As previewed earlier this year, Google is getting ready to add a “Battery health assistance” setting to help long-term Pixel usage.
About APK Insight: In this “APK Insight” post, we’ve decompiled the latest version of an application that Google uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these files (called APKs, in the case of Android apps), we’re able to see various lines of code within that hint at possible future features. Keep in mind that Google may or may not ever ship these features, and our interpretation of what they are may be imperfect. We’ll try to enable those that are closer to being finished, however, to show you how they’ll look in case that they do ship. With that in mind, read on.
This software feature is meant to “help maintain battery health” and performance as the battery ages to ultimately extend device usability. Specifically, your Pixel will adjust the “battery’s maximum voltage in stages that start at 200 charge cycles and continue gradually until 1000 charge cycles to help stabilize battery performance and aging.” Additionally, Google will “tune the phone’s charging speed based on adjusted capacity.”
(Officially, the Pixel 8a and newer models are designed to “retain up to 80% capacity for about 1000 charge cycles.” That’s an increase from “up to 80% capacity for about 800 charge cycles” on the Pixel 3a – 8 Pro.)
Ultimately, Battery health assistance will result in “small decreases in your battery’s runtime as your battery ages.”
The first device to get this is the Pixel 9a, with “Battery health assistance settings” enabled by default. Users cannot turn it off. This will presumably be the case on future devices.
Google told us in March that Battery health assistance is coming to “previously launched devices” as an optional setting.
The latest version (1.1.0.760434021 via the Play Store) of Settings Service includes strings describing Battery health assistance. This is what users will see when it’s enabled by default (Pixel 9a+):
Battery health assistance helps manage long term battery health and performance. As your battery ages, you may notice slight changes in charging performance and battery capacity. Batteries are consumable components that age over time and last fewer hours between charges. Replacement is recommended for aged batteries with reduced capacity.
For older devices, there will be an on/off settings toggle called “Use battery health assistance,” with Google positioning it to users as such:
Use battery health assistance Turn off battery health assistance?
Turn on battery health assistance to help manage long term battery health and performance…
As of Android 16 Beta 4.1 and QPR1 Beta 1, the Battery health assistance setting is not yet appearing in Settings > Battery. It remains to be seen if this will be enabled by the upcoming stable release, or another update later this year.
Meanwhile, the first Android 16 update should bring the Battery health percentage capability for the Pixel 8a and newer. (It’s currently “Unsupported” on 16 QPR1 Beta 1 due to a bug.)
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