Google's Secret Behind the Pixel 4a Battery Update Revealed by Australian Safety Notice
Google's firmware update for the Pixel 4a aims to mitigate overheating risks, addressing a potential fire and burn hazard as confirmed by an Australian safety notice.
By Blip Tech
1 min read
Summary
- Event: Google released a firmware update for the Pixel 4a due to an overheating risk.
- Context: The update was announced in January, but the specific reason for it was not detailed until a recent Australian 'Project Safety Recall' notice.
- Australian Notice: The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) shared a recall notice on March 7, confirming that the firmware update is to mitigate the risk of overheating. Overheating batteries can pose a fire and burn risk.
- Google's Initial Statement: Google initially mentioned the update would improve battery stability by reducing available capacity and impacting charging performance.
- Similar Issue with Fitbit: The same issue was noted for the Fitbit Sense and Versa 3, where Google explicitly stated the overheating risk and required an immediate firmware update.
- Consumer Actions: Consumers are advised to check if their device has received the update. They can also submit a request to determine eligibility for compensation of $100 or $50 USD (local currency conversion). The issue does not affect all Pixel 4a devices.
- Timeline and Models: The Pixel 4a model G025N was sold from August 1, 2020, to September 30, 2022.
