Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program: Difference between revisions

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===Payment-processing issues===

The $50 USD compensation option requires users to process payment through [[wikipedia:Payoneer|Payoneer]], which has many issues:

*Users must provide sensitive personal information including ~~social security~~ numbers and bank details

*Users must provide sensitive personal information including Social Security numbers and bank details

*A $3 USD processing fee is deducted from the compensation

*An annual account fee of $29.95 USD is charged if the account balance does not exceed $2,000 USD in transactions within 12 months<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual account fee |url=https://payoneer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/43738/~/annual-account-fee |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Payoneer]]}}</ref>

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*Google support has indicated this may be due to repairs being performed outside of authorized service centers<ref>{{Cite web |title=Replaced the battery, but still the warning. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i19hxf/replaced_the_battery_but_still_the_warning/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

In a Reddit poll posted on the r/Pixel4a subreddit, 170 out 212 respondents stated that their device had been identified as an "Impacted Device" by Google.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pixel 4a battery update: Google says "some" phones will be negatively affected. Let's see for ourselves what percentage is "some" |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hvmggd/pixel_4a_battery_update_google_says_some_phones/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

In a Reddit poll posted on the [https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a r/Pixel4a subreddit], 170 out 212 respondents stated that their device had been identified as an "Impacted Device" by Google.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pixel 4a battery update: Google says "some" phones will be negatively affected. Let's see for ourselves what percentage is "some" |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hvmggd/pixel_4a_battery_update_google_says_some_phones/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

====Technical evidence of battery changes====

===Technical evidence of battery changes===

Hector Martin has analyzed the software update of the Pixel 4a. He determined that the battery profiles had changed such that "LSN" batteries (e.g. "Lishen"?) have a significantly lower charge limit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Hector |title=So there's a bunch of noise going around a sneaky forced Google Pixel 4a update that seems to cripple batteries... and this is quite interesting. |url=https://social.treehouse.systems/@marcan/113914172433692339 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250204103910/https://social.treehouse.systems/@marcan/113914172433692339 |archive-date=4 Feb 2025 |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=Mastodon}}</ref> Presumably this means that battery replacements will only restore battery performance if the battery is replaced with an "ATL" battery ("Amperex Technology Limited"). It is possible to differentiate between the manufactures by looking at the serial number on the battery. 8230015901 is ATL and 8230020501 is LSN. Note that these refer to the companies manufacturing the cells, not the batteries, so the brand name is not printed on the battery itself.

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*Quality control variations between production runs

These technical considerations suggest the update may be a preventative measure against potential battery safety issues, rather than planned obsolescence. However, Google's limited transparency about the specific technical justification has left users unable to verify this interpretation.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Purdy |first=Kevin |date=7 Jan 2025 |title=Google Pixel 4a gets an unexpected update: Lower battery life |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref>

These technical considerations suggest the update may be a preventative measure against potential battery safety issues, rather than [[planned obsolescence]]. However, Google's limited transparency about the specific technical justification has left users unable to verify this interpretation.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Purdy |first=Kevin |date=7 Jan 2025 |title=Google Pixel 4a gets an unexpected update: Lower battery life |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref>

==Criticism by community==

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#*Google Support initially stated that the $100 USD coupon code could not be used in combination with other sales. This has turned out to be false. This information may have affected the compensation option customers chose.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Pixel discount DOES stack with the sale! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i6ei4x/the_pixel_discount_does_stack_with_the_sale/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

#At least two users have reported Google Support telling them that their Pixel 4a's trade-in price would be lowered after the update's installation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Does anyone know if they'll give full cashback for Pixel 4a after update |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/does_anyone_know_if_theyll_give_full_cashback_for/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

#Google's use of Payoneer makes it impossible for people to receive the $50 that Google offered as an option. The most someone can receive is $47 if they share personal financial information with an unknown-to-them company including their ~~social security~~ number, and promptly cancel the Payoneer service to avoid additional fees.

#Google's use of Payoneer makes it impossible for people to receive the $50 that Google offered as an option. The most someone can receive is $47 if they share personal financial information with an unknown-to-them company including their Social Security number, and promptly cancel the Payoneer service to avoid additional fees.

==Restoring battery functionality==

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 ===Payment-processing issues===
 The $50 USD compensation option requires users to process payment through [[wikipedia:Payoneer|Payoneer]], which has many issues:
-*Users must provide sensitive personal information including social security numbers and bank details
+*Users must provide sensitive personal information including Social Security numbers and bank details
 *A $3 USD processing fee is deducted from the compensation
 *An annual account fee of $29.95 USD is charged if the account balance does not exceed $2,000 USD in transactions within 12 months<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual account fee |url=https://payoneer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/43738/~/annual-account-fee |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Payoneer]]}}</ref>
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 *Google support has indicated this may be due to repairs being performed outside of authorized service centers<ref>{{Cite web |title=Replaced the battery, but still the warning. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i19hxf/replaced_the_battery_but_still_the_warning/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
-In a Reddit poll posted on the r/Pixel4a subreddit, 170 out 212 respondents stated that their device had been identified as an "Impacted Device" by Google.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pixel 4a battery update: Google says "some" phones will be negatively affected. Let's see for ourselves what percentage is "some" |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hvmggd/pixel_4a_battery_update_google_says_some_phones/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>
+In a Reddit poll posted on the [https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a r/Pixel4a subreddit], 170 out 212 respondents stated that their device had been identified as an "Impacted Device" by Google.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pixel 4a battery update: Google says "some" phones will be negatively affected. Let's see for ourselves what percentage is "some" |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1hvmggd/pixel_4a_battery_update_google_says_some_phones/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>
-====Technical evidence of battery changes====
+===Technical evidence of battery changes===
 Hector Martin has analyzed the software update of the Pixel 4a. He determined that the battery profiles had changed such that "LSN" batteries (e.g. "Lishen"?) have a significantly lower charge limit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Hector |title=So there's a bunch of noise going around a sneaky forced Google Pixel 4a update that seems to cripple batteries... and this is quite interesting. |url=https://social.treehouse.systems/@marcan/113914172433692339 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250204103910/https://social.treehouse.systems/@marcan/113914172433692339 |archive-date=4 Feb 2025 |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=Mastodon}}</ref> Presumably this means that battery replacements will only restore battery performance if the battery is replaced with an "ATL" battery ("Amperex Technology Limited"). It is possible to differentiate between the manufactures by looking at the serial number on the battery. 8230015901 is ATL and 8230020501 is LSN. Note that these refer to the companies manufacturing the cells, not the batteries, so the brand name is not printed on the battery itself.
@@ Line 91: / Line 91: @@
 *Quality control variations between production runs
-These technical considerations suggest the update may be a preventative measure against potential battery safety issues, rather than planned obsolescence. However, Google's limited transparency about the specific technical justification has left users unable to verify this interpretation.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Purdy |first=Kevin |date=7 Jan 2025 |title=Google Pixel 4a gets an unexpected update: Lower battery life |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref>
+These technical considerations suggest the update may be a preventative measure against potential battery safety issues, rather than [[planned obsolescence]]. However, Google's limited transparency about the specific technical justification has left users unable to verify this interpretation.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Purdy |first=Kevin |date=7 Jan 2025 |title=Google Pixel 4a gets an unexpected update: Lower battery life |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/01/good-news-bad-news-pixel-4a-is-getting-an-update-but-it-reduces-battery-life/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref>
 ==Criticism by community==
@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
 #*Google Support initially stated that the $100 USD coupon code could not be used in combination with other sales. This has turned out to be false. This information may have affected the compensation option customers chose.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Pixel discount DOES stack with the sale! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i6ei4x/the_pixel_discount_does_stack_with_the_sale/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>
 #At least two users have reported Google Support telling them that their Pixel 4a's trade-in price would be lowered after the update's installation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Does anyone know if they'll give full cashback for Pixel 4a after update |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i43nz3/does_anyone_know_if_theyll_give_full_cashback_for/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>
-#Google's use of Payoneer makes it impossible for people to receive the $50 that Google offered as an option. The most someone can receive is $47 if they share personal financial information with an unknown-to-them company including their social security number, and promptly cancel the Payoneer service to avoid additional fees.
+#Google's use of Payoneer makes it impossible for people to receive the $50 that Google offered as an option. The most someone can receive is $47 if they share personal financial information with an unknown-to-them company including their Social Security number, and promptly cancel the Payoneer service to avoid additional fees.
 ==Restoring battery functionality==