Pixel battery health feature skips older models

Google’s new Pixel battery health feature should’ve been a win. It’s something users have wanted for years—a simple way to see how much your battery has degraded over time. Apple’s had it since 2018. Now, with Android 16 Beta 3, Pixel 9 and 8a owners finally get access. But if you’re holding onto an older Pixel, don’t bother checking—Google just confirmed you won’t be getting it.

According to a Google Issue Tracker post, the company says the feature “will not be available on older in-market Pixel devices” due to “product limitations.” That includes phones like the Pixel 8 and even the more expensive Pixel 8 Pro. Yep, the cheaper Pixel 8a gets it. The flagship? Nope.

It’s a weird and frankly frustrating move. This wasn’t some advanced AI tool or futuristic camera feature. It’s a battery stat. Something any modern phone should be able to show, especially when third-party apps and root tools have done it for years. The Pixel battery health feature isn’t launching with Android 16 stable just yet, but when it does, it’ll still be locked to newer hardware.

Google says it’s due to limitations, but it sure feels arbitrary. It’s not hard to imagine a world where this gets quietly added to older models in the future—but until then, it’s another case of Pixel owners being left behind.