66
There is even more to the Google Pixel 4a's horrific battery update than we thought
(www.androidauthority.com)
They should be forced to replace all affected phones
this post was submitted on 06 Feb 2025
66 points (97.1% liked)
Android
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I don't want my phone replaced. I like my phone the way it is. They don't sell phones this small anymore and my small hands need it. Also it's fucking garbage that the standard is to get a new phone every 2 years. It's incredibly wasteful especially when you consider that people don't just trash their computers after 2 years. My 4A is only 4 years old and going strong! Here's to hopefully a few more years!
I would say the same about cars, washing machines or anything else. If a manufacturer rolls out an update that breaks something to the degree Google has done, they should be forced to replace it with a like for like or newest equivalent model.
The issue here is that there isn't one. If someone rolled out an update to a dishwasher that broke it and they offered to replace it with something that is not the same size, you would be pretty unhappy with how it fits in your kitchen. If they replace my phone, it will be far too large for me. I accepted the battery swap for this reason. I'm hoping small phones will make a comeback, but I'm skeptical.
My girlfriend had this issue. They offered her a free battery replacement, a free $100 bucks on the Google store, or another 3rd option I can't remember. We ended up taking the Google store options despite my feeling that they were sunsetting her phone just because it was old, and she picked up an 8A for 200 bucks less after everything.
Still really bothered by the whole incident. She was really stressed by the whole thing because she needs her phone for work and isn't techy enough to not expect a phone to just...work. I would really like to know the reason for the incident.
I think they are offering to replace the affected batteries.
Actually a pretty interesting read about how lithium battery technology works. The big unanswered question is still why is any of this necessary?, but I've been interested in Android long enough not to expect answers from Google.
Because batteries aren't easily replaceable by the user.
They've not even said what's wrong with the batteries though (have they?)
As much as I'd like to be able to swap batteries, that's irrelevant to this issue. Even when the battery is replaced the issue persists because it's a software issue.
My point is that it empowers phone manufacturers to put us on this 2 year cycle and then further cripple phones beyond that scope
I feel like there's no new information in here.
I will say though that I went to use my grandma's 4a in December and noticed that the screen was bulging off because the battery was so swollen. I quickly ordered a new battery and replaced it for her, but I wonder if a bunch of the old cells are starting to balloon.
Interesting read. My wife and I both have A4s, bought at the same day in the same shop. Her phone does not really fast charge anymore, but my still seems to do it. And even more surprising, mine went from "battery holds one and maybe a half day at normal use" to "battery works for two days again at normal use".
My coworker and his wife had the bad A4s (bought earlier than ours), and were offered the $50 refund.
my cousin had this issue with her 4a and advised her to switch to graphene. not sure if that will do much, but at least 4a still had extended legacy support.
This is a critical update. There's risk the battery may explode. I would suggest either get a new phone or get it officially replaced by google. Mitigating the software limitations can be dangerous.
Loved this phone, but the screen replacements never stayed on for me so i had to switch.
This is weird, at least. Any hints or hypotheses on the risk of not updating?
The risk with anything involving a defective lithium-ion battery is fire/explosion.