Google Pixel 4a's "battery update" is messier than we thought: report

Google’s recent battery update for the Pixel 4a has turned into a bigger headache than anyone expected. What was initially seen as a fix for aging devices now appears to have slashed battery capacity by roughly 44% and crippled charging speeds for some users. According to a new Android Authority investigation, the rushed software patch has left many Pixel 4a owners frustrated and confused.

The update rolled out in January as part of Google’s Battery Performance Program, was meant to address potential issues with older Pixel 4a batteries. But findings from Android Authority’s Kamila Wojciechowska reveal the changes go far deeper than expected.

Devices with batteries made by Lishen (LSN), one of two suppliers for the Pixel 4a, now face strict voltage limits. These units can only charge up to 3.95 volts instead of the original 4.45 volts. Combined with existing battery wear, this effectively cuts usable capacity nearly in half.

Charging speeds have also taken a hit. The update halves the maximum current allowed for affected batteries, doubling the time it takes to power up. Features like Adaptive Charging, designed to prolong battery health, and charging time estimates have been disabled entirely. Users report constant warnings urging them to replace their batteries, along with a persistent exclamation mark over the battery icon.

Google reportedly treated this update as an Emergency Maintenance Release (EMR), bypassing standard testing to push it out quickly. Code changes were made manually rather than through automated systems, and kernel sources were published weeks after the update went live. The company has yet to explain why it took such drastic steps six years after the phone’s launch, though speculation points to undisclosed safety concerns tied to Lishen batteries.

Owners of ATL-made batteries, the other variant used in the Pixel 4a, aren’t fully spared either. Google added checks to flag those batteries as “degraded” after 800 charge cycles, though without imposing the same restrictions.

The lack of clear communication has left users in the dark. While Google’s support page offers free battery replacements for impacted devices, many argue the update makes the phone nearly unusable. This follows earlier reports from January, when PiunikaWeb noted the update might “tank” battery life but highlighted replacement options as a silver lining.

For now, Pixel 4a owners are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Replace the battery or ditch the phone. Either way, Google’s messy fix has sparked more questions than answers.