The update released by Google in early January has angered consumers. Have questions? A decrease in load capacity and autonomy.
The Pixel 4a, a solid mid-range flagship released in 2020, has just received an update that some users online have described as “catastrophic”. This fix was supposed to “improve the stability of the performance of thePixel 4a phone battery“, but in fact it limited the charging capacity of the smartphone, resulting in a significant decrease in battery life. Update or planned obsolescence?
On January 8, a small update was launched for the Pixel 4a. Surprisingly, the company even sent an email to some customers to prove in advance that they would lose a significant amount of autonomy, as reported by UFC-Que choisir. In fact, Google took the time to explain on its blog what this “Pixel 4a phone battery performance plan” is.
While not all Pixel 4a models seem to be affected by the automatic download (and installation) of this update (except for the 5G model), “users of affected devices may also notice other changes, such as a decrease in charging performance or a change in the way the phone’s battery indicator displays the capacity of thePixel 4a phone battery“, Google writes in black and white.
Many owners of this model have actually noticed this decrease, and they have complained online and put pressure on Google.
Set up a “compensation” program
The company has listened to the complaints, but it does not seem to disable the update for affected phones. On the other hand, it offers to replace eligible Pixel 4a smartphone batteriesfor free, or to provide anyone who asks for it with a compensation of 50 euros, or a 100 euro voucher valid when buying a new Pixel smartphone in the Google Store. You can check your eligibility at this address.
This situation damages the reputation of the company, which so far seemed to have been committed to improving the durability of its devices. In fact, for two years, it has been at the top among Android smartphone manufacturers that provide the most system updates. All Pixels, even the “a” models since the Pixel 7, will receive official support for seven years, and spare parts should remain available for the entire period.
This mistake could cost Google dearly: the consumer association HOP (Halte à l’obsolescence programmée) seems determined to demand accountability and has set up a form for consumers to provide testimonies.
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