Warning: Google will soon nerf the Pixel 6a's battery due to an overheating issue
TL;DR Google will soon warn Pixel 6a owners about a potential battery overheating issue, following multiple reports of the device catching fire.
A string we found in the latest Android beta states the phone's battery capacity and charging speed will be limited after 400 charge cycles as a safety measure.
Given the serious risk of fire, users who see the warning are strongly advised to replace the battery or upgrade their phone immediately.
Google's Pixel A-series offers some of the best value for money among Android phones. The line truly hit its stride with the Pixel 6a in July 2022, which brought Google's flagship Tensor processor to a mid-range price point — a trend that continues today. While many people are still holding onto their Pixel 6a, which will receive software support until July 2027, it may be time to consider an upgrade, as Google is now warning of a potential battery overheating issue with the device.
You're reading an Authority Insights story. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else.
We occasionally hear about smartphones catching fire or exploding. While these are often isolated incidents, sometimes they point to a more widespread, fundamental flaw in the device itself. This was the case for the Pixel 4a, which also suffered from battery overheating risks, forcing Google to release an update that throttled the device's performance to mitigate the danger.
The problem with the Pixel 4a was so severe that Google offered free battery replacements or cash compensation to affected users. Australian authorities even issued a recall for the device, with the country's Competition & Consumer Commission warning that 'an overheating battery could pose a risk of fire and/or burns to a user.'
Now, it appears the same issue may be affecting the Pixel 6a. Over the past month, we've spotted two separate instances of the device catching fire — one in May and another just last week. A Reddit user and an Android Authority reader both separately shared gruesome photos of their melted Pixel 6a phones, painting a vivid picture of what can happen when a battery critically overheats.
At first, we weren't sure if these were simply isolated incidents. However, given Google's recent history with battery issues on the Pixel 4a and Pixel 7a, we were concerned. Unfortunately, our fears appear to be confirmed by new text found in the latest Android 16 beta.
Hidden within the Settings app of the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 release is a warning for Pixel 6a users about a 'potential battery overheating issue.' The alert, which appears after the battery reaches 375 charge cycles, states that as a precaution, the device's 'battery capacity and charging performance will be reduced' once it hits 400 cycles.
Code Copy Text Your battery has reached 375 charge cycles. Due to a potential battery overheating issue, when your battery reaches 400 charge cycles the battery capacity and charging performance will be reduced and battery replacement is recommended. Support options are available, visit g.co/pixel/6abattery for more information. Due to a potential battery overheating issue, battery capacity and charging performance are reduced, and battery replacement is recommended. Support options are available, visit g.co/pixel/6abattery for more information.
Once performance is throttled, Google recommends replacing the battery and visiting g.co/pixel/6abattery for available support options. That support page isn't live yet, so we have reached out to Google for more details on how it plans to handle Pixel 6a battery replacements.
If you own a Pixel 6a, we urge you to check for this warning under Settings > Battery > Battery health. If you see the alert, we strongly recommend replacing the battery or upgrading your device immediately. Battery fires are no joke and pose a serious threat to you and your home.
Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at
Email our staff at news@androidauthority.com . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
US securities regulator announces AI task force
(Reuters) -The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Friday that it is creating an artificial intelligence task force to lead the agency's efforts to "enhance innovation and efficiency" in its operations. Valerie Szczepanik, who has been named the SEC's chief AI officer, will lead the task force, the regulator said in a statement. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Crypto's $10 Billion Shakeout: Why Bitcoin's Rally Just Hit a Wall
Bitcoin (BTC-USD) extended its slide for a fifth straight session, dipping as much as 2.2% to $113,979 its lowest level in nearly a month as investor enthusiasm continues to cool following July's all-time high. That peak, which saw Bitcoin touch $123,200 just before President Donald Trump signed the country's first crypto regulatory framework into law, now feels like a distant memory. Ether also retreated sharply, falling 4.5% to $3,567, while the broader digital asset market gave back some of its recent gains after briefly crossing a $4 trillion market cap milestone last month. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with NVDA. The rally had been fueled by blockbuster ETF flows Bitcoin products attracted $6 billion in net inflows in July (third-best on record), while Ether ETFs brought in $5.4 billion, marking their strongest month yet. But momentum is showing signs of fatigue. Bitcoin's Coinbase premium a real-time measure of US investor appetite flipped negative this week for the first time in two months, according to CryptoQuant. Futures open interest on CME has dropped 13% for Bitcoin and 21% for Ether from their July peaks. These shifts suggest that institutions could be taking a more cautious stance as Q3 gets underway. Traders appear to be repositioning quickly. Over $800 million in leveraged long positions were liquidated in the past 24 hours alone including $251 million tied to Ether and $200 million to Bitcoin, based on Coinglass data. At the same time, downside protection is gaining traction. Nick Forster, founder of noted that Bitcoin's 30-day options skew has swung from +3% to -1.5%, pointing to rising demand for puts over calls. Roughly $10 billion in BTC was sold OTC on July 15, triggering a 4% price dip, he added. Miners also sold off about 15,000 BTC after the record high. Meanwhile, Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) shares fell as much as 17% after Q2 revenue came in below estimates, underscoring a broader pullback in retail and institutional engagement alike. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why Figma Stock Skyrocketed 250% This Week
Key Points Figma stock surged 247% after its IPO, hitting a market cap close to $60 billion. Impressive recent growth (more than 40% YOY) and widespread adoption highlight the platform's strength. At this valuation, investors must believe Figma can sustain rapid growth and fend off intensifying AI-driven competition. 10 stocks we like better than Figma › Shares of Figma (NYSE: FIG) exploded this week after its public debut on Thursday. The stock is currently trading 253% higher than its initial public offering (IPO) price as of 3:17 p.m. ET. The extreme leap comes as the S&P 500 lost 2.4%, and the Nasdaq-100 lost 2.2% amid new tariffs and weak jobs data. Figma, which offers a web-based design platform that is used to create websites and apps, IPOed on Thursday at $33 a share and is now trading above $118. The huge IPO eclipsed even the recent success of Circle Internet, which saw its stock triple in the first few weeks. Figma's stock is red hot The company has now reached a valuation of nearly $60 billion. That is a pretty hefty valuation, given the company's 2024 sales of under $750 million. Granted, it has grown its top line by more than 40% in both of the last two years. That's pretty impressive. I have doubts, however, about how long this trajectory can last. The company touts that "95% of the Fortune 500" used Figma in March of this year. While that number lends clout to the company and the quality of its product, it's a double-edged sword. It calls into question how much the company can continue growing its enterprise revenue if it is already so ubiquitous among the most important companies in the world. I have serious doubts about the strength of Figma's moat and its ability to defend it in a hyper-competitive landscape actively being transformed by artificial intelligence (AI), at least at its current valuation. It would need to continue to deliver 40% growth for years to justify its current valuation and continue to offer investors a solid return. Should you buy stock in Figma right now? Before you buy stock in Figma, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Figma wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $625,254!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,090,257!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,036% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 181% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 29, 2025 Johnny Rice has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Figma Stock Skyrocketed 250% This Week was originally published by The Motley Fool
