Android 15 Beta 3 has wrecked battery charging speeds for some Pixel users

Even though Google Pixel phones are far behind the competition when it comes to charging speed, they do charge in around a couple of hours. As a Pixel 7a and Pixel 8 user, I often put the phones on charge when at around 15% and unplug them after 1.5 hours with almost full battery if not full. However, since updating to Android 15 Beta 3, I’ve noticed a significant and frustrating change in their charging speeds.

My 65W GaN charger used to juice up both phones quickly and efficiently. But a day ago, I plugged in the Pixel 8 and picked it up roughly 2 hours later, only to see that the phone reached just 50% battery capacity. Here’s a screenshot that should give you a rough idea of the charging speed. Take note of the battery increase from 6 pm – 8 pm.

Not paying much attention to it, I plugged in the Pixel 7a, and it too took hours to charge. Concerned that this might be an isolated issue with my devices or charger, I turned to Reddit to see if others were experiencing similar problems.

To my surprise, I found numerous reports from fellow Pixel users facing the same predicament. One user shared that their phone now takes a staggering 3-4 hours for a full charge, compared to just over an hour before the update.

The problem seems to persist regardless of the charger used. Users have tried various troubleshooting methods, including switching chargers, changing cables, and even resetting their devices, all to no avail.

Interestingly, at least one user reported that charging speeds return to normal when the phone is powered off during charging. This suggests that the issue is likely software-related rather than a hardware problem, which is somewhat reassuring.

While not all Pixel users on Android 15 Beta 3 are affected, the number of complaints indicates that this is a widespread issue. As someone who relies on fast charging for my daily routine, this problem has been incredibly disruptive.

For now, I’m considering charging my devices overnight. I’ve also made sure to report the issue through the official Android Beta Feedback app, and I encourage other affected users to do the same.

As we wait for Google to address this problem in a future update, it’s a stark reminder of the potential pitfalls of beta software. While I’m usually excited to try out new features, this charging speed issue has certainly dampened my enthusiasm for this particular beta release.