What it’s essential to know
- Google casually confirms the Pixel 8a’s existence, hinting at the return of the beforehand eliminated battery stats function.
- The function shall be unique to the Pixel 8a and its successors, per a Google software program engineer.
- The battery stats function was launched in Android 14’s QPR1 replace after which disappeared in the March 2024 Pixel replace.
- It turns out Google deliberately eliminated the function, with the software program engineer stating that it wasn’t meant for current units.
Google has casually confirmed the existence of the Pixel 8a by dropping a touch a couple of just lately eliminated function that is making a comeback with it.
The affirmation was made after a Google software program engineer responded to a person bug report. In a thread about battery stats, the software program engineer let it slip that the function is making a comeback for the Pixel 8a, signaling that the Google Pixel 7a’s successor is in the pipeline (through 9to5Google).
The software program engineer additionally talked about that this function is completely for the Pixel 8a and the fashions that can come after it.
The Android bug tracker chat was initiated after Google slipped in some new battery stats info with the Android 14’s QPR1 replace, positioned in the About cellphone part inside the Settings menu. It allowed customers to verify out the charging cycle counts and when their battery was manufactured.
Fast ahead to the March 2024 replace for Pixel telephones, and the function vanished into skinny air. Naturally, folks obtained interested by why it disappeared. The larger query was why Google launched a function after which went silent when it out of the blue vanished. Google averted offering a proof for that.
On the bug tracker web page, the software program engineer said that the disappearance was intentional as a result of this web page wasn’t purported to pop up on present units in the first place.
According to the thread, the function is about to return with the Pixel 8a. And just perhaps, these battery stats may go dwell for all Android telephones when Android 15 launches later this yr.
Anyway, this marks the first time that Google has overtly confirmed the upcoming midrange mannequin’s existence. That stated, it isn’t an enormous shock, given the launch patterns of the firm’s latest Pixel A-series telephones.
Rumor has it that the Pixel 8a may make its debut in the subsequent few months, presumably seeing the mild of day round the time of Google I/O in May.
When it comes to cost tags, earlier rumors counsel the cellphone’s price may take a little bit leap once more (just like how the Pixel 7a outpriced the Pixel 6a).