An exciting new feature has come to Google Pixel phones in the December 2024 update for Android 15 QPR1: an option to limit battery charging to 80% for preservation of its health. And that’s not all; it seems this also flips on a somewhat lesser-known feature called “bypass charging,” which will bring additional advantages to users who are interested in preserving the life of their battery.
The 80% Charge Limit: A Step to Safeguard Battery Health
The new limit of 80% is to minimize wear and tear on a phone’s battery. Regularly charging a battery completely to 100% may quicken the degradation of a battery over time and thus reduce its lifetime. In this respect, by limiting the charge to 80%, Google wants to increase the longevity of the Pixel devices-a very critical feature as the company wants users to keep their phones up to seven years.
That will allow several generations of Pixel users to enable the feature for improved battery management.
What is Bypass Charging?
A surprising element included in this update, at least seemingly so, is “bypass charging.” Discovered by Android Authority, this feature lets Pixel phones directly use power from a charger, not from the battery, once that 80% threshold has been reached.
Testing showed that once the battery reaches 80%, the phone throttles down to match power draw to use. For instance:
*While idle, the phone consumes only 0.1W of power.
*Switching the screen on increases this to 0.74W.
*Running apps can take the power draw up to 2.6W.
*Heavy-duty performance tasks, such as benchmark running, push it to a maximum of 7.6W.
This behavior indicates that the phone bypasses the battery altogether, pulling power directly from the plug. When “Adaptive Charging” is re-enabled, the device returns to typical charging patterns.
Benefits of Bypass Charging
Bypass charging has a couple of advantages, especially for heavy users. For mobile gamers, this feature is a game-changer. It allows the phone to maintain performance without depleting the battery or causing overcharging, which can generate heat and degrade the battery.
Besides that, bypass charging also helps reduce the amount of heat generated during intensive tasks, which is one of the most common problems in gaming-focused smartphones. Many gaming-specific devices already offer bypass charging, and its inclusion in Pixel phones marks a step forward for everyday users.
Device Compatibility and Future Potential
While the 80% charging limit has been made available on several Pixel models, bypass charging has only so far been confirmed on the Pixel 8 Pro. It is probable that this feature extends to other models such as the Pixel 8, Pixel 8a, and Pixel 9 series, but this remains unverified.
Even though users may not know about bypass charging, it can silently prolong the life of their devices. As Google continues to emphasize the themes of sustainability and long-term usability, features like these will become even more central to how Pixel phones stay relevant in the years ahead.
This update is just another example of how Google works to improve the user experience while addressing some long-term issues like battery health and device durability.
Images and source: 9to5Google