This is probably one of the worst things to happen in the smartphone space. It’s following Apple’s batterygate scandal but is worse because it’s happening to Android folk. It was funny when it was iPhone users but we can’t have this become a norm in Androidland.
In January 2025, Google initiated the “Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program,” releasing an Android update aimed at enhancing battery stability. However, this update led to reduced battery capacity and charging performance for some users. We’re talking a massive reduction with most users reporting half the battery life they got before the update.
As one user commented on 9to5Google, “I liked my phone but now the battery does not hold a charge if you are using the phone. It takes about 45 minutes to go from 100 to 25 when using the phone.” Yikes.
To address these issues, Google offered affected users options including a free battery replacement, a $50 payment, or a $100 discount toward a new Pixel device.
To be fair, Google is much better than Apple in that they are offering users a FREE battery replacement. It doesn’t get better than that. Apple first denied that the updates nerfed battery life and still weren’t as generous.
However, I don’t really care about American users. I’m thinking about my fellow Zimbos who imported their Pixels. Getting that battery replacement is not going to be tenable. This again shows just how great of a perk it is to buy a phone from a manufacturer that has a presence in your country.
There’s no escaping this
Anyway, subsequently, Google removed all previous Pixel 4a software updates from its download site, leaving only the latest version available. This action prevents users from reverting to earlier software versions.
This is Google going down the evil route. See, the biggest problem with the update from hell is that, as per Google themselves, it is “automatically downloaded to your device when the software is released and your device is charged and connected to the internet.”
You have no choice in the matter. You don’t want the update that kills your phone’s battery because you won’t be able to get the battery replacement in Zimbabwe? Tough luck my G, you should have bought an Itel.
After being forced to download the update, Google went ahead to the archives and deleted older software versions for the Pixel 4a so that you can’t downgrade to them. That’s just being cruel.
Might explain why Google dropped the ‘Don’t be evil’ mantra. So dear Zimbo, just stick to WhatsApp bundles and never connect to Wifi on your Pixel 4a and you just might escape. At what cost though?
