Google Pixel 6a Battery Performance Program: Difference between revisions

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Google has asked users to provide the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number of their Pixel 6a to determine whether their device is an "Impacted Device."<ref><nowiki>{{Cite web |title=Request a repair, payment, or future discount code |url=</nowiki>https://support.google.com/pixelphone/workflow/16310202 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250703211550/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/workflow/16310202 |archive-date=03 July 2025 |access-date=03 July 2025 If the user's device is an "Impacted Device," they may choose one of the following:
Google has asked users to provide the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number of their Pixel 6a to determine whether their device is an "Impacted Device."<ref><nowiki>{{Cite web |title=Request a repair, payment, or future discount code |url=</nowiki>https://support.google.com/pixelphone/workflow/16310202 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250703211550/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/workflow/16310202 |archive-date=03 July 2025 |access-date=03 July 2025 If the user's device is an "Impacted Device," they may choose one of the following:


* '''Free battery replacement''' (only available in: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, and India)
*'''Free battery replacement''' (only available in: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, and India)
* '''$150 USD''' (or local equivalent) '''discount code applicable towards the purchase of another Pixel phone''' on the Google Store (unavailable in certain countries)
*'''$150 USD''' (or local equivalent) '''discount code applicable towards the purchase of another Pixel phone''' on the Google Store (unavailable in certain countries)
* '''$100 USD''' (or local equivalent)
*'''$100 USD''' (or local equivalent)


Compensation
Compensation


=== Payment-processing issues ===
===Payment-processing issues===
The $100 USD compensation option requires users to process payment through [[wikipedia:Payoneer|Payoneer]], which has many issues:
The $100 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
*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<nowiki><ref></nowiki>{{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> https://support.google.com/pixelphone/workflow/16310202
*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<nowiki><ref></nowiki>{{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> https://support.google.com/pixelphone/workflow/16310202
*Users report being advised to immediately delete their Payoneer account after receiving compensation to avoid fees<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=I have replaced battery in a local shop not supported by Google |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>
*Users report being advised to immediately delete their Payoneer account after receiving compensation to avoid fees<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=I have replaced battery in a local shop not supported by Google |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1i1e4ds/i_have_replaced_battery_in_a_local_shop_not/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>


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===Battery-performance issues===
===Battery-performance issues===
Users have reported several issues following the update:
Users have reported several issues following the update: Including inability to charge<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Jul 2025 |title=My pixel 6a doesn't charge - at all - after update |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/pixel_phones/comments/1m42zn3/my_pixel_6a_doesnt_charge_at_all_after_update/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250721024418/https://old.reddit.com/r/pixel_phones/comments/1m42zn3/my_pixel_6a_doesnt_charge_at_all_after_update/ |archive-date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=21 Jul 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Jul 2025 |title=Will it charge? |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/Pixel6/comments/1m2xtlt/will_it_charge/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250721024834/https://old.reddit.com/r/Pixel6/comments/1m2xtlt/will_it_charge/ |archive-date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=21 Jul 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>.
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===Technical evidence of battery changes===
===Technical evidence of battery changes===
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The battery voltage has been dropped to below 4.0V after the update, the actual capacity has been reduced to below 60%<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 Jul 2025 |title=Thank you Google for Fast Charging Update /s |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/Pixel6aUsers/comments/1lwf3p5/thank_you_google_for_fast_charging_update_s/ |url-status=live |archive-url=hank you Google for Fast Charging Update /s |archive-date=20 Jul 2025 |access-date=20 Jul 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>.


==Possible technical rationale==
==Possible technical rationale==
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#This update is an automatic update '''users can not opt''' '''out''' of.
#This update is an automatic update '''users can not opt''' '''out''' of.
#Despite claim, this update '''does not prevent''' the phone from overheating or catching fire, as shown by this user whose Pixel 6a that got the July update, caught fire while charging overnight<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 Jul 2025 |title=I'm the 3rd one posting this for this month. Pixel 6a caught on fire right next to me on the nightstand. |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1ma6hpa/im_the_3rd_one_posting_this_for_this_month_pixel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1ma6hpa/im_the_3rd_one_posting_this_for_this_month_pixel/ |archive-date=28 Jul 2025 |access-date=28 Jul 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>.


==Restoring battery functionality==
==Restoring battery functionality==
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Google has removed all official images for the pixel 6a released prior to the date of this program's inception.
Google has removed all official images for the pixel 6a released prior to the date of this program's inception.
===Rolling-back Android===
By editing android-info.txt file, Users are able to bypass the anti-rollback bootloader update and successfully downgrade Android 14 from Android 16<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 Jul 2025 |title=Hey guys! I just rollback to android14 success! |url=https://xdaforums.com/t/hey-guys-i-just-rollback-to-android14-success.4750539/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250721022623/https://xdaforums.com/t/hey-guys-i-just-rollback-to-android14-success.4750539/ |archive-date=21 Jul 2025 |access-date=21 Jul 2025 |website=XDA Developers}}</ref>.


==References==
==References==