Battery Health Assistance: Difference between revisions
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===Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program=== | ===Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program=== | ||
{{Main|Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program}} | {{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. | 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 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221023026/https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-4a-battery-update-explained-3522417/ |archive-date=21 Feb 2026}}</ref> Pixel 4a users report much higher real-world runtime loss. | ||
===Pixel 6a Battery Performance Program=== | ===Pixel 6a Battery Performance Program=== | ||
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==Possible technical rationale== | ==Possible technical rationale== | ||
===Prolonging battery life=== | ===Prolonging battery life=== | ||
Charging the battery at a lower percentage slows down battery degradation,<ref name=":4">Xu, Bolun & Oudalov, Alexandre & Ulbig, Andreas & Andersson, Göran. (2016). Modeling of Lithium-Ion Battery Degradation for Cell Life Assessment. IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid. 99. 1-1. 10.1109/TSG.2016.2578950.</ref> However, there are some key differences between "Charging Optimization" and the future "Battery Health Assistance": | Charging the battery at a lower percentage slows down battery degradation,<ref name=":4">Xu, Bolun & Oudalov, Alexandre & Ulbig, Andreas & Andersson, Göran. (2016). [https://sci-hub.st/10.1109/TSG.2016.2578950 Modeling of Lithium-Ion Battery Degradation for Cell Life Assessment]. IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid. 99. 1-1. 10.1109/TSG.2016.2578950. [https://sci-hub.st/storage/zero/6755/4c35d017b1b4e67fee8566488c879767/xu2018.pdf Archived].</ref> However, there are some key differences between "Charging Optimization" and the future "Battery Health Assistance": | ||
'''Charging Optimization''' has two options, "Adaptive Charging" and "Limit to 80%".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Get the most life from your Pixel phone battery |url=https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/6090612 |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=Pixel Phone Help |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212115330/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/6090612 |archive-date=12 Feb 2026}}</ref> Adaptive Charging can prolong the life of the battery by fully charging it just before the user unplugs, reducing the time spent at high charge levels. The user can select Limit to 80% option to help extend the lifespan of the battery with a drawback of a reduced runtime. The smart phone can always resume maximum available capacity should the user disable the limit and charge it to 100%. | '''Charging Optimization''' has two options, "Adaptive Charging" and "Limit to 80%".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Get the most life from your Pixel phone battery |url=https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/6090612 |url-status=live |access-date=4 Apr 2025 |website=Pixel Phone Help |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260212115330/https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/6090612 |archive-date=12 Feb 2026}}</ref> Adaptive Charging can prolong the life of the battery by fully charging it just before the user unplugs, reducing the time spent at high charge levels. The user can select Limit to 80% option to help extend the lifespan of the battery with a drawback of a reduced runtime. The smart phone can always resume maximum available capacity should the user disable the limit and charge it to 100%. | ||
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==Consumer reaction== | ==Consumer reaction== | ||
Current and former Pixel users condemned this program and compared it with Apple's "Batterygate" and the Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program, saying that Battery Health Assistance is "worse", a "fancy name for [[planned obsolescence]]",<ref>{{Cite web |title=This is worse than Apple |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1jp883q/google_will_gradually_reduce_pixel_9a_battery/ml6m0y7/?context=3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405011000/https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1jp883q/google_will_gradually_reduce_pixel_9a_battery/ml6m0y7/?context=3 |archive-date=5 Apr 2025 |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Apr 2025 |title=Pixel reducing battery capacity after 200 charge cycles |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1k0r54v/pixel_reducing_battery_capacity_after_200_charge/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616031438/https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1k0r54v/pixel_reducing_battery_capacity_after_200_charge/ |archive-date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=16 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> and the Pixel 4a incident is a "preview".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Apr 2025 |title=Pixel 9a will have battery "optimised" after 200 cycles |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1jpk1db/pixel_9a_will_have_battery_optimised_after_200/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> | Current and former Pixel users condemned this program and compared it with Apple's "Batterygate" and the Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program, saying that Battery Health Assistance is "worse", a "fancy name for [[planned obsolescence]]",<ref>{{Cite web |title=This is worse than Apple |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1jp883q/google_will_gradually_reduce_pixel_9a_battery/ml6m0y7/?context=3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405011000/https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1jp883q/google_will_gradually_reduce_pixel_9a_battery/ml6m0y7/?context=3 |archive-date=5 Apr 2025 |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Apr 2025 |title=Pixel reducing battery capacity after 200 charge cycles |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1k0r54v/pixel_reducing_battery_capacity_after_200_charge/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616031438/https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1k0r54v/pixel_reducing_battery_capacity_after_200_charge/ |archive-date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=16 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> and the Pixel 4a incident is a "preview".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Apr 2025 |title=Pixel 9a will have battery "optimised" after 200 cycles |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1jpk1db/pixel_9a_will_have_battery_optimised_after_200/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250728225129/https://old.reddit.com/r/Pixel4a/comments/1jpk1db/pixel_9a_will_have_battery_optimised_after_200/ |archive-date=28 Jul 2025}}</ref> | ||
Users also found the wording of the support article on Google's website vague and lacking in consistency,<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Apr 2024 |title=So they want to reduce the wear out of the battery by... doing exactly the same? What's logic behind this? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1jp883q/comment/mkzu6lc/ |url-status=dead |access-date=2 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> saying the Google will "cause the thing they are supposedly trying to prevent",<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Apr 2025 |title=Deliberate weakening after only 200 charging cycles: Google Pixel 9a limits battery voltage according to a planned schedule |url=https://www.notebookchat.com/index.php?topic=225600.msg645716#msg645716 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=NotebookCHECK - Notebook Forum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250908110003/https://www.notebookchat.com/index.php?topic=225600.msg645716 |archive-date=8 Sep 2025}}</ref> and forcing the user to replace the phone sooner that what would "naturally" happen.<ref name=":6" /> | Users also found the wording of the support article on Google's website vague and lacking in consistency,<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Apr 2024 |title=So they want to reduce the wear out of the battery by... doing exactly the same? What's logic behind this? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1jp883q/comment/mkzu6lc/ |url-status=dead |access-date=2 Apr 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223033622/https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1jp883q/deleted_by_user/mkzu6lc/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> saying the Google will "cause the thing they are supposedly trying to prevent",<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Apr 2025 |title=Deliberate weakening after only 200 charging cycles: Google Pixel 9a limits battery voltage according to a planned schedule |url=https://www.notebookchat.com/index.php?topic=225600.msg645716#msg645716 |url-status=live |access-date=5 Apr 2025 |website=NotebookCHECK - Notebook Forum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250908110003/https://www.notebookchat.com/index.php?topic=225600.msg645716 |archive-date=8 Sep 2025}}</ref> and forcing the user to replace the phone sooner that what would "naturally" happen.<ref name=":6" /> | ||
Users also reported shorter runtime,<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Jun 2025 |title=Absolutely disappointed with Google and their latest updates including A16 |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1lb4i26/absolutely_disappointed_with_google_and_their/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616034347/https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1lb4i26/absolutely_disappointed_with_google_and_their/ |archive-date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=16 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> slower charging speed,<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 Jun 2025 |title=Did you notice that Battery optimization feature is the one that is forced on P9a? |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/pixel_phones/comments/1laiiok/did_you_notice_that_battery_optimization_feature/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616040147/https://old.reddit.com/r/pixel_phones/comments/1laiiok/did_you_notice_that_battery_optimization_feature/ |archive-date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=16 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> and lower battery health<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Jun 2025 |title=Is this how Battery Health function of A16 works ? |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/pixel_phones/comments/1lb38ll/is_this_how_battery_health_function_of_a16_works/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616040252/https://old.reddit.com/r/pixel_phones/comments/1lb38ll/is_this_how_battery_health_function_of_a16_works/ |archive-date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=16 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> after updating to Android 16. The "slight" change in battery charging performance was much more significant than indicated. The battery health can be increased to pre-update condition by switching off Battery Health Assistance. | Users also reported shorter runtime,<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Jun 2025 |title=Absolutely disappointed with Google and their latest updates including A16 |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1lb4i26/absolutely_disappointed_with_google_and_their/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616034347/https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/1lb4i26/absolutely_disappointed_with_google_and_their/ |archive-date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=16 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> slower charging speed,<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 Jun 2025 |title=Did you notice that Battery optimization feature is the one that is forced on P9a? |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/pixel_phones/comments/1laiiok/did_you_notice_that_battery_optimization_feature/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616040147/https://old.reddit.com/r/pixel_phones/comments/1laiiok/did_you_notice_that_battery_optimization_feature/ |archive-date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=16 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> and lower battery health<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Jun 2025 |title=Is this how Battery Health function of A16 works ? |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/pixel_phones/comments/1lb38ll/is_this_how_battery_health_function_of_a16_works/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250616040252/https://old.reddit.com/r/pixel_phones/comments/1lb38ll/is_this_how_battery_health_function_of_a16_works/ |archive-date=16 Jun 2025 |access-date=16 Jun 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> after updating to Android 16. The "slight" change in battery charging performance was much more significant than indicated. The battery health can be increased to pre-update condition by switching off Battery Health Assistance. | ||
There was an ongoing discussion of whether using a custom ROM like Graphene OS could bypass Battery Health Assistance, which depends on whether this anti-feature works on software or firmware level. If Battery Health Assistance is baked into the firmware of Pixel 10 and later, a custom ROM will not work.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=22 Aug 2025 |title=Google will throttle your Pixel 10's battery, and there's nothing you can do about it |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/GrapheneOS/comments/1mxgmq9/google_will_throttle_your_pixel_10s_battery_and/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250907084717/https://old.reddit.com/r/GrapheneOS/comments/1mxgmq9/google_will_throttle_your_pixel_10s_battery_and/ |archive-date=7 Sep 2025 |access-date=7 Sep 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> | There was an ongoing discussion of whether using a [[wikipedia:List_of_custom_Android_distributions|custom "ROM"]] like [[GrapheneOS|Graphene OS]] could bypass Battery Health Assistance, which depends on whether this anti-feature works on software or firmware level. If Battery Health Assistance is baked into the firmware of Pixel 10 and later, a custom ROM will not work.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=22 Aug 2025 |title=Google will throttle your Pixel 10's battery, and there's nothing you can do about it |url=https://old.reddit.com/r/GrapheneOS/comments/1mxgmq9/google_will_throttle_your_pixel_10s_battery_and/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250907084717/https://old.reddit.com/r/GrapheneOS/comments/1mxgmq9/google_will_throttle_your_pixel_10s_battery_and/ |archive-date=7 Sep 2025 |access-date=7 Sep 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||