Pixel 7a: Google offers up to $450 in compensation for fresh battery issue affecting Pixel A series smartphones

Google has just released the Pixel 9a globally (curr. $499 on Amazon), which further narrows the gap between the company's Pixel A series and its flagship smartphones. While Pixel A and Pixel smartphones share many components, Google the former have increasingly struggled with battery-related issues in recent months.

For example, Google published an update for the Pixel 4a at the start of the year that effectively halved the smartphone's battery life. Fast forward to March and Google confirmed that the Pixel 9a's battery would start degrading after 200 cycles. Worse still, the device would slowly decrease its voltage between 201 and 1,000 cycles.

Now, Google has quietly announced an 'extended repair programme' for the Pixel 7a, which debuted less than two years ago. In a support post, the company admits that batteries in certain Pixel 7a handsets have degraded to the point that they have started inflating. Typically, this fault would present itself when the battery forces the Pixel 7a's back panel to bulge or detatch completely. However, there is a chance that the only sympton is drasticaly shorter battery life.

Currently, Google has only committed to one free battery replacement. Even then, the company will refuse a battery replacement if your Pixel 7a has liquid damage, display cracks or 'exposure to sharp objects'. If you live outside India or the United States, you may be eligible for various 'appeasement options' worth up to $456 converted to your local currency. Please see Google's support and registration pages for more information.