Google is set to unveil a significant update for its upcoming Pixel 9a, focusing on enhancing battery protection and longevity. While the intention behind this feature is to extend the lifespan of the battery, it may inadvertently result in diminished battery capacity for the Pixel 9a over time. This enhancement is not limited to the Pixel 9a; other models in the Pixel lineup will also adopt this feature eventually. However, a notable aspect of this implementation is that users of the Pixel 9a will not have the option to disable it.

Understanding the Need for Lithium-Ion Battery Management

All lithium-ion batteries experience degradation as time goes on. With regular use and continuous charging, the overall capacity of the battery diminishes. Eventually, achieving a full charge of 100% may not yield the same endurance it once did; for instance, what registers as 100% today might only correspond to 80% of the original battery capacity.

To counteract this inevitable decline, manufacturers have developed strategies that help to prolong battery life by regulating the charging process. Apple, for instance, offers an iPhone feature that allows users to limit battery charging to between 80% and 95%. Similar applications are also available for Mac devices.

These adjustments can significantly improve the longevity of a device’s battery. Though the effects may not be immediately apparent, these methods have the potential to extend battery lifespan by several months or even years. With Google now committed to providing seven years of software updates for its Pixel products, it’s advantageous for the company to ensure the batteries remain capable of supporting forthcoming software and feature enhancements.

Introducing Google’s Battery Health Assistance Feature

According to reports from 9to5Google, Google will implement a new feature called “Battery Health Assistance” for Pixel smartphones, starting with the Pixel 9a. In contrast to Apple’s approach of allowing users to restrict battery charging overnight or to specific percentages, Google plans to lower the maximum voltage of the battery once the Pixel 9a reaches 200 charge cycles.

It’s important to clarify that a charging cycle does not simply refer to a single charging event. It encompasses the process of charging the phone from 0% to 100%, even if that occurs in segments over several days. For example, if the battery drops from 100% to 60% and is then charged back to 100%, that constitutes 40% of a charge cycle. Letting it fall to 40% and then recharging to 100% adds another 60%, resulting in one completed cycle. Once the phone completes 200 of these charge cycles, the Battery Health Assistance feature activates.

This adjustment occurs automatically in the background, with minimal disruption to the user. Google has indicated that users may observe slight reductions in battery runtime as the device ages, continuing to lower the voltage for as many as 1,000 charging cycles.

Mandatory Nature of Battery Health Assistance

As stated earlier, the Pixel 9a is the sole Google smartphone that lacks an option to disable Battery Health Assistance. This feature, while beneficial in extending battery life, may not sit well with users who prefer autonomy over their device’s charging capacity. Given that the Pixel 9a boasts the largest battery ever used in a Pixel phone (5,100 mAh), users can expect it to perform well for an extended period. However, the imposition of this feature without user control could be frustrating for Pixel 9a owners—particularly when other Pixel models will include an opt-out option.

Currently, the specifics of how this feature will operate or how it can be disabled remain unclear. It is suspected that it will be linked to the anticipated Battery Health section in Android 16, which allows users to cap their charging at 80%, monitor battery cycle counts, and access other battery-related information.

This, combined with the fact that the Pixel 9a will lack certain high-end AI functionalities, presents a distinction from the Pixel 9 (which can be found for as low as $600 during sales). For those who desire greater control over their device, the Pixel 9 may be a preferable option.