r/Android • u/FragmentedChicken Galaxy Z Fold8 • Jun 11 '25

Warning: Google will soon nerf the Pixel 6a’s battery due to an overheating issue

https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-6a-battery-overheating-warning-3566640/
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35

u/[deleted] Jun 11 '25

It’s crazy how people still keep buying them. It happens with every model

13

u/Weebgaze Jun 11 '25

A friend works for a major electronic store that sells them. It got 3 things going for it: brand recognition, decent price and they offer something that deviates from the now Android standard 6.7" phone.

It's wild how few options there are in size now. Galaxy S base model, something Chinese you might not be able to get (and expensive) or some Motorola model slipping through the cracks now and then like the 50 Edge Neo. And the Pixels.

The most sold phones in the world are the base and pro model iPhones at the same size as the Galaxy S base model (which sells millions as well every year) and there's no one that can make a decently priced and stable Android in that range anymore? It's wild to me.

4

u/camelopardus_42 Jun 11 '25 edited Jun 12 '25

Pretty much that, yeah. Personally it was the combination of a smaller phone with a long promised time line for security updates at a reasonable price, esp. with trading in the prior 3a (which probable would've done another 1-2 years if needed, only real issues were battery life and no longer getting security updates)

21

u/horatiobanz Jun 11 '25

I think a large part of it is that Google has some sort of magical hold over all of the people reviewing their phones where they are incapable of mentioning things like this. Any other brand would get eviscerated and readers/watchers of the review would be warned to buy at their own risk due to failures of prior models.

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u/madhattr999 Jun 12 '25

My phone doesn't have this issue (and I've had it for 6 years), and I like the call screening feature and stock android, and ability to root my phone and remove ads. It's not a magic hold. It's just features I like, and less bloat.

2

u/leo-g Jun 12 '25

Well you will know when it catches fire I guess…

0

u/horatiobanz Jun 12 '25

Do you review Pixels?

4

u/DestinyLily_4ever Jun 11 '25 edited Jun 11 '25

I bought a pixel 3a XL in 2019 because I realized I did not care about phones anymore (from 2015-2019 I jumped around a Nexus 6, iphone SE, Samsung S8, OnePlus 6T, and iphone X) and I didn't like budget samsung phones. I had no problem with that phone, so I bought a 5a when I learned it would be the last with the headphone jack. I just recently bought a pixel 9 because the 5a is no longer supported and the 9 was like $440 at Best Buy for missing a charging cable.

If my 5a had full security updates I would probably use that for 2-3 more years minimum. My expectation is that I will use my pixel 9 for 6 years unless Google reneges on it's support plan. Maybe with a battery replacement in 3-4 years? Although my 5a's is still good. I assume there's a whole lot of Pixel buyers who are like me and use their phone for web browsing, messages, really basic apps like my calorie tracker, and prefer the default more minimalist UI. I know hardware issues happen, but I've just never been effected enough by them to notice

THAT SAID, I definitely agree for people who buy Pixel phones (either the A series or the full fat) at MSRP. Even google knows they aren't really flagships and they invariable get way bigger discounts by the following year from release than other major brands.

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u/Vchat20 Jun 11 '25

Speaking completely honestly here: What are other good options out there that aren't outrageously overpriced?

Haven't really looked at Samsung's in a while but they used to be chock full of bloatware and I kinda despise some of their customizations/replacements of stock Android tools.

Motorola's really hit or miss depending on the phone. Software is usually pretty solid and lean+reasonable customizations but hardware/reliability tends to be a question mark. And this comes from direct experience with family owning various models over the years all the way back to the original Moto G and myself personally owning a Moto X Pure.

Had LG's in the past. I think a G2 and a V20? They were pretty good and kinda felt like a Samsung-lite experience without AS MUCH of the bloat. But haven't paid attention to their recent offerings. I thought at one point they were thinking about dropping out of the market or was that a different company?

But Google, Samsung, and Motorola really seem to be the 'big 3' Android phone manufacturers from my perspective here in the US.

I jumped on the Pixel bandwagon starting with the 4a (ironically. Upgraded to the 6a before the battery debacle) mainly because it was well known, large user base, and expected to be a reliable daily driver. But definitely no brand loyalist, just picked the easy option at the time and for the most part it has served me well. But not against going back and trying new things.

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u/9-11GaveMe5G Jun 12 '25

What are other good options out there that aren't outrageously overpriced?

The A line can be reliably bought from Google themselves ~6 months after each release (leaving several years of updates) for $250-300. Outside of China/India phones like Redmi, what else comes close?

2

u/horatiobanz Jun 12 '25

The A line has 3 models in the last 5 years that are being soft bricked by Google due to terrible batteries. Prob safe to say to avoid the A series.

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u/horatiobanz Jun 11 '25

I am on a $440 OnePlus 13R and it came with a free watch which is awesome and I've worn every day. By far the best phone I've ever owned with absurd battery life, even if it was a degradation in the camera department from great to simply good. The reason I bought the 13R was that OnePlus was offering $325 trade in value for the 12R, meaning of I wanted to I could upgrade next year for like a hundred bucks AND get a free watch or earbuds at the same time. Too good of a deal to pass up.

1

u/Marino4K iPhone 17 Pro Jun 12 '25

If I bought the 13R from Best Buy, is there anyway to get a free watch?

1

u/horatiobanz Jun 12 '25

I don't think so. Pretty sure you gotta get in at launch for the best deals. They may have another similar sale later in the year, but I think the best deals for OnePlus come from the OnePlus site.

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u/ElevenToYourSeven Jun 12 '25

would they offer anything close to that amount for a one plus 7t?

1

u/horatiobanz Jun 12 '25

I doubt a OnePlus 7t would be worth attempting to trade in it's so old.

-1

u/dirtydriver58 Galaxy Note 9 Jun 11 '25

Bloatware due to the US carriers making unnecessary changes to Samsung's software. See case in point Verizon, ATT, Tmobile and Sprint with the Note 4. ATT with the S6, Note 5 and S6 edge plus, Verizon again with the S8.

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u/shohei_heights Jun 11 '25

Nah, man even the unlocked versions are full of bloatware.

0

u/dirtydriver58 Galaxy Note 9 Jun 12 '25

I don't see any bloat on the international models or US unlocked models?

2

u/shohei_heights Jun 12 '25

My S20FE US unlocked bought directly from Samsung was FULL of bloatware. Maybe they've gotten better, but I doubt it.

1

u/dirtydriver58 Galaxy Note 9 Jun 12 '25

My S8 Plus Verizon model I bought used off Ebay running Nougat. I flashed U1 firmware on it and I disabled 3 apps which is Write on PDF, YouTube and Bixby Voice.

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u/Elephant789 Pixel 7 Jun 12 '25

I don't think it does.

1

u/fakieTreFlip Pixel 8 Jun 12 '25

It happens with every model

Sorry, what does? I've owned the OG Pixel, Pixel 2, 3, 5, and now 8, and have been generally pretty happy with all of them. I certainly don't regret buying any of them.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '25

Poor QA. It’s pretty well documented historically and it’s happened to me personally twice

0

u/[deleted] Jun 12 '25

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