Insights At a Glance:

Google is pushing a Pixel 6a update on July 8 that reduces battery performance after 400 charge cycles.
Free battery replacements are only available in 7 select countries.
If you’re in Kenya or another unsupported market, you’ll be stuck with worse battery life—and no fix.
Hold off on updating your phone if you can. You’re better off with Android 16 (June patch) than risking battery throttling.

If you own a Pixel 6a and live in Kenya, or any country where Google doesn’t officially sell Pixel devices, here’s a heads-up: a software update coming next week could tank your phone’s battery performance—and Google’s got no fix for you.

Starting July 8, 2025, Google will roll out a mandatory Android 16 update to all Pixel 6a phones. This isn’t your regular “bug fixes and improvements” type of update. No. It’s part of a newly launched Pixel 6a Battery Performance Program aimed at addressing a potential overheating issue—which, to be fair, is a safety concern worth tackling.

The update will automatically install on all Pixel 6a units. But here’s the kicker: if your device has racked up 400 or more battery charge cycles (as many older or refurbished ones likely have), it will suddenly activate battery management features designed to reduce overheating risk by limiting performance. And by “limiting performance,” Google means:

Shorter battery life between charges
Slower charging speeds
And possible battery health recalibrations that confuse your battery gauge for a while

You’ll get a notification at 375 cycles warning you it’s coming. But here’s the bigger problem—if your phone’s performance tanks, you’re basically on your own.

So Who Is Getting Help?

Google is offering free battery replacements—but only in seven countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore, Japan, and India. If you’re in these regions and your Pixel 6a is flagged as “impacted,” you’re eligible for one free battery swap. In some cases, you can also claim a $100 cash payout or a $150 Google Store discount code.

All good, right? Well… not quite.

But What About the Rest of the World?

The Pixel 6a was officially sold in over 13 global markets, including countries like France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Taiwan. But more than half of these countries didn’t make the free battery replacement list. If you’re in those countries and your device gets nerfed by the update? Tough luck—you’ll have to pay for a new battery yourself.

Even worse, if you live in places where the Pixel 6a was never officially sold—think Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the wider African market, Southeast Asia (outside Singapore), and many others—you’re completely out of options. And yes, tech-savvy users in these regions imported the Pixel 6a, especially due to its excellent value and clean Android experience. Some bought it brand-new, others refurbished or second-hand—which increases the likelihood that these phones have already crossed or approaching that 400-cycle threshold.

The Real Risk for Kenyan and African Users

Let’s say you’re a proud Kenyan Pixel 6a owner who bought their phone through a third-party seller or shipped it in. You’re happy. You love your phone. But next week, this mandatory update lands on your device—and boom, your battery starts acting up.

There’s no official service center. No free battery replacement. No support option. No nothing.

This leaves you with two painful choices:

Live with a throttled device, shorter battery life, and slower charging, or
Pay out-of-pocket (likely a lot) to get the battery replaced—if you can even find a compatible battery and reliable repair shop locally.

Should You Delay the Update?

Absolutely, yes. At least if you’re in an unsupported country.

If your phone is running Android 16 with the June 2025 security patch, that’s still a very solid and secure build. There’s no need to rush—especially when the only immediate benefit is… battery degradation?

Remember: plenty of people are still on Android 15 or Android 14 (some even Android 13) and doing just fine. If your device is stable now, and you suspect it’s been through multiple charge cycles, it might be smarter to pause software updates—for now.

This Isn’t the First Time

Google’s track record isn’t spotless when it comes to battery woes. Back when Pixel 4a users faced similar issues, Google rolled out an update that hurt battery performance and offered free replacements in select regions. Sound familiar?

The pattern is clear: Google tries to do the right thing—but only where it officially operates. In unsupported markets like Kenya, we end up with the short end of the stick.