considerably worse than advertised after the first thousand charging cycles.
 ====Analysis====
@@ Line 26: / Line 27: @@
 *When the user recharges the battery to a lower percentage frequently ''(only charging to 100% when necessary)'', the battery is aged less, which ultimately result in better battery health and longer runtime should the user need 100% capacity, compared to always fully charging.
-*The manufacturer blocked part of the available capacity ''after'' a certain amount of charging cycles. Meaning that after the user has degraded a certain amount of the battery, the manufacturer artificially limits its capabilities by further removing a second portion of the battery. Leaving the remaining amount available to degrade faster than normal.
+*The manufacturer blocked part of the available capacity ''after'' a certain amount of charging cycles. Meaning that after the user has degraded a certain amount of the battery, the manufacturer artificially limits its capabilities by further removing a second portion of the battery.
 ==Possible technical rationale==
@@ Line 39: / Line 40: @@
 Google claimed that this Battery Health Assistance will be '''voluntary''' for '''previously''' launched devices<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Abner |date=31 Mar 2025 |title=Google Pixel adding ‘Battery health assistance’ for long-term use, starting with Pixel 9a |url=https://9to5google.com/2025/03/31/pixel-battery-health-assistance/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=9to5Google}}</ref>. It is unclear whether some or all Pixel devices released in the future will be impacted by this program.
-===Potentially defective battery unit===
+===Safety consideration===
-Concerns arise over the delayed launch date of Pixel 9a over an "an unnamed component issue", suspecting that the issue could be the battery<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mundy |first=Jon |date=20 Mar 2025 |title=Pixel 9a flaw uncovered before it even hits shops |url=https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2643405/google-pixel-9a-delayed-due-to-component-issue.html |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=Tech Advisor}}</ref>.
+Concerns arise over the delayed launch date of Pixel 9a over an "an unnamed component issue", suspecting that the issue could be the battery<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mundy |first=Jon |date=20 Mar 2025 |title=Pixel 9a flaw uncovered before it even hits shops |url=https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2643405/google-pixel-9a-delayed-due-to-component-issue.html |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=Tech Advisor}}</ref>. If the battery of the Pixel 9a is found to be defective, it might no longer be safe to charge at full voltage after 200 cycles.
 ==Consumer reaction==
@@ Line 50: / Line 51: @@
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
-[[Category:Google Pixel Smartphones]]
+[[Category:Google Pixel 9a]]