Google’s battery update is reportedly tanking the Pixel 4a — here’s what we know

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Google's recently released Battery Performance Program for the Google Pixel 4a has started to cause some issues for users of the device.

Originally released back in 2020, the Pixel 4a offered a fantastic camera experience for a fraction of the cost of flagships. It was a popular device when it was released, right up until Google discontinued the model in 2024. However, in a surprise move, Google recently released an update for the Pixel 4a that aimed to improve the stability of the battery on certain units. However, the update has seen a lot of negative responses.

it's been two weeks since the update launched and, as noted by Android Authority, users are not happy. One user, Redditor Recent-Somewhere-360, stated that the update made their phone unusable. As such, they had no confidence in upgrading from their Pixel 4a to the Pixel 9a. This sentiment was matched by other users on Reddit. Terrible_Attorney506 stated that their phone now dropped from 100% to 2% in only five hours.

Reddit users complaining about the new battery issues — (Image credit: R/Recent-Somewhere-360, R/awwwww_hereitgoes, R/Terrible_Attorney506)

Considering the effect that this update has had on devices, many might be wondering what it fixed. According to users on Reddit, Google hasn't been all that clear on what the original battery issue was, who was impacted, and what the update does to fix it. As Redditor lesserweevils mentions, the update is likely well-intentioned but poorly communicated.

It is worth noting that Google is aware of the issues that the battery update can cause, and offered users several options when it comes to their devices. Firstly, Google does offer a free battery replacement for the Pixel 4a. However, if there is any other damage to the device, which there likely will be, you'll have to pay for a full repair before they return the phone. Such an event happened to R/All_Work_All_Play, who had to pay $90 in extra repair charges for their phone.

Alternatively, affected users who skip the battery replacement can receive $50 as compensation or a $100 discount toward another model. Based on our testing, one good option is the Pixel 8a. Alternatively, if you don't trust Google now, we have a list of the best cheap phones under $500 that might help you find a replacement.

More from Tom's Guide

See more Phones News

Josh is a staff writer for Tom's Guide and is based in the UK. He has worked for several publications but now works primarily on mobile phones. Outside of phones, he has a passion for video games, novels, and Warhammer.

More about google phones

Google Pixel 9a seemingly revealed in leaked video — here’s what we know

Google Pixel 9a specs just fully leaked ahead of iPhone 16E launch

Too many Chrome tabs? Here's how to organize them

See more latest

11 Comments Comment from the forums

JohnS_au

Check out https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/15701861
Affected Pixel 4a owners are being offered a free battery replacement or a Google store credit.

Not so bad ...
Reply
Steve Murphy

I sent my Pixel 4a in for free battery replacement and they claimed my screen was damaged. They asked me to pay $90 for screen replacement. After back and forth, I asked them to send my phone back unrepaired. Took a couple weeks, but my phone came back...unscathed. No damage to the screen. My belief is that the repair company doesn't want to be on the hook if they break the screen, so they up front ask for the price of screen replacement, which is not included in Google's coverage. Just not honest in my opinion. Mine is not the only story like this.
Reply
mschwennes

My Pixel 4a had immediate fast battery-charge loss after the Google upgrade. Google determined that my phone was affected, and offered 3 choices: free battery replacement (but you must pay for other phone damage, and now thanks to Steve here we know how that's working), $50 refund, or $100 toward a new phone from the Google store. I chose the $50. BIG MISTAKE. They don't tell you this until after you make your choice, but the $50 refund is only made via Payoneer, which you have to sign up for. Payoneer has an annual fee, and though you can cancel it after you get your $ to avoid that fee, Payoneer then has some very sensitive information about you. I started to sign up for Payoneer, but didn't feel right about all the information they required, and backed out. I have no other options - Google said once I made my choice there was no going back (I thought I would just take the $100 off a new Google phone, but they said it's not possible after I made my initial choice).
I really feel that Google should have told people about the Payoneer bit BEFORE you are asked to make a choice. I had been happy with my Pixel until Google messed it up. Because of the way they have treated me in this situation that they caused, I guess I will be buying another phone and it certainly won't be a Google phone!
Reply
frogpees

I've been planning on buying a new phone because my 4a had been slowly having a noticeably worse battery lifespan. Not that bad though, I just wanted to get a new one while this one was still working and would be able to transfer my data and everything easily. I lucked out and got a Pixel 8 Pro on Amazon for $490, and that night is when I got the email for them offering the three different options, but where they also very clearly explained that it was going to ruin my phone's battery life. If I wake up and go to the bathroom for a half hour and lay back down, my phone is at probably 30% now at best. My phone at the longest since this new update has been from about 7 am to 11, but I've been basically leaving it attached to a battery or the wall. I am glad I happened to order a new one when I did. I hope they make phones small like it again someday, I am nervous about how big my new one will be when it gets here! 🫣🩷 small phone supremacy 🫡
Reply
thejamus

My Pixel 4a was also affected. Figured I'd send it out for battery replacement, now I'm being asked to pay a $90 screen replacement fee for a screen that wasn't broken. I took pictures of the phone before I shipped it and sent them to Google and they still haven't addressed the bogus charges. I've contacted support several times and all they say is keep waiting. They push it to their escalation team but every time I reach out, they can't seem to find the records. This whole thing feels deceitful. Google knows they shipped phones with defective batteries, forced an update to suss out the bad batteries, and while the appeasement options are reasonable on paper, the execution is quite lousy. They just paid out a $12.2 million lawsuit for exploding Fitbit batteries. It feels like they're trying to avoid another similar situation with defective P4a batteries.

I've got until Feb 2 to accept my bogus charge or have my phone returned unrepaired. I completely understand that defects do make it into the wild, but how a company addresses their mistakes is really important. I don't see myself buying another pixel after this.
Reply
Steve Murphy

thejamus said:
My Pixel 4a was also affected. Figured I'd send it out for battery replacement, now I'm being asked to pay a $90 screen replacement fee for a screen that wasn't broken. I took pictures of the phone before I shipped it and sent them to Google and they still haven't addressed the bogus charges. I've contacted support several times and all they say is keep waiting. They push it to their escalation team but every time I reach out, they can't seem to find the records. This whole thing feels deceitful. Google knows they shipped phones with defective batteries, forced an update to suss out the bad batteries, and while the appeasement options are reasonable on paper, the execution is quite lousy. They just paid out a $12.2 million lawsuit for exploding Fitbit batteries. It feels like they're trying to avoid another similar situation with defective P4a batteries.

I've got until Feb 2 to accept my bogus charge or have my phone returned unrepaired. I completely understand that defects do make it into the wild, but how a company addresses their mistakes is really important. I don't see myself buying another pixel after this.
How it seems is that they are reducing every P4A's effective battery capacity to 40% of what it was, no matter if that device's battery is actually effected. Now of course they offer the battery replacement, but only to hold your phone hostage for a couple weeks, claiming there are lines or shadows on the screen and that you must pay for screen replacement to get your phone back with the "FREE" battery replacement.

It's completely wrong for them to do this, and I do say we should push back on principle, but another part of me says that if you want to get your phone back and working right now, $90 might be worth it, considering you'll pay at least $400 right now for the 8a even with the $100 promo code, which they did give me about a week after I requested it (again, pretty terrible turnaround time). You should end up with a brand new battery and screen for just $90, which isn't so bad, considering they're doing the work too. I don't even know anymore.

The other part of me says they can't be trusted. Why give them $90 for a new screen when they might just use the same screen that's on the phone right now. How would you know the difference?
Reply
thejamus

I was promised a response from Google and it never came. Just requested my phone be sent back to me. It arrived this morning and the screen is still in immaculate condition. I should've never been charged for a screen replacement. This is seriously shady behavior from Google
Reply
Steve Murphy

thejamus said:
I was promised a response from Google and it never came. Just requested my phone be sent back to me. It arrived this morning and the screen is still in immaculate condition. I should've never been charged for a screen replacement. This is seriously shady behavior from Google
So Jamus did you pay for the screen replacement and battery replacement, or did you just get the phone back unrepaired? The latter is what I did. Did they tell you what the problem with the screen was purported to be? They told me that mine had shadows on the screen. Nothing of the sort. They had me send them a screenshot, which I guess from my research should show the shadows if they are there, which they are not on my phone. I'm curious if enough people report this issue if the repair center will be exposed for fraud. Just curious what they told you the issue with your screen was and what they're doing to make this right for you.
Reply
thejamus

No I didn't pay extra. They reported that the screen was damaged but there's nothing wrong with it at all. It looks like because they didn't fulfill an appeasement option yet, I can still open a new claim but really quite frustrated with their customer service here. It's their issue, not mine. They really ought to own up to it. For the people who may actually need a replacement screen, they should still take care of it. We wouldn't need to open the phone up if they hadn't used defective batteries in the first place.
Reply
Steve Murphy

thejamus said:
No I didn't pay extra. They reported that the screen was damaged but there's nothing wrong with it at all. It looks like because they didn't fulfill an appeasement option yet, I can still open a new claim but really quite frustrated with their customer service here. It's their issue, not mine. They really ought to own up to it. For the people who may actually need a replacement screen, they should still take care of it. We wouldn't need to open the phone up if they hadn't used defective batteries in the first place.
Same! Can you try the local repair center option? At least that way, you could go see someone face to face.
Reply

Show more comments

More from Tom's Guide

Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox.

Most Popular