Google Is Reducing Your Pixel 4a’s Battery Life and Rewarding You for the Trouble

Tech companies love to push us towards their newest products, either by discontinuing models or ending support for dated hardware. The latest victim is the Pixel 4a, which will soon suffer reduced battery life thanks to a new Google update. It may sound unfair, but Google says that you and your phone could really benefit.

The Pixel 4a battery takes a hit – for its own good

If your phone, tablet, or computer has ever been discontinued by Google or thrown on Apple’s “obsolete” listSo you know the feeling: while you weren’t planning on buying a new phone, that purchase is now. This looks like the new reality for Google Pixel 4a owners, who will receive an automatic update this week that reduces the phone’s battery life.

If you own (or used to) a Pixel 4a, you will receive an email this week from Google regarding future changes. This can catch you off guard, since the phone was discontinued in 2022, with its last update in November 2023.

As reported by Ars TechnicaGoogle’s email states that the update will add important “battery management features” to your Pixel 4a, which will then “reduce battery life and charging performance.”

You might be wondering why, after more than a year, Google is coming to take a shot at your Pixel battery. According to Google supportthe update is in an effort to “improve the stability” of the Pixel 4a battery.

This makes sense, given the age of the hardware. Over time, batteries deteriorate, and it is better to ask for less of them. Simply put, if an old battery tries to do too much, it can act unpredictably. That can be inefficient at best – and dangerous at worst.

We can assume that by distributing the software update, Google is trying to advance any erratic behavior Pixel 4a. Its transparency is a sign that Google has learned from Apple’s mistakes in 2017, when Apple secretly slowed down the processors in the old iPhones to preserve the health of the battery and paid a price (legally required).

Google will not leave you empty handed

Google is ready to pay an upfront price. If you own a Pixel 4a that will be affected by this update, you have until January 8, 2025 to select an “opt-out” from Google. These options are:

1. Send your phone to Google for a free battery replacement.

2. Receive a payment of $50.

3. Get $100 toward a new Pixel phone.

It might feel like Google is trying to throw away your Pixel 4a when it’s down, but battery degradation is inevitable, and it’s very possible that Google’s update is meant to keep your old phone functional for longer. Or, Google wants to push you towards it New and improved Pixel 9and it is dressed up as altruism. We may never have that clarity, but one thing we do know is: it’s better to have a slower phone than an exploding phone.