This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
Google Pixel 9. | Image by PhoneArena
Pixel phones don't come with big mAh batteries like the ones you'll find in the OnePlus 15, Honor Power 2, or other smartphones from Chinese brands. But thanks to software optimization and efficient hardware, they are still able to deliver good battery life even under heavy usage.
However, things changed completely after the March Feature Drop. Your votes suggest that Pixel phones are consuming too much battery following the March update.
Excessive battery drainage is the main issue
I recently published a story covering all the problems I've been facing on my Pixel 10 after installing the March update. The article included a poll where I asked you guys to vote for the problem you're facing on your Pixel after downloading the update. The poll has currently received 1,658 votes, with the majority of readers voting for the option that says the device is consuming too much battery.
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Are you noticing any difference in your Pixel after the update?
Things got even worse after the April update
Rear view of Pixel 9 and Pixel 8. | Image by PhoneArena
Along with experiencing a major drop in performance, some users also noticed that their Google phones weren't lasting as long as they used to before installing the update. However, this apparently happened with a limited number of users, as there were very few reported incidents about it online. But online community forums got flooded with complaints related to the poor battery performance of Pixel smartphones after the release of the April update.
A user posted about it on the Google Issue Tracker, and the post has received over 700 comments in just 15 days. This strongly suggests that the problem is pretty widespread. You'll find related reports on other platforms like Reddit and the Google Community forum as well.
The issue doesn't seem to be exclusive to any particular series, as I can spot complaints about the battery drainage problem in almost all Pixel phones. From the Pixel 6 and 7 to the 8, 9, and 10, almost every Google Pixel model is apparently suffering from poor battery performance.
What's actually causing the battery drainage issue?
At the time of writing, there isn't any official statement from Google on what's actually causing the problem. The tech giant is reportedly still gathering information to find out what's actually behind all this.
However, a Reddit user claims to have found the culprit. According to them, the March update introduced a bug that is preventing the CPU of Pixel phones from entering the suspended state. This is eventually resulting in the device remaining in idle condition even when you have put it in airplane mode.
It needs to be fixed ASAP
After almost 6 months of owning the Pixel 10, I have realized that Pixel updates are really like a gamble. Sometimes they can introduce some really cool features. Other times they can negatively impact even basic functionality like battery life and performance.
The good news, however, is that Google has reportedly marked this particular issue in its priority list. That means there's a strong possibility that we might see a fix for it in the upcoming May update. In addition to this, the tech giant could also resolve the bootloop problem with the upcoming software release.
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Aman Kumar is a tech news writer with a long-standing passion for smartphones. Aman specializes in everything smartphones, from AI features like Pixel’s Camera Coach to understanding ideal hardware combinations. He loves breaking down complex features in a simple, clear way and hopes manufacturers bring back bold designs like the Nokia N-Gage. When he’s not writing, he’s either gaming on PUBG or talking fitness as a dedicated gym enthusiast.
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