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Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Tom's Guide
Google released an update to stop Pixel 6as catching fire — then another one caught fire
Those of you who are still using a Pixel 6a might want to be careful. Earlier this year, reports started surfacing about the phones catching fire, forcing Google to release an update designed to stop overheating. Unfortunately, that might not have been enough to solve the issue. Android Authority spotted another instance of the Pixel 6a combusting while charging over on Reddit from u/footymanageraddict. Apparently, the phone caught fire while the user was sleeping on Saturday night (July 26) while plugged into a 45W Steam Deck charger. The user claims they were woken by a "horrible smell and a loud noise," at which point the fire had already started. They managed to throw the phone to the tile floor via the charging cord, but before that, it had been less than 40cm (15.7 inches) from their head on the nightstand. Needless to say, being this close to the bed meant there was extra damage, including burnt sheets and damage to the surface of a nearby A/C unit. The user also mentioned that their throat "hurt all day from the fumes [they] inhaled" — exacerbated by the fact that their door was shut and the time they spent trying to stop the fire spreading. As someone who has been woken up by a phone smoking and the panic that caused, I can't imagine how much worse it must be to wake up and see a fire so close to your head. The worst part is that the phone apparently already had Google's "Battery Performance Program" Update installed. That update was supposed to stop batteries from overheating and avoid further instances of Pixel 6a phones going up in flames. If what this user says is true, that update may not be working exactly as intended. Google has also recommended getting a battery replacement for all affected devices. This is free and available via mail or as a walk-in appointment. Sadly, u/footymanageraddict claims a walk-in replacement wasn't available in their area. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. They also claim that they didn't take advantage of the mail-in replacement for reasons relating to time, uncertainty about the process and the fact that Google only "recommended" getting it done. So it sounds like they thought the update would be enough. While we don't know if there were any other underlying problems with this phone, any Pixel 6a owners should proceed with caution. Get the battery replaced, even if it means mailing your phone away and stick to Google's own charging advice — and use official chargers and cables wherever possible. If that's not possible, don't charge the phone while you're sleeping or otherwise occupied. I'd also avoid using any kind of fast charging, since those extra speeds can lead to excess heat building up — which is the last thing you want with a potentially volatile phone. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Android phone ‘MELTS' as shocked user woke up to ‘horrible smell and loud noise' after installing update
A SMARTPHONE user says their device suddenly caught fire and melted beside them as they slept — despite installing a safety update meant to stop overheating. The incident involved 3 The phone had been charging overnight using a 45W Steam Deck charger when it suddenly burst into flames Credit: Getty 3 This incident is one of several involving the Pixel 6A catching fire while charging Credit: Reddit The phone had been charging overnight using a 45W Steam Deck charger when it suddenly burst into flames. The user, who goes by footymanageraddict on Reddit, said the fire damaged their bedsheets and even scorched the surface of a nearby air conditioner unit. 'The phone was sitting less than 40 cms away from my head on my nightstand,' the post reads. 'Sheets caught on fire. My ac (a floor unit) had damages on its surface from the fire. My throat hurt the whole day from the fumes I inhaled.' Read more on Technology The user had installed Google's recent mandatory battery performance update, which was designed to reduce overheating risks. However, they didn't replace the battery because there were no walk-in support options available in their country, and mailing the phone in wasn't feasible. This incident is one of several involving the Pixel 6A catching fire while charging. Another Reddit user, zaliver, described a similar situation when their device started 'shooting out hot gas' during the night. Most read in Technology 'Luckily, I was able to smother the fire, then throw the still-smoking phone into the toilet before the fire spread,' they wrote. 'My wife and I are pretty shook up about it.' In response to growing concerns, Three little-known ways 'unknown tracker alerts' on Android can keep you safe The tech giant said the update will automatically enable battery management features that limit capacity and charging performance once the phone reaches 400 charge cycles. 'We'll contact impacted customers next month, with all the information they need to address the issue,' Google added. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) also issued a warning last week, stating that Pixel 6A phones may have an 'overheating battery' that 'could pose a risk of fire and/or burns to a user,' and confirmed that 'incidents have occurred resulting in serious burn injuries'. How does Google Play Protect work? Here's what Google Play protect does... Checks Google Play store apps for safety before download Checks for non-Play store apps that may be harmful Warns you about harmful apps Deactivates or removes harmful apps Warns you about apps that violate policy by hiding or misrepresenting themselves Sends you privacy alerts about apps that can use permissions to access your personal data Reset app permissions to protect your privacy Google's protection feature might not catch all instances of bad behaviour – so you still need to be careful online. 3 Google says the update will limit battery capacity and charging after 400 cycles Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Android phone ‘MELTS' as shocked user woke up to ‘horrible smell and loud noise' after installing update
TOO HOT TO HANDLE Android phone 'MELTS' as shocked user woke up to 'horrible smell and loud noise' after installing update Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SMARTPHONE user says their device suddenly caught fire and melted beside them as they slept — despite installing a safety update meant to stop overheating. The incident involved Google's Pixel 6A, and took place in Australia, where the Reddit user said they were jolted awake by a 'horrible smell and a loud noise' before discovering their Pixel 6A melting on the nightstand. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The phone had been charging overnight using a 45W Steam Deck charger when it suddenly burst into flames Credit: Getty 3 This incident is one of several involving the Pixel 6A catching fire while charging Credit: Reddit The phone had been charging overnight using a 45W Steam Deck charger when it suddenly burst into flames. The user, who goes by footymanageraddict on Reddit, said the fire damaged their bedsheets and even scorched the surface of a nearby air conditioner unit. 'The phone was sitting less than 40 cms away from my head on my nightstand,' the post reads. 'Sheets caught on fire. My ac (a floor unit) had damages on its surface from the fire. My throat hurt the whole day from the fumes I inhaled.' The user had installed Google's recent mandatory battery performance update, which was designed to reduce overheating risks. However, they didn't replace the battery because there were no walk-in support options available in their country, and mailing the phone in wasn't feasible. This incident is one of several involving the Pixel 6A catching fire while charging. Another Reddit user, zaliver, described a similar situation when their device started 'shooting out hot gas' during the night. 'Luckily, I was able to smother the fire, then throw the still-smoking phone into the toilet before the fire spread,' they wrote. 'My wife and I are pretty shook up about it.' In response to growing concerns, Google confirmed to The Sun that a 'subset' of Pixel 6A devices is receiving the update 'to reduce the risk of potential battery overheating'. Three little-known ways 'unknown tracker alerts' on Android can keep you safe The tech giant said the update will automatically enable battery management features that limit capacity and charging performance once the phone reaches 400 charge cycles. 'We'll contact impacted customers next month, with all the information they need to address the issue,' Google added. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) also issued a warning last week, stating that Pixel 6A phones may have an 'overheating battery' that 'could pose a risk of fire and/or burns to a user,' and confirmed that 'incidents have occurred resulting in serious burn injuries'. How does Google Play Protect work? Here's what Google Play protect does... Checks Google Play store apps for safety before download Checks for non-Play store apps that may be harmful Warns you about harmful apps Deactivates or removes harmful apps Warns you about apps that violate policy by hiding or misrepresenting themselves Sends you privacy alerts about apps that can use permissions to access your personal data Reset app permissions to protect your privacy Google's protection feature might not catch all instances of bad behaviour – so you still need to be careful online. 3 Google says the update will limit battery capacity and charging after 400 cycles Credit: Alamy
The Verge
2 days ago
- The Verge
Yet another Pixel 6A caught fire
Another user has reported their Pixel 6A catching fire — but this time, it appears to have occurred after applying Google's recent battery performance update that was intended to prevent overheating issues, as spotted by Android Authority. In a post on Reddit, a Pixel 6A user says they awoke to a 'horrible smell and a loud noise,' which is when they discovered their device on fire while charging atop the nightstand next to them. The Redditor says the device was plugged into a 45W charger for the Steam Deck when it caught fire, melting the phone's screen and case. 'The phone was sitting less than 40 cms away from my head on my nightstand,' u/footymanageraddict says in the post. 'Sheets caught on fire. My ac (a floor unit) had damages on its surface from the fire. My throat hurt the whole day from the fumes i inhaled.' Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. After several reports of Pixel 6A fires emerged earlier this year, Google released a mandatory software update designed to reduce battery capacity and charging performance after 400 charge cycles. Google also began offering a free battery replacement for eligible devices. This Reddit user says they applied the mandatory update, but they didn't replace their battery because they had no walk-in replacement options available in their country and could only mail in their device. As noted by Android Authority, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission warned customers last week that Pixel 6A devices may have an 'overheating battery could pose a risk of fire and/or burns to a user,' adding that 'incidents have occurred resulting in serious burn injuries.' Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Emma Roth Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Google Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Google Pixel Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Mobile Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
The Verge
2 days ago
- The Verge
Ayaneo is making a phone, a greenscale Game Boy, an Android DS, its own monster Strix Halo handheld, and more.
Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and more: all the news about the handheld PC gaming revolution See all Stories Posted Jul 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM UTC Ayaneo is making a phone, a greenscale Game Boy, an Android DS, its own monster Strix Halo handheld, and more. Not to be outdone by GPD, which teased a handheld so powerful it's begging to be plugged into the wall, Ayaneo is teasing its own Strix Halo handheld — alongside a mountain of other product. There's so much you'll need to scrub through not one, but two 'strategy sharing session' videos to see it all. The Strix Halo device will be the Ayaneo Next 2, and it's promising its battery will be internal unlike the GPD one. 1/12 Tap through our gallery for some of the highlights. Image: Ayaneo Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Sean Hollister Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Sean Hollister Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Entertainment Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All PC Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
