Latest news with #batteryoverheating
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Forbes
Google Warns Pixel 6a Owners To Update Immediately
Google's Pixel 6a Today sees the start of a mandatory automatic software update to Android 16 for Pixel 6a owners. This update brings the latest version of Android to the Pixel 6a and addresses a significant battery overheating issue. Pixel 6a Pushed To Android 16 Android 16 was released on June 10, 2025. It offers updated security features, additions to the UI including Predictive Back animations, new codes for multimedia, and improved accessibility. One of the visible changes is in the management of notifications. Android 16 will group notifications from a single app, live updates in the notification bar, so you don't have to check back in with compatible apps, such as ride-share and delivery apps. However, the most significant change for Pixel 6a owners is addressing the potential for overheating batteries by introducing new battery management software. Pixel 6a Update Impact Ahead of the rollout, the Google Developers website removed all factory images and over-the-air images for the Pixel 6a, presumably to ensure that there is no option to roll back to an older version of Android or continue using the previous iteration of the management software. The update will also address concerns around battery overheating on a subset of Pixel 6a devices. This will include battery management rules that reduce battery capacity and charging rates on these devices after they pass 400 battery charge cycles. This restriction will be removed if a new battery is fitted to the 6a. Google has pushed a similar software update to the Pixel 4a when it faced battery concerns. That update reduced the battery life of the 4a to a few hours. Pixel 6a Owners' Options Depending on where you are based, Google is offering to replace the battery free of charge, receive a cash payment of $100, or a $150 discount code in the Google Store to upgrade to a new Pixel. Given the battery issues, it's likely that the Pixel 6a resale and trade-in values offered by third-party sites will crash, so Google's offer will be a welcome one. Google is being particularly aggressive with its trade-in prices at the moment on the Pixel 9 series. Next month's Made By Google event will see the launch of the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Pixel 10 Pro XL. No doubt, there will be more trade-in offers to promote the new handsets. Trading in the Pixel 6a? Read one of the key improvements offered by the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL…
Forbes
14-06-2025
- Forbes
Google Battery Warning Made Worse By Pixel Trade-In Problems
Google will soon reduce the performance of Pixel 6a phones affected by a new battery overheating problem. If you plan to upgrade and trade-in, however, your used Pixel phone won't fetch much on the secondary market. The battery problem was first spotted by Android Authority, which discovered a line of text buried in the Settings app of the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 specifically mentioning a Pixel 6a 'battery overheating issue.' This was later confirmed by Google, which says that a forthcoming update will reduce the capacity of the Pixel 6a battery, and charging performance, once it hits 400 charge cycles. This comes after users posted on Reddit that their Pixel 6a handsets had caught fire. It's also not the first time a Pixel A-series phone has had battery overheating issues. The Pixel 4a suffered from a similar problem, while some Pixel 7a owners complained about swollen batteries last year. Google's fix for the Pixel 4a also resulted in an update that throttled the phone's battery life. In both cases, a free battery replacement, or money towards a new phone, was offered. In the case of the Pixel 7a, the company was offering up to $456 under warranty, and $300 out of warranty. If Google makes a similar offer for your affected Pixel 6a, you should take it because the phone itself isn't highly valued on the secondary market, nor will it fetch much when trading in. It's not just the Pixel 6a; the price of almost all used Pixel phones craters after one year. A-series devices are obviously budget phones, which will guarantee a low price when sold on the secondary market. But even Google's recent flagships struggle to net much when trading in. Take a look below at how Samsung prices Pixel phones when buying the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Even Google offers little for its own devices. You will get more for a used Samsung or Apple phone when buying a new Pixel 9. Your Pixel 6a won't fetch much when trading in. The best deal you will find is Samsung U.K.'s guaranteed £200 ($271.30) for any Android phone when buying the Galaxy S25. If you decide to sell your Pixel 6a on the secondary market, in good condition the phone will sell for roughly $100 on eBay. The situation is slightly better on Swappa, where you might net $120. Considering that there have been three Pixel A-series phones with battery problems, all of which have virtually no sell-on value, if Google offers some money off of a new flagship phone in exchange for your Pixel 6a, take it.
The Verge
11-06-2025
- The Verge
Google will reduce Pixel 6A battery capacity due to overheating issues
Earlier this year, Google shipped a Pixel 4A update to some owners that lowered battery life to mitigate overheating risk, and soon, it's going to do the same for the Pixel 6A. 'A subset of Pixel 6A phones will require a mandatory software update to reduce the risk of potential battery overheating,' Google's Alex Moriconi says in a statement to The Verge. 'The update will enable battery management features that will reduce capacity and charging performance after the battery reaches 400 charge cycles. We'll contact impacted customers next month, with all the information they need to address the issue.' As reported by Android Authority, at least two users have reported instances of their Pixel 6A phones catching fire, with one person on Reddit saying their Pixel 6A 'spontaneously combusted in the middle of the night.' Android Authority also spotted code strings in the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 release alerting Pixel 6A users to 'a potential battery overheating issue' and pointing toward a support page at that currently isn't live.
Android Authority
11-06-2025
- Android Authority
Warning: Google will soon nerf the Pixel 6a's battery due to an overheating issue
Arielle / Android Authority 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 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 for more information. Once performance is throttled, Google recommends replacing the battery and visiting 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@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
