Google has recently released a long-anticipated Battery Health menu in Android 16 Beta 3, but unfortunately, this feature is limited to the Pixel 9 series and the Pixel 8a. Users of older Pixel models, including the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, have been left out due to unspecified product limitations. This leaves many users without a native solution to assess their device’s battery performance.
Understanding a phone’s battery health is crucial for diagnosing issues like rapid battery drainage. For some time now, iPhones have featured a Battery Health menu within their settings, allowing users to easily monitor battery degradation. Google’s efforts to introduce a similar feature for Pixel smartphones have been ongoing since the Android 14 QPR2 Beta 2 release in December 2023.
However, it was only with the recent launch of Android 16 Beta 3 that beta users could finally access the feature. Despite early reports indicating the availability of the Battery Health menu for Pixel 9 series users and the Pixel 8a, older models have been notably absent. Google has officially acknowledged that the Battery Health Indicator won’t be supported on these devices, as per feedback from the Google Issue Tracker.
The confirmation suggests that the feature will remain exclusive to the latest models. While the Pixel 8a was introduced in May 2024 and the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro arrived in October 2023, older devices, some of which are only a year old, will miss out on this essential functionality. In contrast, even a much older iPhone 6 received its Battery Health menu several years ago.
Users of older Pixel models now face the dilemma of seeking alternative methods to check their battery health without built-in diagnostics.
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