Google Pixel 4a old firmware is gone, trapping users on the buggy battery update

Re:Google Pixel 4a old firmware is gone, trapping users on t... by mottalli on Wednesday January 29, 2025 @10:50AM (#42866439)

I received the email from Google notifying me of this "battery performance update" for my Pixel 4A which actually drains the battery faster, so it left me scratching my head wondering what a "performance update" is for Google.

After the update, my battery was depleted at an alarming rate. I applied for the $100 voucher but I've never heard back from Google. So I decided to bite the bullet and moved to iPhone instead. Apple might not be the best, but this was the last straw for me.

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Re:Google Pixel 4a old firmware is gone, trapping users on t... by gertlex on Wednesday January 29, 2025 @11:37AM (#42867256)

I'm a weirdo who carries two pixel 4as. I'm also waiting for a response regarding the $100 voucher on one of my phones... My other one I took in for the free battery replacement, and that's doing OK.

But yeah, I was planning to go for a Pixel 9 or 9a (when that's been out for a while), but this forcing of the hand by google is absolute BS, and the alternatives are unsatisfactory.

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Re:Google Pixel 4a old firmware is gone, trapping users on t... by segasaturn on Wednesday January 29, 2025 @12:46PM (#42868412)

I recently ordered a Fairphone 5, imported from the UK. Stock Android experience, replaceable battery, SD card slot, unlocked bootloader and modding is encouraged. Its basically what the Pixel (Nexus) line was originally supposed to be.

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Re:Google Pixel 4a old firmware is gone, trapping users on t... by alt227 on Wednesday January 29, 2025 @01:23PM (#42868992)

You dont remember batterygate then?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batterygate

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Re:Google Pixel 4a old firmware is gone, trapping users on t... by zer0x4d on Wednesday January 29, 2025 @04:10PM (#42871189)

Lol this was the most blown out of proportion "gate" ever and a nothing burger really. The issue wasn't what Apple did, as it is a very common practice in the industry and I bet almost every other manufacturer did it too. The issue was that they didn't notify the user.

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Re:Google Pixel 4a old firmware is gone, trapping users on t... by wolpoli on Wednesday January 29, 2025 @06:25PM (#42872706)

Could you tell me what companies did the same thing in the mobile phone industry? Did those companies notify the user?

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Re:Google Pixel 4a old firmware is gone, trapping users on t... by zer0x4d on Wednesday January 29, 2025 @08:04PM (#42873546)

I can guarantee you every Pixel, Samsung, or Huawei phone had similar functionality built in but was never scrutinized.

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Re:Google Pixel 4a old firmware is gone, trapping users on t... by jeromegv on Wednesday January 29, 2025 @04:23PM (#42871340)

It was the opposite, slowing down the processor to preserve the battery (when a battery was quite old).

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