Is Google following in Samsung's footsteps?

Following a series of incidents involving Pixel 6a phones catching fire and exploding, Google announced it would update the software to limit battery usage, drawing parallels to the Galaxy Note7 issue nine years ago.

Reports of Pixel 6a devices catching fire or exploding have been continuously appearing. Image: Android Authority .

Following a series of reports of the Pixel 6a, launched in 2022, catching fire and exploding unexpectedly, a Google spokesperson said that "a group" of Pixel 6a phones will soon receive a "mandatory" software update that will reduce battery capacity and charging performance after reaching 400 cycles.

According to Google, this will "reduce the risk of battery overheating," although the phone will charge more slowly and have shorter usage time between charges – not ideal for a phone that's only been out for three years.

The company has not yet confirmed reports of phones catching fire, but it appears the two issues are related.

Google did something similar with the Pixel 4a earlier this year. In some cases, they even offered free battery replacements. It's unclear whether Google will apply this policy to the Pixel 6a. According to PC Mag , this could happen if the problem continues to spread.

There have been two publicly reported cases of Pixel 6a catching fire in the past month, one user sharing their story with Android Authority and another posting on Reddit . The photos show the phones on fire, so it's clear this is an important safety update.

A close-up view of a Pixel 6a experiencing a malfunction. Photo: Android Authority.

Many Pixel 6a users may be affected. The 400 cycles figure would be equivalent to about 1-2 years of use for most people. It's unclear how much battery life will decrease after the software update.

To this day, the Galaxy Note 7 high-end smartphone fire and explosion incident, which was so serious that it led to a recall and complete discontinuation in 2016, remains a haunting memory for the mobile device market.

In the scandal nine years ago, the main cause was a manufacturing defect in the battery, combined with the device's design. Initially, Samsung tried to salvage its flagship product line by replacing customers' devices and updating the software to limit battery drain while waiting to determine the cause and extent of the impact.

However, ultimately, the world's largest phone manufacturer was forced to discontinue and recall the entire Galaxy Note 7 product line, accepting significant financial and reputational damage.

Source: https://znews.vn/google-di-vao-vet-xe-do-cua-samsung-post1560425.html