Anyone Else Had The Email From Google About Pixel 6a Battery Fire Risk?

Starbright2

Hello,

I've received  today an email from google saying changes coming to your Pixel 6a, On some 6a's there's a battery problem & they are sending an update to the phone soon so your battery can't fully charge. I've searched & it seems the batteries on some Pixel 6a's are catching fire   

So I clicked the link & found the IMEI number & mine is included. Google are offering me a battery replacement, a cash payment worth $100 or google store credit of $150

The new software they will download to your phone will start to limit your battery to fully charge after 400 cycles. 

Looking for info about this the Pixel 4a had this problem too. 

jeremygiles

I had the same email too. Looks like you get a year to make your mind up. My Pixel 6a is my spare phone so I'm trying to make my mind up if I take the cash and live with however they throttle the battery, or go with the free battery replacement.

Starbright2

Mine is my everyday mobile. I was thinking of updating it to a 9a but after seeing the 4a had the same problem I'm unsure about having another Pixel phone. 

But there again none of the other Pixel a range has had the problem. 

I use a chromebook so it was easier to have a Pixel phone for me. Mostly useful when you take a pic or video it goes straight to your google photos. 

Pleased we've got some time to decide. 

sausage_time

Starbright2 said:

....

I use a chromebook so it was easier to have a Pixel phone for me. Mostly useful when you take a pic or video it goes straight to your google photos. 

...

I think most Android phones enable this?   Certainly my Samsung did (on Pixel now).

This implies so:

https://guidebooks.google.com/android/usetheappsonyourphone/syncyourphotos?hl=en-gb

Neil_Jones

sausage_time said:

Starbright2 said:

....

I use a chromebook so it was easier to have a Pixel phone for me. Mostly useful when you take a pic or video it goes straight to your google photos. 

...

I think most Android phones enable this?   Certainly my Samsung did (on Pixel now).

The concept was (it says here) spun off the implementation used for Google+ and has been a standalone thing since 2015.  Its certainly not unique to Pixel phones, as the first Pixel came out a year or so after Google Photos.

MSE_James

If you have a Pixel 7a it's also worth seeing if you are eligible for money from Google - my wife and I each got more than £300 - in my wife's case, more than we paid for the phone originally.

https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/16043453?hl=en 

Heading off-topic, you can also sync direct to Google Photos using the iOS app. 

Starbright2

Thanks for your replies, I wonder why it's only the Pixel a ranges that have battery problems. 

Unless it's not & just haven't seen one of the others yet. 

Being able to use the google photos on any phone is great.

Where do I begin lol. 

skycatcher

I haven't had an email. Is there a link you can check the status of your 6a at?

Starbright2

@skycatcher Yes it's here:

https://support.google.com/pixelphone/workflow/16310202?hl=en&sjid=17378762453641982217-EU

Starbright2

I decided to go with the $150 code to put towards another phone. I chose that option & the next day they emailed me the code. And to my surprise it's for £150 not $150 which would have been less than £150. 

It also said in the email:

Promotional code is for one-time use only with no residual balance, can be combined with other offers, is not transferable and is not valid for cash or cash equivalent. Promotional codes may be redeemed only on Google Store United Kingdom for eligible items as allowed by applicable laws. 

So if anyone wants to wait until there's an offer on the phone they want it looks like you could get yourself a bargain   

PRAISETHESUN

I had something similar with my Pixel 4a at the start of the year. They borked my battery with a forced update and gave me £50 for the trouble (was supposed to be USD 50, but I'm not complaining given the exchange rate works in my favour). 6 months later my battery capacity is noticeably worse, but given it's a stay at home phone I don't really mind. Also wasn't a fan of having to set up a Payoneer account just to receive the money, but it was fairly seamless, and you can delete the account after you have received the refund.