In recent months there has been talk with a certain insistence of the battery problems that have affected various models of the Pixel series to Of Google and, as often happens in these cases, the situation has evolved in a rather quick way. Starting from 8 July next, in fact, all Pixel 6a owners will receive a compulsory software update (apparently automatic) that will introduce New limitations for the battery; A news that, predictably, will not please those who still use this device as the main phone.

Google is about to cut your legs to some 6a pixels

Entering more in detail, the update (based on Android 16) will be automatically distributed on all 6A pixels, but will have concrete effects only on a subset of devices identified by Google such as interested; In particular, the change will concern battery management and, according to what was declared by the same company, it will involve a significant reduction in the residual capacity and charging performance.

For those who were wondering how it is determined if their device falls among those interestedat the moment there is no univocal response, we know that the limitations will come into force once the phone has reached 400 overall charge cycles (a milestone that most users reach after about two years of use) and that those who have not yet reached this limit will receive a reminder notification upon reaching 375 cycles; However, this does not necessarily imply that the number of cycles is the decisive factor.

The company’s declaration, which we report below, is not in fact extremely clear about it:

All Pixel 6a devices will receive a compulsory automatic software update to Android 16, with distribution starting from 8 July 2025, but Only the devices concerned will receive the battery management features. Some users will notice the changes before others, since The battery management features are activated only after an interested device has reached 400 charging cycles.

…Not all Pixel 6a devices are affected by the reduction in battery capacity and charging performance. If your device is not interested, the battery management features will remain unchanged and you will not be entitled to these support options in the context of this program.

As regards the support options mentioned, aware of the impact of this update, Google has made available a package of solutions for the owners of Pixel 6a interested; thanks to this page any right to:

  • Free replacement of the battery that can be made in a service center or by shipping
  • reimbursement in cash
  • Credit discount for the purchase of a new pixel on the Google Store

This is an approach similar to what we have already seen with the Battery Performance Program dedicated to the most dated models and that, evidently, Google has chosen to extend to Pixel 6a in an attempt to contain the critical issues that emerged.

So because we said it is not clear what the devices are interested? We used the support page provided by the company to check a 6a pixel present in the editorial office, a smartphone that has already exceeded 400 charging cycles and which, theoretically, should be among the devices interested; However, according to Google tool, this device is not entitled to any of the support options mentioned above.

This would assume that perhaps the number of charging cycles is not decisive, other factors that are not verifiable directly by the user could come into play, such as the components used in the production line; The company could in fact have identified certain lotter lottery lots assembled with components that are not suitable, and which may have caused the recent problems of some 6a pixels.

In any case, some signs suggest that this type of updates and bound management of the battery could become the rule for pixel devices, in particular of the series to which, according to various testimonies, suffers more frequently of problems related to the deterioration of accumulators; The 9a pixel, for example, integrates the default functionality of battery health assistance and does not allow to disable them, not even on the new devices.

If you are still in possession of a 6a pixel, the advice to follow are:

  • regularly check any communications from Google
  • Check the number of charge cycles of your smartphone (using third -party apps because pixels do not integrate this function)
  • Check on the website linked just above the possible right to the support options
  • immediately evaluate the possibility of moving on to a more recent model

For those who, perhaps more skilled with technology, was thinking of getting around Google limits by installing an old version of the firmware, there are bad news: the company preceded you, e He removed all the 6a pixel factory image files from the pages relating to the stable version, as well as from all current beta pages.

In short, the users concerned will have to wait a few more days before finding out if their smartphone will be irreparably castrated by Google, perhaps starting to prevent to have to put your hand to the wallet.