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Google has acknowledged battery issues with three Pixel phone models this year, with the Pixel 6a and Pixel 7a suffering from the most serious problems, including units that have caught on fire. Now, it appears different battery problems may be affecting two older flagship Pixel phones.
Reports of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro suffering from battery swelling have grown over the last few months. As spotted by Piunikaweb, and later reported by Android Authority, a thread on the company’s support website from early May shows the back of the phone separating from the rest of the device due to battery swelling.
“Recently, I noticed that the side panel of the device has started to separate,” the forum post says. “Upon closer inspection, it appears the battery may be swelling, posing a significant safety risk, including the potential for explosion or fire.”
In July, another user reported a similar issue on their Pixel 7 Pro. They soon followed up to say they had a positive experience with Google support, but didn’t clarify whether they received a replacement device or if they had their battery repaired.
By early September, there were 10 similar reports. Many said they got help from Google, while others have struggled to get a response. Only one report refers to the standard Pixel 7, with the rest being Pixel 7 Pro. None have had their devices catch fire.
Google has yet to officially acknowledge these reports. We reached out for a comment.
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If you’re experiencing a similar issue with your battery swelling on a Pixel phone, contact Google’s support services as soon as possible. If you own a Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro that hasn’t suffered from battery swelling, inspect the rear of the device from time to time.
In July, Google rolled out a mandatory software update for Pixel 6a owners with battery management features. That update “will reduce your device’s battery capacity and charging performance to reduce the risk of potential battery overheating,” it said at the time. However, you might not notice anything right away.
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