Google Pixel 4A Recalled in Australia Due to Battery Overheating Risks

Google has been experiencing a severe issue with its Pixel 4a phone, that of battery overheating risks. The problem led to an Australian recall when the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released a “Project Safety Recall” notice. The recall indicates that some Pixel 4a phones are at risk of overheating, which would lead to fires or burns.
In January 2025, Google issued a Battery Performance Program update to the Pixel 4a. Initially, the company was coy about the intention of the update, stating it was to improve battery stability. The update, however, dramatically reduced the battery’s maximum voltage from 4.45V to 3.95V, resulting in a tremendous reduction in charging capacity. This change rendered some phones nearly unusable since they would deplete their charge very quickly once pulled off the charger.
The Australian recall notice states that the update was conducted to minimize overheating risk. An overheating battery is highly risky, with potential fire and burns for the consumers. The recall clarifies that not every Pixel 4a device is affected but where they are, firmware update is necessary to minimize such risks.
Customers are invited to check if their device has been released the firmware update or not. If impacted, customers can experience longer charging times, along with more need to charge. Google will be giving affected customers compensation, in the form of either a $100 USD discount on Google Store or $50 USD payment, both of which will be made in local currency.
The Australian recall is certainly a precursor to the same across other markets. The issue of the Pixel 4a pinpoints the dilemma for producers as regards how to balance device functionality and safety issues. The step to limit battery capacity in the implicated devices illustrates Google’s prioritization of user safety over support for maximum device functionality.
Pixel 4a, released in 2020, was greatly praised for being affordable and functional. The battery issues have marred the reputation, though, particularly since the recent software update was extremely inconvenient to users. Irrespective of the problem, Google’s proactive action towards addressing the overheating risk speaks well of how dedicated it is to ensuring the safety of the user at the expense of usability on some devices for users.
For the customers who purchased the Pixel 4a from August 1, 2020, to September 30, 2022, it is required to verify if their phone is impacted. Google has provided tools through which users can verify their eligibility for compensation and whether their phone requires the safety update or not. The response of the company towards the bug includes offering appeasements to users who are impacted, which may be repairs, compensation, or future discounts.
Overall, the Pixel 4a situation is a reminder of the ongoing issue of battery safety in electronics. While the recall and repair have been inconvenient to some users, they are necessary steps in preventing more severe safety issues.