Google offers free battery replacement to some Pixel 4a owners affected by impending software update
Google is offering a free battery replacement for Pixel 4a owners. This surprising development was first reported by some users that received an email from the company advising them of this new option. This, according to the email that was sent, is a necessary measure to mitigate an issue the company knows will already happen once the device is updated to Android 13.
The Pixel 4a, released in 2020, was Google's budget-friendly phone offering. It was praised for its camera and clean Android experience. However, it seems like an upcoming software update to Android 13 will introduce battery management features that, instead of helping, will actually negatively impact the battery performance of this device in particular. This update is currently scheduled to begin its rollout on January 8th, 2025.
Google has determined that certain Pixel 4a phones require a software update to improve the stability of their battery's performance. An automatic update to Android 13 will roll out to all Pixel 4a devices starting from 8 January 2025. For some devices ('Impacted Devices'), the software update reduces available battery capacity and impacts charging performance. We want our customers to have the best possible experience with their products, so users of these Impacted Devices are eligible for an appeasement from Google. Not all Pixel 4a devices are impacted by the reduction in battery capacity and charging performance, therefore if your device is not impacted, the battery will perform the same as before and you will not be eligible for an appeasement.
Pixel 4a battery performance program, January 6th, 2025
In order to get ahead of the problem, Google is offering free battery replacements to those with affected units. Some Pixel 4a users have already been beta testing Android 13 on their devices and have reported that the update practically makes their device unusable. It's possible that these reports are what has prompted Google to take advanced action.
However, not all Google Pixel 4a devices, such as the Pixel 4a 5G, are affected and eligible to get a free battery. To check if your phone is eligible for a free battery replacement, you can visit Google's support website HERE, where Google has set up a tool to check your phone's status by inputting its International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. If your phone is eligible, you can get your battery replaced at a walk-in repair center or through mail-in repair.
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