Overview

• On July 26, a fifth Pixel 6a fire occurred despite devices having installed Google’s mandatory July 8 battery-throttling update.
• Owners in several countries report that the update reduces battery capacity after 400 charge cycles, causing sluggish performance and charging failures.
• Australia’s consumer regulator has ordered a recall of the Pixel 6a and urged owners to install the battery-management firmware update.
• Google’s Battery Performance Program, which began eligibility checks on July 21, offers free replacements, $100 cash or $150 store credit to affected users.
• Similar throttling interventions on Pixel 4a and reports of swollen batteries on Pixel 7a have prompted wider concerns about the effectiveness of software fixes for hardware defects.