Australia is recalling the Google Pixel 4a mid-range smartphone due to a perceived overheating battery risk.
Earlier this year, Google issued a slightly odd firmware update for the Pixel 4a vaguely intended improve battery performance on the phone.
Seemingly in response to Google’s update, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has issued a full recall for the Pixel 4a.
What’s the problem with Google’s Pixel 4a update?
Google rolled out an unusual Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program update on 8th January, and it hit the four-year-old phone hard.
Some users have been reporting massively accelerated battery drain following this somewhat rushed update. Google asserted that the update would “improve the stability of your battery’s performance” before issuing the caveat that the phone “may last for shorter periods between charges.”
That appears to have been underselling the issue somewhat. As Android Authority discovered, the update saw Google reducing the maximum voltage of Pixel 4a batteries from a certain vendor, Lishen, from 4.45V to 3.95V.
This had the effect of dropping the capacity for these batteries by a staggering 56%.
“Recently, the ACCC published a voluntary recall notice to Australian consumers regarding a battery performance issue that affected a limited subset of Pixel 4a devices. In January, Google announced and rolled out an automatic firmware update to address the issue. Owners should ensure that their device firmware is up to date, and they can continue using their devices. In addition, customers can check here to see if they are eligible for an appeasement from Google,” said a spokesperson.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Is my Pixel 4a faulty?
Given the drastic nature of this update, and Google’s apparent rush to issue it, there’s clearly something amiss here. This appears to have prompted the Australian government agency to act.
Indeed, the wording on the recall includes the twin statements that “The firmware update provides new battery management features to mitigate the risk of overheating” followed by “An overheating battery could pose a risk of fire and/or burns to a user.”
Australia’s governing body has clearly put its finger on a larger problem here. Piecing all the bits together, it seems as if certain Pixel 4a units contain faulty battery cells that run the risk of overheating.
Concerned Pixel 4a users can use Google’s Pixel support page to check if their handset is implicated in this faulty battery issue, and to proceed with corrective measures if so.
Google Pixel 4a
Author: Jon Mundy, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Jon is a freelance journalist who got his start covering mobile games at the dawn of the App Store. He has since covered everything from smart home tech and laptops to food and culture, but always seems to return to his fascination with smartphones.
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