Latest news with #zaliver
The Sun
14 hours ago
- The Sun
Mobile users warned urgent ‘mandatory' update affects their battery after reports of phones catching FIRE
A "MANDATORY" update is going out to some mobiles after reports of fires breaking out when charging. While the update is important for safety, affected users will notice a knock to their battery's capacity as a result. 2 Google has confirmed to The Sun that a "subset" of Pixel 6a devices will receive it "to reduce the risk of potential battery overheating". It comes as a number of unverified reports online that the phone caught fire when on charge. One user shared pictures of his destroyed Pixel 6a which they say began to "shoot out hot gas" in the middle of the night as it was on charge. "Luckily, I was able to smother the fire, then throw the still-smoking phone into the toilet before the fire spread," Reddit user zaliver claimed. "My wife and I are pretty shook up about it." A small number of other users have reported similar issues. "The update will enable battery management features that will reduce capacity and charging performance after the battery reaches 400 charge cycles," Google said. "We'll contact impacted customers next month, with all the information they need to address the issue." It comes only a few months after another update impacted the batteries on the Pixel 4A, though this incident affected all models and wasn't a result of safety concerns. Owners were offered a free replacement battery to solve the problem.
Phone Arena
18-05-2025
- Phone Arena
Pixel 6a explodes and catches on fire. The one clue to look for that can give you an early warning
Many users just love the mid-range Pixel "a-series" which started with 2019's Pixel 3a. The big attraction for buyers was the ability of Pixel's cheaper "a-series" phones to take great pictures rivaling those snapped with a flagship Pixel model. Google was able to achieve this using its outstanding computational photography system. Google has refined its mid-range Pixels allowing them to be more than just a lower-priced camera. If you do own a Pixel a handset, beware. Lately, there have been some battery issues involving the Pixel 6a, and the Pixel 7a. Back in February, we told you about a swollen battery that pushed out the body of a Pixel 6a, turning the phone into a ticking time bomb. Some Pixel 7a models have also been damaged by swollen batteries. and Google said that some device owners "may be eligible for a battery replacement repair at no charge or another form of appeasement option from Google." Swollen batteries on the Pixel 6a and Pixel 7a are one thing, but now there is a report that a Pixel 6a model exploded and caught on fire. A swollen battery that is not replaced can cause a phone to explode and catch on fire. This Pixel 6a had a swollen battery and exploded in the middle of the night. | Image credit-Zach Raulston -zaliver, Pixel 6a owner The Pixel 6a owner had a case on the phone while it was charging, but more importantly, he was using a third-party charger. Even though that can be risky, zaliver said that he had been using the same charger for as long as two years. He says that the fire started in the phone as he tried to shift the blame from using what he called "not a 'Pixel brand' charger." For their own safety, Pixel owners should try to stick with an official Pixel charger or use one that belongs to the Made for Google program and has been tested by the company. Note how the sides were separated on this Pixel 6a by a swollen battery. | Image credit-Zach Raulston There were some interesting responses to the post. The most important replies came from a few Redditors who pointed out that the battery was probably swelling well before it exploded. The point is that if you start to see something that doesn't look right about your Pixel, such as the casing expanding, or the body of the phone feeling swollen, you need to turn off the phone and bring it in for repairs ASAP. Make sure to contact Google; depending on the situation, you might be entitled to a free battery replacement.
Android Authority
16-05-2025
- Android Authority
Battery failures return to haunt Google's Pixel A lineup — now the Pixel 6a is catching fire
TL;DR Multiple reports reveal instances of the Google Pixel 6a catching fire, often while charging overnight with off-brand chargers. Battery-related incidents have plagued various A-series models, including battery swelling in the Pixel 7a and overheating risks in the Pixel 4a. The Pixel 9a's release was delayed due to an unspecified 'component quality issue.' Afterward, Google released the phone with a mandatory battery health update that will reduce battery capacity and charging speed over time to maintain long-term battery health. Pixel 9a teardowns have also revealed excessive adhesive used in securing the battery, making it difficult to remove without damage. Pixel A-series users can't seem to catch a break with battery issues these days. After the Pixel 4a's infamous 'battery update of death,' Google also recently started offering free battery replacements for Pixel 7a users with a swollen battery. Now, a few reports have emerged of battery explosions for the Pixel 6a. Reddit user zaliver shared that their Pixel 6a 'spontaneously combusted' in the middle of the night. The phone was charging overnight using an off-brand charger, though the user claims that they had been using the charger for over a year with the phone with no issues. The Pixel 6a was in a case at the time. This isn't the first time we've heard about battery fires on the Pixel 6a. In December 2024, Reddit user GroundAny1309 also complained about their Pixel 6a catching fire while charging overnight using an off-brand charger, though they didn't present any images for the issue. Last month, another user complained about their Pixel 6a catching fire on Google's support forums. The user claims the device was sitting idle when it burst into flames, and in the images, we can see a rugged case on the phone, cases which are notorious for not dissipating heat quick enough. Swollen phone batteries are a dangerous but unfortunately common problem that plagues all smartphone OEMs. If the swollen battery gets accidentally punctured, it will catch fire. Phones can also catch fire if other battery and charging-related parts malfunction, which is why users are advised to stick to chargers and charging cables from reputable manufacturers. Off-brand chargers can compromise your safety, though the phone OEM is also responsible for building enough protective measures within the phone to prevent any untoward incident. Unfortunately for Google, there seems to be a pattern to battery issues on the Pixel A-series. The company did not share the technical details on the Pixel 4a's infamous battery update. However, we know from a product safety recall notice that the Pixel 4a's battery is at risk of overheating, which poses a risk of fire and/or burns to a user. It doesn't look good for the new Pixel 9a, either. YouTuber Zac from JerryRigEverything raised a red flag over the Pixel 9a's battery, mentioning how it is secured within the phone with too much adhesive, making it extremely difficult to remove and replace. That isn't great news for the phone's longevity, as you risk damage to the phone, or worse, to the battery, during a battery replacement. Unfortunately, chances are that you'd want a battery replacement eventually, as the Pixel 9a comes with a new and mandatory battery health feature that will decrease the battery's runtime and charging speed over time, in order to manage its long-term health and performance. Google didn't confirm a correlation, but the Pixel 9a's release was delayed due to an unspecified 'component quality issue.' We've contacted Google for a statement on the Pixel 6a's above-mentioned battery fire issues. We'll keep you updated if and when we learn more. If you are using a Pixel A-series phone, we recommend sticking with Google-branded chargers and charging cables. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
