TL;DR
Google has confirmed that its Battery Health Assistance feature can’t be turned off on the Pixel 10 phones.
This feature gradually reduces your phone’s charging speed and battery to “stabilize” battery performance and aging.
This also comes after a string of Pixel A series phones suffered from major battery issues.
Google introduced a Battery Health Assistance feature on the Pixel 9a earlier this year. This feature gradually drops your phone’s charging speed and battery voltage in the name of battery health. This tool is mandatory on the Pixel 9a but optional on other Pixel phones. However, there’s bad news for the Pixel 10 series.
Google confirmed to Android Authority that Battery Health Assistance is mandatory on the Pixel 10 series and can’t be disabled. That means your phone’s charging speed and effective battery life will drop over time.
“This software will adjust the battery’s maximum voltage in stages that start at 200 charge cycles and continue gradually until 1000 charge cycles to help stabilize battery performance and aging,” the company explained earlier this year during the Pixel 9a’s release. “You may notice small decreases in your battery’s runtime as your battery ages. Battery health assistance will also tune the phone’s charging speed based on adjusted capacity. You may notice a slight change in battery charging performance.”
Why is this a big deal?
All smartphone batteries degrade over time, resulting in shorter and shorter endurance. Google says the Pixel 8a and newer Pixel phones can withstand 1,000 charging cycles before their batteries drop down to 80% effective capacity. However, this Battery Health Assistance feature essentially reduces the phone’s battery capacity over and above standard degradation.
Do you think Google should make battery health assistance mandatory?
124 votes
Yes, absolutely
19%
No, this is completely wrong
81%
This is particularly disappointing as users aren’t given a choice in the matter. It’s also disappointing as some rival smartphone makers address battery health concerns by offering more durable batteries. For example, Samsung’s top phones can withstand 2,000 charging cycles before dropping down to 80% effective capacity, while OnePlus and OPPO’s lithium-ion batteries offer 1,600 cycles before reaching 80% capacity. So there likely wouldn’t be a need for a Battery Health Assistance tool if Google’s batteries had similar longevity. Furthermore, many OEMs, including Google, already offer software-based battery health measures like capping the maximum charge to 80%.
The issue also comes after several older Pixel A series models suffered from major battery issues in 2025. Some Pixel 4a models received a mandatory update back in January that dramatically reduced battery life and charging speed, while a similar update landed on some Pixel 6a phones in July. Meanwhile, Google offered a free battery replacement program for some Pixel 7a units due to battery swelling issues. This does make us wonder whether Google is simply being cautious regarding long-term battery health because of these previous problems, or if the Pixel 10 range might have issues too.
Google Pixel 10
Very promising battery specs • 6.3-inch display • Loaded with Google AI features
Baseline excellence.
The Google Pixel 10 is the 6.3-inch base model of the in-house Android phones from Google. With plenty of high-speed storage options, a good amount of RAM, and the all-new Tensor G5 processor, it should blow through your mobile computing tasks with ease. A triple camera system includes standalone ultrawide and telephoto lenses, and a 50MP main sensor.
Google Pixel 10 Pro
Top-tier specs with small display • Satellite SOS • Powerful AI tools • Bright display
More power in the smaller form-factor
The Google Pixel 10 Pro marks a new trend. As the medium model in the Pixel 10 line, it offers top-tier specifications with the smaller 6.3-inch display. Diverging from previous Pixel series’ trend of the medium phone being a large display with low-tier specs. We’re excited for the Tensor G5 chipset, high-resolution display, UFS 4.0 storage options, big 16GB of RAM, and the AI-powered triple camera setup with 50MP main sensor.
Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
Biggest non-folding Pixel phone • Best specs and AI features
Ultimate power from the Pixel 10 line
The most powerful option from the Pixel 10 line is the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. With a 6.8-inch display, Tensor G5 shipset, 16GB of RAM, UFS 4.0 storage options, a powerful triple camera setup, and a battery in excess of 5,000mAh, you should be able to power through any task in your day.
Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold
Top-tier specs • IP68 rating • 6.4-inch outer and 8-inch inner displays
Thinner, more powerful, and a bigger display
The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold combines a 6.4-inch front display with a folding 8-inch inner panel for two capable viewing experiences. With the Tensor G5 shipset, 16GB of RAM, and lots of UFS 4.0 storage options, it matches the Pixel 10 Pro XL in terms of specifications and performance. The folding phone also offers a triple camera setup, plenty of powerful AI features, wireless charging, and an IP68 rating.
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