{"id":162474,"date":"2025-09-17T05:35:17","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T05:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/162474\/"},"modified":"2025-09-17T05:35:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T05:35:17","slug":"some-google-pixel-7-users-are-facing-serious-battery-swelling-issues-as-an-ex-engineer-this-is-why-im-concerned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/162474\/","title":{"rendered":"Some Google Pixel 7 users are facing serious battery swelling issues \u2014 as an ex-engineer, this is why I&#8217;m concerned"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"1988f937-6169-4487-9942-4a5ab5d4e28d\">The reality is that phone batteries are not the most impressive or interesting part of a phone. However, they&#8217;re easily one of the most important pieces of hardware in a device, and when things go wrong with them, it&#8217;s a real issue.<\/p>\n<p>Battery issues are certainly nothing new, but sometimes a problem is constant across generations, and this is where Google seems to be finding itself. In a recent series of posts on <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/pixelphone\/thread\/342237331?hl=en&amp;msgid=361619107\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/pixelphone\/thread\/342237331?hl=en&amp;msgid=361619107\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Google&#8217;s Support Forum<\/a> (via <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/piunikaweb.com\/2025\/09\/15\/pixel-7-and-7-pro-battery-swelling\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/piunikaweb.com\/2025\/09\/15\/pixel-7-and-7-pro-battery-swelling\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Piunikaweb<\/a>,) users have complained about their <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/google-pixel-7\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/google-pixel-7\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Google Pixel 7<\/a> series batteries swelling.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"1988f937-6169-4487-9942-4a5ab5d4e28d-2\">One user took to Google\u2019s support forum to explain, \u201cI am writing to report a serious issue with my<a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/google-pixel-7-pro\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reviews\/google-pixel-7-pro\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> Pixel 7 Pro<\/a>, which I purchased approximately two years ago. Recently, I noticed that the side panel of the device has started to separate, as clearly shown in the attached photo. Upon closer inspection, it appears the battery may be swelling, posing a significant safety risk, including the potential for explosion or fire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You may like<\/p>\n<p>Now, this isn\u2019t the first Google Pixel to feature battery issues; for instance, we recently saw that Google was offering <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/pixelphone\/thread\/319199402\/pixel-7a-overheating-battery-swelling-and-rapid-drain-issue?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/pixelphone\/thread\/319199402\/pixel-7a-overheating-battery-swelling-and-rapid-drain-issue?hl=en\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">one-time battery replacements for the Pixel 7a<\/a> due to a wealth of complaints about the battery swelling.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-ad874e21-eaa1-4b26-8081-c496071b43c1\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/>What causes battery issues and what can you do?<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/okWLMLFZgU9dzDuwPaJ88n.jpg\" alt=\"Pixel 9 Pro with swollen battery\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/okWLMLFZgU9dzDuwPaJ88n.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/okWLMLFZgU9dzDuwPaJ88n.jpg\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: google support forum)<\/p>\n<p id=\"bfb24e61-7958-4776-997b-820a2c1ced7b\">First things first, <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reference\/smartphone-swollen-battery\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/reference\/smartphone-swollen-battery\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">why do batteries swell in the first place<\/a>? Essentially, it&#8217;s down to chemical reactions within the battery eventually breaking down internal components. Over time, this leads to a process called &#8220;outgassing,&#8221; which refers to the buildup of gases within the phone. Usually, this occurs when the battery reaches a certain age, or it can be caused by misuse or damage to the battery.<\/p>\n<p>There are ways to avoid some of the causes, including taking the right precautions when charging your phone. We have a full breakdown of <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/android-phones\/i-was-a-phone-engineer-and-here-are-the-best-tips-to-keep-your-android-phone-battery-healthy\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/android-phones\/i-was-a-phone-engineer-and-here-are-the-best-tips-to-keep-your-android-phone-battery-healthy\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">how to care for your battery, <\/a>but in essence, it boils down to keeping your phone at around 80% of charge, rather than constantly peaking at 100%. You also want to make sure the phone doesn\u2019t drop below 20%.<\/p>\n<p>Thankfully, the Google Pixel 7 series does have <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/android-phones\/android-15-could-introduce-this-great-charging-feature-to-google-pixels-heres-what-we-know\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/android-phones\/android-15-could-introduce-this-great-charging-feature-to-google-pixels-heres-what-we-know\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">a<\/a><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/android-phones\/android-15-could-introduce-this-great-charging-feature-to-google-pixels-heres-what-we-know\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/android-phones\/android-15-could-introduce-this-great-charging-feature-to-google-pixels-heres-what-we-know\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">daptive charging,<\/a> which can help to better control your phone&#8217;s charging behavior.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.<\/p>\n<p>If it\u2019s a faulty battery, then there isn\u2019t much you can do to prevent this from occurring. If the fault is down to damage to the battery, there are two possibilities. The first issue is that the battery isn\u2019t seated properly in the phone, resulting in increased force when the phone is impacted. You could grab a <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-google-pixel-7-cases\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-google-pixel-7-cases\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">case for the Pixel 7<\/a> or <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-google-pixel-7-pro-cases\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/best-picks\/best-google-pixel-7-pro-cases\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Pixel 7 Pro <\/a>if you haven\u2019t already, but that\u2019s by no means a perfect solution.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-3ae018d8-b718-4766-b068-434e93041aaf\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/>Google has a problem with it&#8217;s batteries<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.20%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PTtGhA3shWFTfoAHKc9BG6.jpg\" alt=\"Pixel 7a vs. Pixel 7\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PTtGhA3shWFTfoAHKc9BG6.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/PTtGhA3shWFTfoAHKc9BG6.jpg\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Toms Guide)<\/p>\n<p id=\"7ef4ce04-d4f4-4584-9ddd-f23f834bbb66\">Here&#8217;s the issue that I have with this entire thing: it&#8217;s far too common at this point for a phone of this age. It&#8217;s worth noting Google released the Pixel 7 series back in 2022 and has stated that it would support the phone until 2027. With that in mind, seeing these issues arising again is worrying and raises the question of whether your Pixel phone will actually last that long.<\/p>\n<p>Not only is this an issue, but the posts on the support forum paint a mixed picture regarding Google&#8217;s solutions. Some users have reported Google offered third-party battery replacements and the like. However, one user stated that Google offered to refund the cost of a <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/i-was-a-phone-engineer-and-these-are-the-things-to-watch-out-for-when-using-third-party-parts-in-your-smartphone\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/phones\/i-was-a-phone-engineer-and-these-are-the-things-to-watch-out-for-when-using-third-party-parts-in-your-smartphone\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">third-party battery replacement<\/a> from an authorized repair center if the user had a receipt. However, any damage to the screen and back panel would be counted as out of warranty.<\/p>\n<p>You may like<\/p>\n<p>For now, we don&#8217;t know why this issue seems so prevalent in the Pixel 7 generation. I&#8217;ve contacted Google for a comment, and received the following statement from a Google spokesperson:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Most phones use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which have a limited number of charge cycles and will eventually need to be replaced. As such, many factors like temperature, charging and discharging, and device usage contribute to a decrease in your battery\u2019s capacity among other battery issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re experiencing an issue with your battery, please submit a\u00a0<a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/support.google.com\/pixelphone\/answer\/9218411?hl=en__;!!FMox2LFwyA!ofyFOT--kzcX4pCMsnzJubsTV1yLbWBACmm2-kbg6k8S5pb-fCbc7i2IDdADNcOvgZ4l2fOR8JGYkoAIQb8cKx-ihA%24\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/support.google.com\/pixelphone\/answer\/9218411?hl=en__;!!FMox2LFwyA!ofyFOT--kzcX4pCMsnzJubsTV1yLbWBACmm2-kbg6k8S5pb-fCbc7i2IDdADNcOvgZ4l2fOR8JGYkoAIQb8cKx-ihA%24\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">warranty claim<\/a>\u00a0and consult our\u00a0<a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/support.google.com\/pixelphone\/answer\/15738128?hl=en&amp;sjid=15942773768035864010-NC__;!!FMox2LFwyA!ofyFOT--kzcX4pCMsnzJubsTV1yLbWBACmm2-kbg6k8S5pb-fCbc7i2IDdADNcOvgZ4l2fOR8JGYkoAIQb-7B74rLQ%24\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/urldefense.com\/v3\/__https:\/support.google.com\/pixelphone\/answer\/15738128?hl=en&amp;sjid=15942773768035864010-NC__;!!FMox2LFwyA!ofyFOT--kzcX4pCMsnzJubsTV1yLbWBACmm2-kbg6k8S5pb-fCbc7i2IDdADNcOvgZ4l2fOR8JGYkoAIQb-7B74rLQ%24\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Help Center<\/a>\u00a0as immediate next steps. Google support will assist you once your claim is received. &#8220;<\/p>\n<p>Let me know in the comments below if you&#8217;ve experienced battery swelling in your Pixel phone and any recommendations you personally received from Google.<\/p>\n<p>Follow <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJ2YlhObmRXbGtaUzVqYjIwb0FBUAE\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKAgKIiJDQklTRXdnTWFnOEtEWFJ2YlhObmRXbGtaUzVqYjIwb0FBUAE\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tom&#8217;s Guide on Google News<\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tomsguide.com\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tomsguide.com\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">add us as a preferred source<\/a> to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-more-from-tom-s-guide\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/>More from Tom&#8217;s Guide<a id=\"elk-db8b4d12-1b5e-4207-b31b-f908cd922e27\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1756332489_168_image-6361382-13664766.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"hawk-tracking-pixel-image\" draggable=\"false\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\"\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The reality is that phone batteries are not the most impressive or interesting part of a phone. However,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":162475,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[165,74],"class_list":{"0":"post-162474","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-mobile","9":"tag-technology"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=162474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162474\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/162475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=162474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=162474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=162474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}