Ryan Haines / Android Authority
TL;DR
- The Google Pixel 9 phones now let you view battery charging cycle information.
- This feature appeared on Pixel 8 phones earlier this year but it was pulled following the March 2024 update.
- It also comes years after Apple first offered charging cycle info on its iPhones.
It’s been a long time since Google first confirmed that it would bring battery cycle information to Android. The feature temporarily went live on the Pixel 8 series earlier this year before it was pulled. Thankfully, the Pixel 9 series now offers this functionality.
We can confirm that a battery information screen is available on Pixel 9 phones and is accessible by tapping Settings > About Phone > Battery information. The page shows the battery’s date of manufacture, the date of first use, and (yes) the number of charging cycles.
All phone batteries naturally lose some capacity over time as you charge and discharge them. However, this happens at a different pace for various phones. For example, the iPhone 15 series loses 20% of its rated capacity after 1,000 charging cycles, while the OnePlus 12 takes 1,600 charging cycles to lose 20% effective capacity. We’ve asked Google about the Pixel 9’s charging cycles and will update the article accordingly.
Either way, major battery degradation can be felt in the real world. For example, a phone that used to offer two days of juice might only offer 1.5 days of battery life. Or a phone that used to last a full day might require a charge immediately after work.
So the ability to view charging cycle information is handy as it can help you figure out whether your phone battery has significantly degraded and is in need of a replacement or if there’s another issue. A phone with only a few charging cycles won’t need a battery replacement just yet, unless there’s a defect. Either way, Google is catching up to Apple, which has offered charging cycle info for a few years now.
Google is expected to up the ante with a diagnostics tool in Android 15. In addition to the charging cycle info seen in the screenshot above, the tool will display your battery’s effective capacity to give you an even better idea of degradation over time. The diagnostics tool will also let you test various components in case you suspect other hardware issues.
Google Pixel 9 Pro
All Pro, reasonable size
High-quality display
Seven years of software support
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
The best specs in the Pixel 9 series
Gorgeous display
Seven years of software updates
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Improved design
8-inch folding display
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