Google Pixel phones to get battery health feature but not all: Check this list
Google is finally bringing a much-requested battery health feature with Android 16. However, this feature will not be available for all Android phones. According to reports, the new Battery Health menu feature, spotted in Android 16 Beta 3, will only be available on a select few recent Pixel models, leaving out even some of last year's flagships and other Android smartphones.
This feature is similar to Apple's Battery Health, which the Cupertino company introduced in iPhones back in 2018. The feature allows users to view key battery stats such as maximum capacity and health status. This information helps users understand sudden drops in battery performance or unexpected shutdowns.
Google began testing the feature as far back as Android 14 Beta 2 in December 2023. However, the company didn't reveal the exact timeline for its availability. As noted by a Reddit user and highlighted in Android Authority's report, Google has responded on its public Android Issue Tracker, confirming that the battery health indicator will in coming months roll out to the Pixel 8a, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
"Due to product limitations, this feature will not be available on older in-market Pixel devices," said a Google developer in response to user queries. The company listed the issue's status as 'Won't Fix (Infeasible),' reads the note. This means Google Pixel models like the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, which were launched in October 2023, won't receive the update.
So the Pixel devices eligible for the Battery Health feature are:
– Pixel 8a– Pixel 9– Pixel 9 Pro
– Pixel 9 Pro Fold
If your Pixel isn't on this list, unfortunately, you will not get the update, at least for now.
The unavailability of the battery health feature comes as a turn-off for many Pixel and Android users, as users have been requesting the feature for quite some time. On the other hand, Apple, which made the feature available on iPhones as old as the iPhone 6 (from 2014), gained battery health metrics with iOS 11.3. When will the Battery Health menu be available on Android?
The Battery Health menu is still in beta testing and hasn't yet reached eligible users. It is expected to become widely available once Android 16 rolls out in its stable version in coming months. However, when it does, only the Pixel 8a and newer models will benefit from this system-level diagnostic tool.
Meanwhile, as for other Android smartphone brands, Android 16 might not bring this feature. But given that the feature is part of Android, it is expected that phone makers will offer it in their custom software. In fact, some Android OEMs like Samsung and OnePlus already offer similar battery health tools through their custom Android skins although these too are often limited to newer phones.
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