Google’s Pixel 10 has launched a new functionality known as Battery Health Assistance, aimed at regulating battery degradation by reducing charging speeds and limiting battery capacity. This feature is enabled by default and cannot be disabled by users. It begins to decrease the battery voltage after 200 charge cycles and continues to modify it until 1,000 cycles, leading to slower charging and diminished battery capacity over time.
The Battery Health Assistance function was initially introduced with the Google Pixel 9a and seeks to ensure consistent battery performance as the device ages. Once the Pixel 10 hits 200 charge cycles, it automatically starts to decrease the battery voltage in stages, continuing to 1,000 cycles. This gradual modification is meant to assist the battery in aging more uniformly and sustaining performance stability.
However, this feature also implies that the battery’s usable capacity will diminish, resulting in shorter battery life and extended charging durations. Google has not disclosed the precise amount of capacity lost after 200 charge cycles. The company asserts that Pixel batteries should keep 80% of their initial capacity after 1,000 charging cycles, but the continuous Battery Health Assistance feature may lead to further capacity loss.
In contrast, Samsung’s flagship devices are rated to hold 80% battery capacity after approximately 2,000 charge cycles, underscoring a notable difference in battery management approaches between the two firms. Google’s choice to enforce the Battery Health Assistance feature may serve as a precautionary step following the Pixel 6a’s overheating problems, striving to safeguard the Pixel brand’s reputation.
In summary, while the Battery Health Assistance feature is intended to extend battery longevity, it also places limitations on users by restricting their capacity to control battery settings independently.
