Google has finally got the battery health monitoring feature that Android users have been waiting for a long time. However, the scope of this feature is very limited, contrary to the expectations of users. The company plans to bring the feature to the devices that are only Pixel 8A and later. This decision seems to disappoint users of old models.
The battery health feature is considered as the equivalent of Apple’s similar functionality on the iPhone models in 2018 on the Android front. This vehicle, which visualizes the causes of users’ decline in battery life, allows to analyze the battery performance of the device in detail. Nevertheless, Google suggests that this feature can only work on models with certain equipment. This statement stands out as a limitation on the grounds of hardware constraints.
Why did Google exclude old devices?
According to a developer statement through Android Issue Tracker, the activation of this feature in older models such as Pixel 6 and Pixel 8 Pro is “not applicable.” The statement clearly stated that the relevant devices will not support this feature due to the current technical limitations. Google has therefore announced that no updates or improvements will be made for older devices. In short, old model users will not have the chance to experience this functionality.
The battery health monitoring function was presented to the test users for the first time in the Beta 3 version of Android 16, which was released in March 2025. Since then, this innovation, which has attracted the attention of Pixel users, offers data on battery capacity through a simple interface in the system settings. The existing charging performance can be clearly visible according to the original capacity of the battery. However, access to this data is only possible for devices with newly equipped devices.
This decision of Google draws a contradictory picture, especially considering the need for user devices, which decreased battery efficiency over time. Because it is known that the devices that have fallen battery health over the years need more such a monitoring system. Despite this, Google says that in the developer comments, the devices in question do not have the level of hardware suitable for this feature. The fact that the company does not share a clear technical justification leaves a question mark in the heads.
This development has once again raised the long -standing inconsistency in the distribution of Android updates between devices. The limited delivery of new software features to old devices stands out as a factor that directly affects the user experience. Google’s policy reunites the selective approach to software development. The limitation of new features only to the latest generation devices can lead to users to feel device renewal pressure.
In addition to all these, the long -term use of the battery health indicator is also a matter of curiosity. Particularly in new models, it can make the battery performance tracking of these devices more user -friendly. However, the exclusion of older models brings the device life and sustainability issues back to the agenda in the Android ecosystem. This deficiency can create an important gap for users who target longer usage time.
Although Google’s emphasis on hardware limitations seems to be a reasonable reason, Apple’s similar feature has made it in a wider range of devices makes it inevitable. It is natural that Android users expect a similar approach. However, Google continues to be more cautious and selective in supporting older models software. The effect of this approach on user satisfaction will be seen more clearly over time.