Pixel users are once again dealing with an unexpected problem after a recent software update. With the new updates, we usually expect the companies to introduce new features and fix the existing issues. However, the recent March update for Pixel has instead led to frustration. Since the users upgraded their device to the latest iteration of the operating system, they started reporting serious battery drain issues across the Pixel devices. From the latest Pixel 10 series to older models, users say their phones no longer last as long as before. Complaints have surfaced across different online forums and social media platforms. Here’s everything we know about the battery drain issue on the Pixel devices.
Users across different platforms have shared similar experiences, pointing to a sharp drop in battery performance after they updated their device to the latest build of the operating system. Some users also pointed out that their handsets now require being charged twice or thrice in a day, which is significantly more when compared to prior to the update. While others have reported a noticeable battery drain when the device is kept idle.
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While the reports mainly mention the issue with the recently launched devices like the Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 series, users who are running older devices such as the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 lineups are also said to be affected. Hence, the industry experts suggest that the issue may be linked to software rather than hardware.
Many users believe the problem began after the March 2026 Pixel update. As the update introduced changes to the charging optimisation of the Pixel device, which had already drawn criticism since its launch. Aside from the battery drain issue, in some cases the update even caused the Pixel devices to enter a boot loop, which just added to the user frustration.
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Some users have tried to identify the cause of the battery drain. One theory suggests there may be a bug in the latest software update that might be related to the GPS activity. According to this claim, the GPS may not be entering a low power state when not in use. It keeps the processor running in the background, which makes the battery drain faster even when the phone is not being used.
Google has not officially said anything about this problem or given details about a fix yet. Users were hoping the April update would solve the battery drain issue, but it mainly included general bug fixes and did not fix the battery problem.