Several Google Pixel models have suffered significant battery issues over the past eight months. This has manifested in Pixel-A series, with phones catching fire or suffering from swollen batteries. But I can forgive you if you didn’t know about it.
Google has tried extremely hard to sweep this issue under the rug, preferring that it didn’t exist and pretending it’s not a big deal. However, I can’t overstate enough why you really shouldn’t let the company off the hook.
Do you think Google has done a good job addressing Pixel battery issues? 1205 votes Yes, I think so 13 % There's some room for improvement 24 % No, it's done a poor job 63 %
Google’s disappointing reaction to battery issues
David Imel / Android Authority
The issue officially started with the Pixel 4a in January 2025, when Google issued a mandatory update to some models out of nowhere. The company claimed this update was part of the curiously named “Battery Performance Program.” This was interesting timing, as the phone hadn’t been supported since 2023. Users also quickly found out that this update dramatically reduced battery life and charging speed.
Google’s initial statement only said that this update would “improve the stability” of battery performance. At no point in the announcement post did it disclose that this update was actually released to reduce the risk of batteries overheating. It was Australia’s consumer watchdog that first revealed the battery overheating risk in March 2025 — almost three months later. This is something you’d really want to know if you had a Pixel 4a. To Google’s credit, it offered a free but optional battery replacement. The company also offered $50 cash or $100 in store credit as an alternative to the battery swap-out.
Google didn't even disclose that some Pixel 4a units had a battery overheating risk.
It turned out that the Pixel 4a wasn’t alone, as the Pixel 6a also had battery issues. At least five Pixel 6a owners reported that their phones caught fire, with the earliest complaint dating back to at least December 2024. Google released a mandatory “Battery Performance Program” update to affected models last month, which unsurprisingly reduced charging speed and battery capacity. The company actually acknowledged the “risk of potential battery overheating” in its post announcing the update. It likely had no choice but to confirm the issue in light of the user complaints. Google once again offered free battery replacements, cash, or store credit. But again, the battery replacement is optional, and it didn’t initiate a recall.
Unfortunately, there’s a chance the battery-nerfing update might not help in some situations. One Pixel 6a owner reported a fire after installing the update. If confirmed, this would demonstrate that Google isn’t doing nearly enough and absolutely needs a mandatory battery replacement program or recall.
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