Today sees the start of a mandatory automatic software update to Android 16 for Pixel 6a owners. This update brings the latest version of Android to the Pixel 6a and addresses a significant battery overheating issue.
Pixel 6a Pushed To Android 16
Android 16 was released on June 10, 2025. It offers updated security features, additions to the UI including Predictive Back animations, new codes for multimedia, and improved accessibility.
One of the visible changes is in the management of notifications. Android 16 will group notifications from a single app, live updates in the notification bar, so you don’t have to check back in with compatible apps, such as ride-share and delivery apps.
However, the most significant change for Pixel 6a owners is addressing the potential for overheating batteries by introducing new battery management software.
Pixel 6a Update Impact
Ahead of the rollout, the Google Developers website removed all factory images and over-the-air images for the Pixel 6a, presumably to ensure that there is no option to roll back to an older version of Android or continue using the previous iteration of the management software.
The update will also address concerns around battery overheating on a subset of Pixel 6a devices. This will include battery management rules that reduce battery capacity and charging rates on these devices after they pass 400 battery charge cycles. This restriction will be removed if a new battery is fitted to the 6a.
Google has pushed a similar software update to the Pixel 4a when it faced battery concerns. That update reduced the battery life of the 4a to a few hours.
Pixel 6a Owners’ Options
Depending on where you are based, Google is offering to replace the battery free of charge, receive a cash payment of $100, or a $150 discount code in the Google Store to upgrade to a new Pixel. Given the battery issues, it’s likely that the Pixel 6a resale and trade-in values offered by third-party sites will crash, so Google’s offer will be a welcome one.
Google is being particularly aggressive with its trade-in prices at the moment on the Pixel 9 series. Next month’s Made By Google event will see the launch of the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Pixel 10 Pro XL. No doubt, there will be more trade-in offers to promote the new handsets.
Trading in the Pixel 6a? Read one of the key improvements offered by the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL…
