Phones and Battery Bulge
Three months ago, I wrote a blog post regarding how I wasn’t going to replace my phone because I was pretty much done with the endless treadmill that is “upgrade culture”. At the time my Google Pixel 6 was three years old but continued to serve all my smartphone needs. So I signed up for a new “SIM only” contract with Vodafone and went about my business, feeling somewhat pleased with myself. However, “needs must when the devil vomits into your kettle”, to quote Blackadder. I recently noticed that the screen on my phone was coming away from the main enclosure. There was a distinct curve along the right hand edge, as if there was something inside the phone applying pressure outwards. Sadly, that is precisely what was happening. I searched online to see if this was a known issue and was subsequently introduced to the problem known as battery bulge.
Battery bulge, often referred to as “swelling”, is a condition where a lithium-ion battery case expands or deforms due to the build-up of gases inside. This is a result of the battery's internal components degrading over time or being damaged. It can also occur if the battery becomes excessively hot. The most common reason is overcharging. Since the advent of wireless induction charging, phones often spend time being charged regardless of whether the battery is fully drained. This continuous process can accelerate the battery's deterioration. Although any device powered by a lithium-ion battery can suffer from this problem, it would appear that the Pixel 6 is particularly prone to it. Furthermore, the process cannot be reversed and the only solution is to replace the battery. If left, the swelling can potentially damage components within the phone or crack the screen. The faulty battery is also a fire hazard.
When I investigated having my phone repaired, the overall cost was sufficiently high to make it more economically prudent to buy a new handset. Hence, I ordered a new unlocked Pixel 8a, which arrived today. I have already wirelessly migrated all my apps and data onto the new phone, which was a very straightforward and easy process. Reconnecting my Google Watch was not so seamless. Despite a transfer option being available, it failed and I had to do a hard reset of the watch and reconnect to the Pixel 8a from scratch. It is also worth noting that although apps are copied over, you have to log back into them all before you can use them. I have three banking apps, 10 email accounts and a dozen or so other services that are password protected. Hence migrating to a new phone is not quite as easy as the marketing claims. However, compared to setting up a new PC it’s a walk in the proverbial park.
Thanks to battery bulge, I had to spend £380 on a new handset and Spigen case, which wasn’t something I was anticipating. However, I am sufficiently old enough to have learned that all technology has a shelf life and often it is a lot shorter than you expect. So there’s no point crying over spilt milk, as the saying goes. My Pixel 6 lasted two and a half years. However, I have learned a lesson and as a result I shall now only be charging my phone when the battery is exhausted. I suspect that the habit of constantly topping it up via a charging cradle, when the battery is over 50%, contributes to reducing its overall lifespan. In fact, I think I shall be reviewing the charging habits of all of the electrical items that I own. Devices that run on lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous in our homes these days. Although broadly safe, they all have the potential to be a fire hazard if managed incorrectly, so more care is needed.
Roger Edwards