Update, December 12, 2024 (07:09 AM ET): Google has confirmed that Pixels now indeed support bypass charging. The battery is bypassed if you have the option selected, and keep your Pixel plugged in at 80% charge.
Original article, December 10, 2024 (01:35 PM ET): Tucked away in a recent Pixel Feature Drop, Google has finally included the long-anticipated option to cap battery capacity at 80% as part of the Charging optimization menu. But what does the phone do when it hits 80% and it’s still plugged in? Does it slow down and trickle charge the battery, or does it bypass the cell completely and provide power directly to the components?
While we can’t know for certain without Google’s say-so, I’ve conducted a few tests to help figure it out. They all suggest Pixels do indeed now support bypass charging as a side effect of the 80% limit option.