Android 16 Battery Health Menu Not Coming to Older Pixel Phones

Google is gearing up to introduce a highly anticipated Battery Health menu as part of the upcoming Android 16 update for Pixel smartphones. However, this feature will only be available on newer Google devices released in the past year or so.

The inclusion of the Battery Health menu in Android 16 has been a topic of discussion for some time now, and it has finally made its debut in the Android 16 Beta 3 release.

One of the key features of the Battery Health menu is its ability to provide users with detailed information about the degradation of their phone’s battery over time and usage. This functionality is similar to what Apple has offered in its iPhone range for years.

When asked about the absence of this feature on older Pixel devices, including the Google Pixel 8 Pro released in late 2023, a Google representative clarified that the Battery Health Indicator feature is currently supported in the Beta 3 release on Pixel 8a and Pixel 9 devices, including the 9 Pro Fold. However, due to product limitations, this feature will not be available on older Pixel devices currently in the market.

While this statement does not completely rule out the possibility of the Battery Health menu being extended to older Pixel devices in the future, it suggests that Google is focusing on newer models, with the Google Pixel 8a being the cutoff point for now.

It would certainly be disappointing if older Pixel devices missed out on this new UI feature, especially considering that entry-level models like the Pixel 8a would have it while higher-end models like the Pixel 8 Pro would not.