Android Phones Finally Getting Battery Health Indicators Like iPhones
Google is reportedly working on adding a battery health indicator to Android phones, a feature that iPhone users have had for years. Hints found in the Android 14 QPR2 beta suggest Google is developing a “battery health” page in the Settings app.
While the current Pixel Feature Drop in December added the battery manufacture date and cycle count, the hidden battery health page indicates Android may soon show the “estimated percentage of charge the battery can currently hold compared to when it was new.” Icons for reduced battery capacity and undetected batteries were also found, suggesting the Settings app may provide tips to users when battery health is degraded.
iPhone users have been able to easily check battery health percentages and detailed usage statistics directly in the Settings app for some time now.
However, Android users have had to rely on third-party apps, such as AccuBattery, or obscure code inputs to access similar battery health data. The lack of an official battery health indicator has made it difficult for Android users to determine when their battery needs replacing.
The addition of a native battery health monitor would bring Android up to par with iPhones in providing insightful battery statistics. This is especially useful as genuine replacement batteries and repair guides become more available. Users will be able to make informed decisions about when to replace their battery rather than needlessly upgrading their entire phone.
The battery health page is still in development and not officially announced by Google yet. But if launched, it would mark an important step in making critical device health data more accessible to Android users. Combined with other repairability initiatives, this brings Android closer to the transparent battery monitoring iPhone owners have enjoyed for years.
Source: AA