Google has published new information that clarifies how many charges its Pixel phones can hold.
The Search company has confirmed that a Pixel 8a and later should retain up to 80% battery capacity for about 1000 charge cycles (a cycle refers to a full battery charge from empty).
Devices released between the Pixel 3 and Pixel 8 Pro should hold up to 80% capacity for roughly 800 charge cycles, revealing how much more power-efficient newer Google smartphones are. As with all other electronics, lithium-ion batteries used in smartphones have a finite lifespan.
Apple has also recently taken a similar approach, stating that the iPhone 14 and previous models should retain up to 80% of battery capacity for 500 charge cycles. In comparison, the iPhone 15 and 16 can hold up to 80% capacity for up to 1000 charge cycles.
Google users with Pixel 8a and onwards can now monitor their phone’s battery capacity via the Settings app and then selecting Battery Information. Here, users can see how many times the battery has already been fully charged, when it was manufactured, and its date of first use.
This should give users a greater understanding of how many charges the phone has left, but also if the battery in the handset is the one it was shipped with. This is a huge boon to people who buy second-hand smartphones because the state of the battery is the most opaque part of the purchase.
To slow down battery degradation, Google suggests not using the device when charging, avoiding prolonged exposure to sun or high temperatures (above 35°C) and using the adaptive charging feature.
Google Pixel joins the battery transparency train
Google’s move to improve battery health transparency follows a similar trend in the industry. In late 2023 Apple came under scrutiny for anti-repair tactics through a policy of parts pairing. This policy authorized only Apple-manufactured components to be used for repairs and replacements in iPhones.
A repair expert that I spoke with found that Apple was removing battery health statistics from iPhones that had replaced the battery without authorization. This meant that Apple forced iPhone owners to get replacements at the Apple Store instead of cheaper independent repair shops.
Apple has since changed its tune, reversing parts pairing, stating it will not be applied to iPhone 16 and later. This means Apple batteries can be swapped into the 16 model, and calibrate successfully, without losing features.
