When Google launched thePixel 9ain April, it introduced a brand-new battery feature, temporarily exclusive to the phone, called “Battery Health Assistance.” Over time, this feature automatically manages your Pixel’s battery health, helping to slow down the rate ofbattery degradation.
When it debuted on the Pixel 9a, many people wondered when it would be available on older Pixel devices. Google hinted that it would arrive later this year but did not specify exactly when. It seems we might finally have an answer.
Android 16officially launched a few days ago, but the feature was absent from the first release. However, with the latest Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2, the Battery Health assistance feature became available on older Pixel phones for the first time. Although it hasn’t reached the stable Android 16 channel yet, it’s possible it could arrive in September (via Android Police), following the launch of thePixel 10 series.
Google Pixel 9a
Google’s mid-range Pixel 9a offers impressive high-end features like a 48-megapixel main shooter, a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera with macro, its Tensor G4 chip, and 8GB of RAM, all in a cost-effective $500 package.
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How does Battery Health Assistance work?
It adjusts the battery’s maximum voltage over time to stabilize performance and aging
Battery Health Assistance is enabled by default on the Pixel 9a and can’t be turned off. However, when it is released for other Pixel devices, it will be entirely optional and can be enabled underBattery settings > Battery health > Battery health assistance.
According toGoogle’s support pagefor Battery Health Assistance, the feature helps manage your Pixel’s “long term health and performance.” It works by gradually adjusting the battery’s maximum voltage at various charge cycle thresholds, which Google states stabilizes “battery performance and aging.”
Battery Health Assistance activates when the battery reaches 200 charge cycles and continues adjusting your battery’s maximum voltage until it hits 1000 charge cycles.
A charge cycle refers to the number of times you’ve charged your Pixel phone from 0 to 100 percent. Therefore, charging it fully counts as one charge cycle. However, if you charge it from 50 percent to 100 percent, that only counts as half a charge cycle. Thus, if you charge your Pixel from 0 to 100 percent every day, theoretically, Battery Health Assistance won’t kick into gear until 200 days after you first start using your device.
When Battery Health Assistance becomes available on my Pixel 8a, I’ll be enabling it immediately to improve my battery’s lifespan and hopefully get another good year or two out of the phone.
As mentioned, Battery Health Assistance is already available on the Pixel 9a. When it launches with an Android 16 update later this year, it will be accessible on the Pixel 6a and later models. It’s unclear at this time whether it will be available at launch with the Pixel 10 series. The only recent Pixel device that does not support Battery Health Assistance is thePixel tablet. The main drawback of enabling Battery Health Assistance in the short term may be a slight reduction in daily battery life. However, in the long run, your battery will maintain a better charge.
Battery Health Assistance joins several other useful battery health features on Pixel devices, such as Adaptive Charging and Limit to 80 percent. Adaptive Charging learns your charging habits, allowing it to charge the phone to 100 percent more optimally. The 80 percent charge limit is a charging feature introduced last year, which restricts the Pixel’s charge to 80 percent to preserve battery health. While battery life may take a minor hit, in the long run, your Pixel’s battery will have greater longevity. If you plan on keeping your Pixel phone for a few years, then exploring some of these battery health features is a smart idea.
I usually like to keep my phone for two to three years before upgrading, so having features like Adaptive Charging is quite handy to ensure my battery remains strong throughout most of my phone’s lifetime. Once Battery Health Assistance is available onmy Pixel 8a, I plan to enable it to extend my battery’s lifespan and hopefully gain an extra year or two from the phone.
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