Android 16 Beta Adds iPhone-Style Battery Health Feature

Google has initiated the rollout of Android 16's third beta version. While it doesn't introduce a radical redesign, it comes with some noteworthy features that users might find helpful. One such feature is a battery health check system.

The feature, named Battery Health, is accessible through the Battery dashboard in the Settings app. There’s not an overload of functionality, but it does provide information regarding the electrochemical state of your phone’s battery.

Why is this crucial?

Smartphone batteries, typically lithium-ion, are subject to frequent charge and discharge cycles on a daily basis. Over time, this leads to gradual chemical degradation, impacting the battery's ability to hold a charge. Essentially, rechargeable batteries are consumables with a finite lifespan.

Numerous factors come into play, such as impedance and battery voltage, both of which are influenced by the battery's chemical aging process. Based on the health of the battery, smartphones can implement different optimizations to manage device performance, avoid extreme shutdowns, and reduce instances of lag.

Until now, Android devices didn’t provide any means for users to assess the condition of their battery. Thanks to the Android 16 Beta 3 update, the new Battery Health dashboard offers this capability through a percentage display, resembling the feature available on iPhones.

According to Google, this percentage reflects the estimated charge capacity of the battery compared to a brand-new standard battery. A battery health rating above 80% is generally considered optimal, indicating that the device should function smoothly without noticeable charge or performance issues.

If it falls below that level, users can contact the manufacturer’s support service to inquire about a potential battery replacement, contingent on warranty coverage.

It offers additional features

Monitoring battery health is beneficial over time, particularly when experiencing performance hiccups. Users can quickly determine if an aging battery is the cause based on the health percentage.

Additionally, Google’s approach will provide users with various suggestions to optimize their device's battery life while maintaining its overall condition. The Battery Health dashboard will also feature charging optimization controls.

Among these features is adaptive charging, which adjusts the charging speed when the phone is plugged in overnight, reaching full capacity just before waking up. Additionally, users can choose to cap charging at 80% of the battery's maximum capacity.

Furthermore, the battery health dashboard will provide quick access to guides and articles that will help users find an effective balance between maintaining battery health and maximizing device performance.

Some of these tips include reducing background activity from features like Now Playing song identification, using adaptive brightness, and limiting app background activities.