Pixel 9A: Google Reduces Battery Voltage After 200 Charge Cycles 90 comments
Buyers of the Pixel 9A, which Google plans to bring to market in Germany after a delay on April 14, will have to endure “battery health optimization.” Google’s 200 charge cycles reduce the maximum battery voltage.
With the Pixel 9A’s availability, it will be the first Google smartphone to inevitably come with “battery health optimization,” which cannot be disabled. Google is therefore aiming for longer battery life, as can be seen from a support document extended by the Pixel 9A.
In this document, the company explains that lithium-ion batteries are consumables that “should be replaced at some point.” To automatically manage battery health and performance, as Google explains, the Pixel 9A is expected to receive a software update with this feature.
Optimization after 200 charge cycles
“Battery health optimization” describes the gradual reduction of battery voltage, which occurs for the first time after 200 charge cycles and should be discarded after a total of 1,000 charge cycles. From this point on, battery performance and wear are stabilized, according to Google.
As the company continues, battery life may always shorten somewhat with increasing battery age. Since the Pixel 8a was released a year ago, Google has recommended replacing the battery as soon as the remaining capacity drops below 80% or 1,000 charge cycles are reached.
The charging speed is adjusted.
Battery health optimization also adapts the smartphone’s charging speed to the changed capacity. “You may therefore notice a slight change in the battery’s charging capacity,” explains the support document.
Older Pixels also receive optimization.
Optimization cannot be disabled. Google clearly states: “The battery health optimization settings on Pixel 9a cannot be changed by the user.” As Google explains to 9to5Google, other selected Pixel smartphones should also receive the corresponding update later this year. With these older devices, buyers should still be able to decide for themselves whether they want to use automatic optimization. This option does not exist on Pixel 9a, where the feature is still active.
Topics: Google Google Pixel Smartphones Source: Google
Sarah tracks innovations in smartphones, evaluating their performance, design, and key features.
