Google’s long-awaited battery health indicator for Android is officially skipping older Pixel phones, despite them arguably needing it the most.
The feature, part of the upcoming Android 16 release, is exclusive to the new Pixel 8A, Pixel 9, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, leaving out earlier devices like the Pixel 6 and Pixel 8.
“Won’t Fix (Infeasible),” Says Google
In a response on the public Android Issue Tracker, a Google developer clarified the restriction, citing “product limitations” as the reason it’s “infeasible” to bring the feature to older models. While users hoped for a broader rollout, the official stance leaves little room for future support.
The battery health menu, which first appeared in Android 16 Beta 3, is designed to help users understand battery degradation over time—similar to Apple’s feature introduced back in 2018.
Ironically, this would have been especially useful for aging Pixel phones that no longer hold charges as well.
Backlash and Questions Remain
The move has frustrated many Pixel users, especially since battery concerns tend to impact older devices most.
While the technical reasoning remains unclear, speculation suggests hardware-level telemetry or firmware differences may be to blame.
Google has yet to provide an official public explanation for the restriction, despite inquiries from media outlets.
