New Pixel 9a update limits its battery to extend its life - how it works

Google is purposefully limiting the battery life of its new Pixel 9a phone, set to debut in about a week -- and that's not a bad thing.

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All lithium-ion batteries degrade over time, eventually to the point that they need to be replaced. A recently updated Google Pixel support page details a new feature called battery health assistance that is designed to help your battery last as long as possible by limiting its maximum voltage.

Software update

"Your Pixel 9a will receive a software update that automatically helps manage the long-term health and performance of its battery as it ages," Google explains. The software will start adjusting the battery's voltage after 200 cycles and continue until 1,000 cycles.

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Battery health assistance will also tune your phone's charging speed based on its new capacity, and you may eventually notice a change in your battery's charging performance.

Cannot be turned off

Unfortunately, you do not have the option to turn off this feature. While it is a good thing overall, it would be nice to have the option to continue as normal, especially for people who upgrade phones before long-term battery life becomes an issue.

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For now, only the Pixel 9a is getting this feature, but Google will eventually bring it to other phones. Speaking to 9to5Google, a Google representative said, "Battery health assistance is a software feature that will roll out to a selection of Pixel devices starting later this year, designed to extend their usability." Fortunately, the feature will be optional on other phones.

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There are several steps you can take to help your phone's battery last a little longer day to day, like switching to dark mode, adjusting your display brightness and sleep time, turning off keyboard sounds and haptics, and turning off "Hey Google" detection.

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