Not being on fire is a performance program.
Google's mandatory software update for the Pixel 4a, an Android phone from 2020, earlier this year raised eyebrows. The update crippled battery life, leaving some models practically unusable. While Google remained tight-lipped, Australian authorities have revealed the alarming truth: the update was a desperate attempt to mitigate battery overheating and fire risks.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) Product Safety division issued a recall for the Pixel 4a, citing that Google's firmware update and battery changes aimed to "mitigate the risk of overheating" because "an overheating battery could pose a risk of fire and/or burns to a user."
Australia made explicit risks of "fire and/or burns" for non-updated 4a models.
[Clarification: The recall specifically targeted Pixel 4a models that had not received the update.]
In stark contrast to the ACCC's explicit warning, Google's messaging in the US and elsewhere avoided the term "recall." Instead, Google presented a "Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program," stating that "certain" Pixel 4a models "require a software update to improve the stability of their battery’s performance," which also "reduces available battery capacity and impacts charging performance."
Google claimed it is still safe to charge a Pixel 4a.
A Google spokesperson told Ars that the ACCC notice pertained to a "battery performance issue that affected a limited subset of Pixel 4a devices." The spokesperson emphasized that Pixel 4a devices with affected batteries remained usable and directed users to a device checker to determine eligibility for appeasement.
Australia's notice directs users to Google's device checker and appeasement options:
Google's support page states that its update and remedy options are separate from statutory rights provided in various countries.
Google's update drastically reduced the charging potential of affected Pixel 4a devices, essentially cutting it in half. One Ars staffer experienced a battery life plummeting to less than two hours on a full charge.
One Ars staffer saw their Pixel 4a battery life drop to less than two hours on a full charge.
Hardware analyst Hector Martin discovered that the updated Pixel 4a kernel contained code that identified batteries with either "ATL" or "LSN" profiles. Those with the LSN tag—potentially the battery cell maker Lishen—had their charging capacities capped.
While Google downplayed the issue as a "battery performance" problem, the ACCC's recall reveals the severity of the situation. The update, while crippling performance, was likely a necessary measure to prevent potential fires and burns.
The Pixel 4a saga raises a critical question: How transparent should companies be about potential safety risks, even if it means admitting a design flaw?