Google has always been characterized by providing its pixels exclusive characteristics. But this added value has disappeared after knowing that it will leave some of its most recent high models without essential function.
Knowing the state of battery health is one of the most anticipated novelties of Android 16. Something so simple but also useful for the user will be out of models as emblematic as the Pixel 8 ProIf Google does not change your idea.
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A decision without any sense or justification
I can perfectly understand that the manufacturers offer their premium functions to the most modern models. We have the best example with AI: artificial intelligence functions do not reach smartphones that are already a few years old.
In this case, it is logical and beyond being a marketing strategy, material limitations can justify this decision. But that Google Cape in its pixel a basic function as “battery health” is the least disappointing.
So far, Android has not made it possible to see the state of the battery (or at least not in a simple way). But that will change with the arrival of Android 16. In fact, we have already seen it in Android 16 beta 3.
Showing the battery capacity is a very useful fact for having a better reference on its degradation. Apple already published it several years ago and throughout this time, it was One of the things we missed on Android.
The rest of the manufacturers did not explain how this function will implement, but Google did. We already know that, unless they change their minds, The battery health function will only work on the released models of Pixel 8A.
In other words, it would currently include five models: Pixel 8A, Pixel 9A, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. What is the problem with that? I would leave aside models like Pixel 8 Prowhich has sufficient capacities to be able to offer this data, in addition to the other devices of previous generations.
When our mobiles do not arrive certain functions which require a material Advanced, I can understand perfectly. The best example is in Google himself, which has a “Lite” version of Gemini nano ai And leave aside certain artificial intelligence functions. Here, the reason is in his RAM has settled and I understand that the phone cannot execute some of these functions correctly.
But leaving aside the radar to the basic functions which do not need a great power have no meaning, especially when other new features of Android 16 will arrive.
In addition, although Google has spoken of “limitations” on the grounds of Battery health Do not reach certain terminals, if we look at the specifications of the models such as Pixel 8 Pro or Pixel 8A, we see that The chip they both use is the same. In addition, the 8th is always a cut version, so it is something quite questionable.
Beyond that, when Apple introduced this function in 2018, it brought it to all its iPhones as iPhone 6A phone that was presented in 2014 with a technical sheet infinitely lower than current models.
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It is curious that a function that would interest the oldest motives more Stay outside these terminals. In the end, mobile phones undergo the degradation of their battery over time, so at the time, it is currently more interesting information for users of a Pixel 8 Pro than those of Pixel 9a.
It is also the least ironic as a manufacturer who involves having one of the best update policies (Currently, it's seven years), forgotten as basic functions as on phones that are barely one or two years of life and quickly convert them to obsolete mobiles.
Cover image | Iván Linares
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