[Poll] Did the May patch negatively impact battery life on your Google Pixel?

Google recently released the May security patch for Pixel phones with a handful of bug fixes and improvements. However, it seems that the update might have also introduced a fresh problem for some users — worse battery life.

Reports have been popping up online, notably in threads on Reddit, from Pixel owners who claim their phone’s battery performance took a noticeable hit right after installing the recent update. Users are describing frustrating experiences, with some calling their current battery life “ridiculous.” One user showed their battery stats barely crossing the three-hour screen-on-time mark before the charge dropped significantly, with Wi-Fi appearing to consume an unusual amount of power, as highlighted by Android Headlines.

It’s not just one specific Pixel model affected either. While details are still emerging, users with various devices, including the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 7, have voiced concerns. One Pixel 8 Pro owner noted getting only about 3.5 hours of screen time on average, which is pretty unexcusable for a flagship.

Another user claimed their Pixel 7 saw a “huge hit” after recent updates this year, seemingly compounded by the latest one. Even owners of newer or less common models like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold have mentioned experiencing poor battery life post-update.

Interestingly, the picture isn’t entirely uniform. Android Central noted that while many users are reporting a decline, some others have stated they haven’t experienced any negative impact, and a few even claim their battery life has improved after the May update. This makes pinpointing a specific cause tricky right now.

As for my own experience, I haven’t noticed a drastic impact on battery life on my Pixel 7a. But to be fair, it’s a tertiary smartphone that I don’t use extensively, so I haven’t put its battery under enough consistent load to be completely sure one way or the other.

For us here at PiunikaWeb, covering Pixel battery issues isn’t exactly new territory. We’ve highlighted reports and concerns about Pixel battery performance following updates for several years now, so it’s not entirely surprising, albeit disappointing, that a recent update might be causing problems for some users.

Google hasn’t publicly commented on the battery drain complaints linked to the May patch as of now. For those currently struggling with shorter battery life, it might be a waiting game to see if Google acknowledges the issue and includes a fix in a future update.

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