On the finish of final month, The Google Pixel 4a received a software program replace that rendered the system almost unusable for some individuals, for seemingly unknown causes. The replace included “battery administration options” that left some individuals with telephones that could not maintain a cost for greater than half-hour. Google defined the issues in a help doc and supplied a couple of options, however once more, it did not clarify the basis reason for the problem. However now, there seems to be one doable rationalization for the issue—overheating batteries—as talked about in a Pixel 4a recall issued in Australia, noticed first by Android Authority.
The Australian Competitors and Shopper Fee (ACCC) issued the recall discover on March 7, saying in a supporting doc that some Pixel 4a items are presently liable to hearth attributable to overheating batteries. The discover clarifies that this does not have an effect on all Pixel 4a items and it goes on to say that in case your system is unaffected by this subject, the January software program replace can have no impression on its battery or efficiency, implying that Google pushed out the replace to cut back the chance of fireplace on impacted telephone.
When Google issued the software program replace, its help doc additionally talked about that the software program replace will solely replace the battery administration in sure units. The corporate had moreover cited a possible degradation in lithium-ion batteries as a cause for the replace.
If the ACCC’s discover is correct and overheating batteries are certainly the explanation behind the January software program replace for the Pixel 4a, it might provide a possible rationalization of why the replace was rushed out so shortly. Normally, Pixel telephones obtain massive software program updates as part of Pixel Drops which are launched each few months. Exterior of that, Google normally solely points stability and safety updates that do not normally get their very own weblog posts. On this case, the corporate rolled out an enormous replace with an in depth help doc, probably as a result of the problem was so doubtlessly critical.
I’ve reached out to Google for a remark and can replace the story as soon as the corporate responds.
Credit score: ACCC
However lengthy story brief, when confronted with a possible hearth danger, it appears to be like like Google is selecting to restrict the capability of the battery in affected units reasonably than court docket catastrophe.
Test in case your Pixel 4a is impacted
In case you have not performed so already, you’ll be able to examine in case your Pixel 4a is impacted by going to this Google Help web page and following the on-screen steps. Whether it is, Google presents three choices—a free battery substitute, a credit score of $100 in the direction of one other Pixel telephone, or a one-time money settlement of $50.
