The Pixel 4a has been at the center of a significant controversy following an unexpected update from Google that many users claim has crippled their device's battery performance. Recent investigations by the tech community revealed that the software update drastically reduced the usable charge capacity of the Pixel 4a's battery, leading to widespread frustration among loyal users.
This debacle raises serious questions about the intentions behind such drastic software modifications, which have led many to speculate about possible planned obsolescence strategies at play.
The update has reportedly reduced the maximum charge of the Pixel 4a's battery by more than 40%, leaving devices with inadequate battery life for regular usage. Findings by developer Hector Martin indicated a notable decrease in the battery's maximum voltage from 4.45V to 3.95V, signifying that users are now only able to charge their phones to about 56% of the original capacity.
Due to this change, the charging speed for the Pixel 4a has also suffered, dropping from a maximum current of 3,080mA to 1,540mA.
What's More?
To add to the disappointment, the update also incorporated several other unwanted changes. Adaptively Learning Charging—a feature designed to prolong battery life—has been disabled, exacerbating user dissatisfaction. Moreover, the option to display battery percentage has been removed in the settings, leaving only outdated information for those who had previously enabled it.
This surprising and poorly received update was classified as an Emergency Maintenance Release (EMR), which bypassed standard certification protocols. Critics claim that this indicates that Google may have been rushing to address an undisclosed issue, possibly hinting at systematic problems with the Pixel 4a.
Looking Ahead
With this situation unfolding, many users are left feeling betrayed and exploring upgrade options as anger grows over Google's handling of the Pixel 4a. Current owners are now faced with the uncomfortable reality that their once reliable device may have been effectively rendered obsolete.
