You can now check to see whether your Pixel 6a has a defective battery
And while most will have transitioned from those older models to something new, we're now starting to see just how durable these previous-generation phones really are. The Pixel 4a saw a surprise update that reduced battery life, and the Pixel 7a had issues with its battery, prompting the brand to replace it. And just last month, we got word that the Pixel 6a would also get a battery update as well.
With that said, it was reported earlier by Droid Life that Google had removed firmware for the Pixel 6a, and now, Google has made things official, announcing its Pixel 6a Battery Performance Program, which is set to officially launch on July 8 (via Droid Life). As far as the details go, Google has determined that some Pixel 6a devices will require an update in order to "reduce the risk of potential battery overheating."
Now, similar to previous actions taken by Google, this update will reduce battery capacity and charging performance, but will only affect devices that have exceeded 400 charging cycles. Again, this update will only occur if you have a device that is affected. Not all Pixel 6a phones will need this update.
Of course, this is something that is quite inconvenient, and it appears that Google is offering some compensation for the matter in the form of "a repair at no cost to you, a cash payment, or a Google Store hardware discount credit." You'll need to enter your IMEI in order on the support page to see whether you qualify.
If you want to get your battery replaced, and your device qualifies, you'll be able to head to a support center in these countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, Japan, and India. Those in the US and India will also have the option to mail in their device to get support.
As a Pixel owner, it's going to be disappointing to experience something like this, but at least Google is taking some steps in order to ensure that its past devices aren't exposing customers to any kind of serious issues. Furthermore, it also has a variety of solutions available that will allow affected users to get proper support.
Of course, if you're someone that owns a different phone or tablet, and wants to be proactive in maintaining battery health, we have some tips to offer that will help you preserve the battery inside your device.
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