Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority
News that the Pixel 8 series won’t get Android 16’s new Battery Health feature has stirred more outrage than you’d expect for such a mundane addition. Then again, perhaps it’s because it’s so seemingly rudimentary that it’s hard to fathom why older Pixels can’t or won’t receive a heads-up on how healthy their battery is.
Whatever the reason, it’s not a great look for a smartphone series that prides itself on trailblazing long-term handset support. I wouldn’t blame you for wondering whether seven years of promised updates are all they’re cracked up to be. But as we’ve said before, long-term support doesn’t necessarily guarantee access to every little feature — a readily apparent reality, even for phones barely a couple of years old.