Users of popular Android phone offered free battery replacement after ‘vampire’ update – check if you’re eligible
THE owners of a particular Android phone have been offered a free battery replacement following a new update.
The Android 13 update is expected to degrade how long the device holds its charge, meaning customers will experience a shorter battery life once it’s installed.
It is an automatic update, rolling out on 8 January, so consumers are unable to avoid it.
Google has emailed device owners who may be affected, according to a report from Ars Technica.
The handset that will be impacted is the Pixel 4A, an affordable Pixel model released in 2020.
In a new help page, titled “Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program”, Google wrote that it had noticed issues with “some” Pixel 4A devices.
“From January 8, 2025, Pixel 4a devices will receive an automatic software update to Android 13,” the company wrote.
“For some devices (“Impacted Devices”), the update includes new battery management features to improve the stability of your battery’s performance, so the battery may last for shorter periods between charges.”
Pixel 4A owners may also notice their device taking longer to reach a full charge, or changes to how the battery-level indicator on their phone shows its capacity.
Google added: “We want our customers to have the best possible experience with their products, so users of these Impacted Devices are eligible for an appeasement from Google.”
This “appeasement” includes a free battery swap, $50 (£40) in cash or $100 (£80) to put towards another Pixel phone in the Google Store.
However, not everyone is eligible.
“Not all Pixel 4a devices are impacted by the reduction in battery capacity and charging performance,” Google wrote.
“Therefore if your device is not impacted the battery will perform the same as before, and you will not be eligible for an appeasement.”
Pixel 4A owners can enter their IMEI number on this page to find out if theirs is affected.
To find your IMEI number, simply open Settings > tap About phone > find IMEI.
Google hasn’t outlined what is behind the issue.
Although, The Verge has likened the scenario to Apple’s “batterygate“, which resulted in an £853 million lawsuit.
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