Google adding ‘Battery health assistance’ to Pixel phones starting with 9a

Google is adding a ‘Battery health assistance’ feature to its phones, starting with the Pixel 9a and eventually expanding to other devices.

The search giant mentioned the battery feature in a footnote on the Pixel 9a webpage. That footnote points to a support document with further details.

“Over time, Pixel software will manage battery performance to help maintain battery health as your battery ages,” reads the footnote.

The support document goes further, pointing out that lithium-ion batteries are “consumable components” and will eventually require replacement.

“Your Pixel 9a will receive a software update that automatically helps manage the long term health and performance of its battery as it ages. This software will adjust the battery’s maximum voltage in stages that start at 200 charge cycles and continue gradually until 1000 charge cycles to help stabilize battery performance and aging,” the document says.

Notably, Google recently detailed how newer Pixel phones should retain at least 80 percent of initial capacity for 1,000 charge cycles.

The support document goes on to explain that battery health assistance will tune phones’ charging speed according to the adjusted capacity and that users might notice a “slight change in battery charging performance.”

Google confirmed to 9to5Google that Battery health assistance will roll out to a “selection” of Pixel devices later this year to “extend their usability.”

9to5 also points out that Android 16 will likely include several battery-related changes, including a new ‘Battery health’ screen with an estimated capacity percentage and other features. Taken alongside Google’s recent extension of software support for Pixel devices, it seems the company is working hard to communicate to people about the batteries in their devices.

However, Google has also had some battery troubles with the Pixel 4a, which recently received an update to address a possible overheating issue. Following the update, some Pixel 4a users claimed the device was nearly unusable.

Here’s hoping Google’s new Battery health assistance for Pixels doesn’t cause similar problems for people with older phones. Plus, Google delayed the Pixel 9a over a component issue — hopefully that wasn’t related to the battery.

Source: Google Via: 9to5Google