Pixel phones face challenges related to overheating and excessive battery drain during the idle period after each major update rollout. With the latest optimizations under the hood in Android 14, Pixel devices now show improved performance, run at lower temperatures and offer extended battery life to users. However, it’s worth mentioning that even with Android 14’s thermal management improvements, Google’s Tensor chips still consume a lot of power and can cause the phone to heat up, especially during heavy use or when exposed to direct sunlight.
In 2021, Google’s smartphone division made a strong comeback with the Pixel 6, which boasts exceptional imaging performance and a Tensor G1 chip, introducing cutting-edge AI features. However, the device faced heating and connectivity issues. The Pixel 7 in 2022 addressed those concerns, bringing key improvements and the Tensor G2 chip, which emphasized efficiency over performance itself. Despite these improvements, users of both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 still experienced overheating during regular use.
A significant cause of the overheating problem was the tendency of Tensor chips to generate excessive heat. Both the Tensor G1 and G2 are manufactured using Samsung’s 5nm node, a generation older and less efficient than TSMC’s technology. In addition, these chips used older CPU cores that consumed more power. In contrast, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Gen 2 chips, built on TSMC’s 4nm node, showed significantly cooler performance in the best Android phones. However, fixing the problem required more than just a hardware upgrade.
There have been various instances where fundamental bugs in Android or Google apps have led to massive idle battery drain and overheating on Pixel phones.
Android 14 fixes heating and battery drain issues
With the release of Android 14, Google seems to have made significant optimizations behind the scenes to alleviate those heating issues. Pixel 6, Pixel 7 and even Pixel 5a users have reported on platforms like Reddit that their phones now run smoother and have reduced overheating with the latest Android update.
The first thing that stood out was when engaging in activities that usually cause the phone to heat up significantly, such as gaming and listening to audiobooks, there was no noticeable heat even with the mask on. Removing the cover confirmed that the phone remained cool to the touch. Then users began to appreciate the significant improvement in battery performance.
Furthermore, battery life seems to have improved, likely due to the CPU operating at reduced stress levels. Comparing battery consumption during similar activities, such as podcast streaming and a 2-hour bike ride, reflects a significant decrease in battery consumption with Android 14. This improvement is a promising aspect of the update.
Many feel that Android 14 justified their choice of a Pixel phone. Now running cool, smooth and over 8.5 hours SOT, the phone that was coveted. A few even reported that their battery life doubled on a single charge. It feels like a miracle with almost double the battery life.
Aside from the constant overheating and battery drain issues that have been resolved, Bluetooth connectivity has shown improvement, allowing both headsets to work properly. Additionally, the updated screen size settings provide more options to customize the phone’s font sizes, which is a really positive change.
These are the first impressions of Android 14 and they are very favorable indeed, especially in terms of improved battery life, improved Bluetooth connectivity and expanded screen size customization options. It would make sense to look at long-term performance and report back.
Pixel users commonly express concerns about overheating and significant idle battery drain after a major update. So it’s refreshing to note that a major Android update has at least once had a positive effect in addressing these issues.
The experience with Android 14 is extremely positive. Despite initial reservations about the upgrade, given past experiences where Pixel updates often brought a host of issues, this defied expectations. It was without a doubt the smoothest and most useful update to date.
However, it’s important to set realistic expectations – Android 14 may not completely eradicate all heating issues on your Pixel. Since Tensor SoCs tend to consume a significant amount of power, your phone is still likely to heat up or become too hot to the touch, especially during heavy use under direct sunlight or while gaming.
How to sideload Android 14?
For those who can still see Android 13 in their system update and are desperate for stable Android 14, here’s how to flash it without losing data!
To sideload Android 14 to your Google Pixel, follow these steps:
- Download Android 14 files: Get the necessary files to install Android 14 on your Pixel. You have two options: factory image (wipe your phone) or OTA file (installs over your current build without wiping your phone). For OTA files, download the OTA file associated with your device from Google’s Full OTA Image hosting page.
- Boot into Recovery Mode: a. Turn off your Pixel. b. Simultaneously press and hold the Power key and the Volume Down key until you reach the Bootloader page, indicated by an image of Android lying on the screen. c. Use the volume keys to scroll down to “Recovery mode” and select it with the power key. d. In recovery mode, press the power button and the volume up button for about one second to fully enter recovery mode.
- Go to ADB Sideload: Use the volume buttons to scroll down to “Apply update from ADB” and select it with the power button. This will prepare your device for sideloading the OTA.
- Connect your device to a computer with ADB tools installed: Make sure you have ADB and Fastboot tools installed on your computer. Connect your Pixel to your computer using a USB cable.
- Enter the Sideload command: Use ADB to sideload the OTA file:
- On Windows: Open a command prompt in the ADB tools folder and type adb sideload.
- On macOS or Linux: Use Terminal and type ./adb sideload in the ADB tools folder.
- Insert the file name of the .zip folder you downloaded from Google and press Enter to start the sideloading process.
- Reboot your phone: Once the OTA has finished installing, you’ll be booted back into recovery mode. Select “Reboot Now” to complete the update and reboot your Pixel into Android 14 Beta.
Make sure you have backed up all your important data before proceeding and follow the instructions carefully to successfully download Android 14 Beta on your Google Pixel.
Categories: How to
Source: newstars.edu.vn