It’s not every day that a smartphone catches fire, but there is always a risk, especially with the aging of some components like the battery. However, aging alone isn’t the only risky factor. After all, a flawed technology can be a serious threat, as the Galaxy Note 7 taught us. The latest incident involves a Google Pixel 6a from 2022 that caught fire while charging on a bedside table. A Reddit user reported the incident and said that the phone was resting less than 40 centimeters from his head. It exploded with a loud noise and released a strong burning smell. The fire spread quickly and ignited the nearby bedsheet. The user inhaled smoke in the closed room, which caused throat discomfort and lingering symptoms throughout the day.
Another Pixel 6a Catches Fire Due to Battery Issues
The incident took place on July 26, according to the user’s post. He managed to pull the phone by its charging cable and throw it onto a tiled floor to prevent the fire from spreading further. The user also shared images of the burned phone and the surrounding damage. It also includes visible heat marks on a nearby air conditioner. The user described the experience as “terrible” and said he was unsure how to contact Google support by email. We can easily imagine how terrifying the situation is, and how it could be even worse if the fire had spread further. The user could have been seriously injured if he had been hit by the explosion or the fire. Any flammable material in the area could also make things even worse.
Incidents like this aren’t too rare, and the brands often conduct certain investigations to offer support. In this case, the battery was the culprit, and there is some evidence. Firstly, Google rolled out a mandatory software update for the Pixel 6a that aimed to limit battery performance on units that had crossed 400 charging cycles. Second, the company warned that affected devices could overheat or pose fire hazards if the update was not installed. This acknowledges that the battery is no longer the same after these 400 charging cycles. With almost three years since the launch of the said smartphone, we believe that most of the Pixel 6a units have reached this charging threshold and need the update.
Google Rolled out an Update to Limit Battery Performance Earlier This Month
This update went live on July 8 and applied to all Pixel 6a phones that surpassed the 375 cycles, at which point users were expected to receive a warning and become eligible for a free battery replacement. Some users have raised concerns that the update may be making things worse. One user on social media said his phone never had heating issues before the update. After it, it started to run extremely hot. However, after replacing the battery, the issue disappeared. So, it seems that keeping the old battery with the update could be a problem, and the best scenario is to get the free battery replacement.
The latest fire report is the third posted online in recent months. In May, another Pixel 6a reportedly exploded due to a swollen battery. Some users claim they did not receive any warning or were not in regions supported by Google’s walk-in repair centers.
