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A Pixel 6a battery fire nearly turned into a tragedy last week. The user was woken up by a loud noise and a strange smell: his Pixel 6a had caught fire on the nightstand just over a foot away from his head. He managed to pull the phone to the floor by its cord, but not before the fire spread to his bed sheets.
It’s not the first time a Pixel 6a has exploded. And unfortunately, it lines up with what Google already knew. Earlier this month, the company quietly began rolling out an update to throttle battery performance on certain Pixel 6a models. These are models that, according to Google, could overheat or even catch fire after extended use.
The update, which rolled out on July 8th, automatically kicks in after 400 charging cycles. Affected phones will see shorter battery life, slower charging speeds, and battery level weirdness as the device recalibrates. Pixel 6a owners will get a warning around the 375-charge mark, letting them know changes are coming. These affected devices qualify for a free battery replacement or a payout.
Here’s what Google is offering to impacted users:
To check if your Pixel 6a qualifies, enter your IMEI number here. You can find your IMEI in Settings > About Phone or by dialing *#06#.
But there’s a catch. Google can deny the replacement if your phone shows signs of liquid damage, cracks that compromise its integrity, or other physical issues. If that’s the case, you might need to pay for repairs first.
Some users say the update made things worse. One reported that their phone didn’t overheat until after the battery-throttling patch. Once they got the replacement battery, things improved. So, if you own a Pixel 6a, this isn’t something you should sit on. A swollen battery already caused another unit to explode in May. Get your battery checked, replaced, or take the credit and move on.
The post Pixel 6a battery fire highlights urgent need for Google’s replacement program appeared first on Phandroid.
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It’s not the first time a Pixel 6a has exploded. And unfortunately, it lines up with what Google already knew. Earlier this month, the company quietly began rolling out an update to throttle battery performance on certain Pixel 6a models. These are models that, according to Google, could overheat or even catch fire after extended use.
The update, which rolled out on July 8th, automatically kicks in after 400 charging cycles. Affected phones will see shorter battery life, slower charging speeds, and battery level weirdness as the device recalibrates. Pixel 6a owners will get a warning around the 375-charge mark, letting them know changes are coming. These affected devices qualify for a free battery replacement or a payout.
Here’s what Google is offering to impacted users:
- Free battery replacement at select walk-in locations or by mail (in the US and India)
- $100 cash payment
- $150 Google Store credit toward another device or product
To check if your Pixel 6a qualifies, enter your IMEI number here. You can find your IMEI in Settings > About Phone or by dialing *#06#.
But there’s a catch. Google can deny the replacement if your phone shows signs of liquid damage, cracks that compromise its integrity, or other physical issues. If that’s the case, you might need to pay for repairs first.
Some users say the update made things worse. One reported that their phone didn’t overheat until after the battery-throttling patch. Once they got the replacement battery, things improved. So, if you own a Pixel 6a, this isn’t something you should sit on. A swollen battery already caused another unit to explode in May. Get your battery checked, replaced, or take the credit and move on.
The post Pixel 6a battery fire highlights urgent need for Google’s replacement program appeared first on Phandroid.
More...
