Android 16 adds several new features related to charging and battery, including an assistant to limit cell degradation and the actual capacity percentage.
After months of beta, Android 16 is now available in stable version on Google Pixel. The update brings a number of new features, such as real-time notifications, better hearing aid management, and optimized multitasking on tablets. But here we're going to focus on a feature that has been talked about for a long time: battery health monitoring.
While the new Material 3 Expressive design won't be rolled out until September, what Google calls Battery Health Assist is well and truly present in this first build of Android 16 open to everyone. You can access it on the Pixel 8a and all newer models. It allows you to “manage the health and performance of your battery over the long term”, in Google's own words.
Your battery's health is no longer a secret for you with Android 16
Concretely, the system automatically adjusts the maximum voltage of the battery based on the number of charge cycles it has already undergone. This helps slow down the rate of battery degradation, but may also slightly lower the charging power in return. Native to the Pixel 9a, this feature cannot be disabled. This should also be the case on future Pixels. But users of older phones who receive the option with Android 16 can disable it if they don't want it.
Also starting with the Pixel 8a, the settings now show you the actual battery capacity of your device compared to the original capacity. You can thus see how much your smartphone's battery has degraded over time, and consider replacing it if necessary. With devices that are updated for seven years, the hardware, and the battery in particular, will inevitably have a little trouble keeping up in the long term.
Finally, phones starting with the Pixel 6 get a Battery Health menu. It includes tips for maintaining your health, as well as the adaptive charging and 80% battery capacity charging functions, which have been moved there.
0 Comments