A little more than a month after Google released an update to prevent the Pixel 6a from overheating and possibly catching fire, a Reddit user reports that it’s happened again.
Last month, Google issued a software update that purposefully limited the 6a’s charging capacity and performance.
Over the weekend, a Reddit user posted a somewhat harrowing account of how they were woken up that morning by a horrible smell and loud noise. Their Pixel 6a, less than two feet from their face, was on fire. The fire spread to their sheets, the user said, and damaged their AC unit. The user also complained about their throat hurting the rest of the day because they had inhaled toxic smoke. They also shared photos of the badly charred device.
Also: The latest Google Pixel 6a update may limit your battery – but you’ll be glad to know why
The phone was on a third-party 45W fast charger.
According to later updates, the user did have the update to prevent overheating but did not have their battery replaced (they weren’t close to a walk-in repair shop). They also explained that the email from Google wasn’t urgent enough and only encouraged them to “consider” a battery replacement for a “performance update.”
In that same post, another user reported their Pixel getting very hot when charging after the update when it didn’t before.
It’s not just the Pixel 6a that’s having battery issues. The Pixel 4a had battery performance problems that were so bad Google offered financial compensation to affected customers, and the 7a had so many battery swelling problems that the company instituted a special extended repair program.
I found several different reports from other users saying their 6a devices also caught on fire, and plenty of reports of overheating.
If you have a Pixel 6a, you can use Google’s tool to check your eligibility for a battery replacement or compensation. Affected users can get a free battery replacement plus $100 cash or a $150 credit to the Google Store towards the purchase of a new device.
Also: I still prefer my Google Pixel 9 Pro over the expensive flagships – and it’s not even close
If you’re still using your 6a without a battery replacement, it’s probably a good idea to charge it with a slow charger and make sure it’s not too close to your bed while charging overnight.
I’ve reached out to Google to ask why Pixel 6a devices are apparently still having issues despite the user having the new update and will update with its response.
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