I have a Pixel 6a, I've had it for nearly 4 years, I paid $425 for it at
JB, but it came with a free ChromeCast which I sold for $50 on eBay so
the phone cost just $375. Recently, I got an email from Google saying
that it had battery problems and would be limited to 80% charge, but, in recompense, I could either have a payment of USD100, or USD150 off a new phone.

I chose to buy a Pixel 9a, which, with the discount, cost $575, with the
idea of flogging the old phone on eBay for maybe $250-300. Two things
became a problem with that, Google put a message on the lock screen
saying "Battery replacement required", and the TV news carried a scare
story that all Pixel 6as were little hand grenades about to explode into flames in your pocket. That put it's value down to $100 or less. But
then another email from Google said that a mistake had been made and I
was due for some more money, then they sent me $645.

So I have a new up to date phone, the old phone, and $70 cash in the
pocket, good result.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

keithr0 <me@bugger.off.com.au> wrote:

So I have a new up to date phone, the old phone, and $70 cash in the
pocket, good result.

I might have thought the good result was not dying in a house fire
started by a dodgy phone battery exploding. I'm increasingly wary
of charging anything with Li-Ion batteries. There's a lot of this
happening, and it just shows you still can't even trust the big
brands.

--
__ __
#_ < |\| |< _#

--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 21/10/2025 4:21 pm, Rod Speed wrote:

keithr0 <me@bugger.off.com.au> wrote

I have a Pixel 6a, I've had it for nearly 4 years, I paid $425 for it
at JB, but it came with a free ChromeCast which I sold for $50 on eBay
so the phone cost just $375. Recently, I got an email from Google
saying that it had battery problems and would be limited to 80%
charge, but, in recompense, I could either have a payment of USD100,
or USD150 off a new phone.

I chose to buy a Pixel 9a, which, with the discount, cost $575, with
the idea of flogging the old phone on eBay for maybe $250-300. Two
things became a problem with that, Google put a message on the lock
screen saying "Battery replacement required", and the TV news carried
a scare story that all Pixel 6as were little hand grenades about to
explode into flames in your pocket. That put it's value down to $100
or less. But then another email from Google said that a mistake had
been made and I was due for some more money, then they sent me $645.

So I have a new up to date phone, the old phone, and $70 cash in the
pocket, good result.

Mate of mine got one of those, and the steaming turd kept shutting
down, claiming it had overheated even in the winter when it wasnt
in the sun or car and that choice review finds its a steaming turd

I've owned 3 Pixels, and a Nexus, never had a problem with any of them.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 21/10/2025 2:59 pm, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:

keithr0 <me@bugger.off.com.au> wrote:

So I have a new up to date phone, the old phone, and $70 cash in the
pocket, good result.

I might have thought the good result was not dying in a house fire
started by a dodgy phone battery exploding.

AFAIK, there have been 2 cases of them burning, not exploding, and not
fast charging them to 100% fixes the problem.

I'm increasingly wary
of charging anything with Li-Ion batteries. There's a lot of this
happening, and it just shows you still can't even trust the big
brands.

The vast majority of fires have come from cheap dodgy Chinese e-bikes
and scooters, or incorrect chargers. When I was into RC model cars,
there were plenty of reports of NiCads exploding when charged too far
and too fast.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

keithr0 <me@bugger.off.com.au> wrote:

On 21/10/2025 2:59 pm, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:

keithr0 <me@bugger.off.com.au> wrote:

So I have a new up to date phone, the old phone, and $70 cash in the
pocket, good result.

I might have thought the good result was not dying in a house fire
started by a dodgy phone battery exploding.

AFAIK, there have been 2 cases of them burning, not exploding, and not
fast charging them to 100% fixes the problem.

Yeah fixes the problem so well that Google are paying people to buy
another phone. Anyway, just stating my view, you can choose your
own risks to take.

I'm increasingly wary
of charging anything with Li-Ion batteries. There's a lot of this
happening, and it just shows you still can't even trust the big
brands.

The vast majority of fires have come from cheap dodgy Chinese e-bikes
and scooters, or incorrect chargers.

Yeah I'd be wary of those to, especially any charging set-up where
the batteries have so little protection you have to connect the
correct charger to avoid over-charging them. Consumer equipment
should have battery management in the device to avoid that with any
Li-Ion device.

But there are still too many phones starting fires as well. In NSW
alone 10 recorded in 2022 and 13 in 2023, plus probably plenty of
unrecorded cases. Apparantly numbers of fires have kept going up
since then, and I've personally heard accounts of two fires that
burnt a house to the ground - one cordless drill battery that the
owner couldn't get out of the house quickly enough after it started
go, and an unattended laptop.

https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/gallery/resources/SARET/FRNSW%20LiB%20fire%20data%202022-23.pdf
pg. 13

Phones are especially risky since many will have them charging
in their bedroom, increasing the risk of being unable to escape
the fire that they start.

When I was into RC model cars,
there were plenty of reports of NiCads exploding when charged too far
and too fast.

Did the NiCds shoot out flames that set fire to the house like
Li-Ion, or just go pop?

--
__ __
#_ < |\| |< _#

--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Petzl <petzlx@gmail.com> wrote:

Fires with them always came by trying to charge them as fast as
possible, we even used arc welding equipment on nickel cadmium battery
(NiCd) by "zapping" example link <https://www.instructables.com/Revive-Nicad-Batteries-by-Zapping-with-a-Welder/>
So safety goes out the window to get results

Well you can build a safer rig than that. Lately I've been trying
to gather up the right scrap inductors to build a battery zapper
for Lead-Acid batteries. I'd be using it on concreate outside the
house though, which is also where I charge most Li-Ion batteries,
inside a metal trunk (I won't use the trunk for the Lead-Acid
batteries because they vent gas).

--
__ __
#_ < |\| |< _#

--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Computer Nerd Kev wrote:

keithr0 <me@bugger.off.com.au> wrote:

On 21/10/2025 2:59 pm, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:

keithr0 <me@bugger.off.com.au> wrote:

So I have a new up to date phone, the old phone, and $70 cash in the
pocket, good result.

I might have thought the good result was not dying in a house fire
started by a dodgy phone battery exploding.

AFAIK, there have been 2 cases of them burning, not exploding, and not
fast charging them to 100% fixes the problem.

Yeah fixes the problem so well that Google are paying people to buy
another phone. Anyway, just stating my view, you can choose your
own risks to take.

I'm increasingly wary
of charging anything with Li-Ion batteries. There's a lot of this
happening, and it just shows you still can't even trust the big
brands.

The vast majority of fires have come from cheap dodgy Chinese e-bikes
and scooters, or incorrect chargers.

Yeah I'd be wary of those to, especially any charging set-up where
the batteries have so little protection you have to connect the
correct charger to avoid over-charging them. Consumer equipment
should have battery management in the device to avoid that with any
Li-Ion device.

But there are still too many phones starting fires as well. In NSW
alone 10 recorded in 2022 and 13 in 2023, plus probably plenty of
unrecorded cases. Apparantly numbers of fires have kept going up
since then, and I've personally heard accounts of two fires that
burnt a house to the ground - one cordless drill battery that the
owner couldn't get out of the house quickly enough after it started
go, and an unattended laptop.

https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/gallery/resources/SARET/FRNSW%20LiB%20fire%20data%202022-23.pdf
pg. 13

Phones are especially risky since many will have them charging
in their bedroom, increasing the risk of being unable to escape
the fire that they start.

When I was into RC model cars,
there were plenty of reports of NiCads exploding when charged too far
and too fast.

I never charge phones in the bedroom, and since it has electrically
operated window shutters I keep a tomahawk handy for emergency exit in
the event of a house fire and power failure, and being unable to exit
into the house via the doorway. it's also handy to subdue victims too.
(ok, that last is a joke)

Did the NiCds shoot out flames that set fire to the house like
Li-Ion, or just go pop?

--
Linux Mint 22.2
Q: What's the difference between Linux and Windows?
A: You rule Linux, Microsoft Windows rules you


--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 22/10/2025 7:53 am, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:

keithr0 <me@bugger.off.com.au> wrote:

On 21/10/2025 2:59 pm, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:

keithr0 <me@bugger.off.com.au> wrote:

So I have a new up to date phone, the old phone, and $70 cash in the
pocket, good result.

I might have thought the good result was not dying in a house fire
started by a dodgy phone battery exploding.

AFAIK, there have been 2 cases of them burning, not exploding, and not
fast charging them to 100% fixes the problem.

Yeah fixes the problem so well that Google are paying people to buy
another phone. Anyway, just stating my view, you can choose your
own risks to take.

I'm increasingly wary
of charging anything with Li-Ion batteries. There's a lot of this
happening, and it just shows you still can't even trust the big
brands.

The vast majority of fires have come from cheap dodgy Chinese e-bikes
and scooters, or incorrect chargers.

Yeah I'd be wary of those to, especially any charging set-up where
the batteries have so little protection you have to connect the
correct charger to avoid over-charging them. Consumer equipment
should have battery management in the device to avoid that with any
Li-Ion device.

But there are still too many phones starting fires as well. In NSW
alone 10 recorded in 2022 and 13 in 2023, plus probably plenty of
unrecorded cases. Apparantly numbers of fires have kept going up
since then, and I've personally heard accounts of two fires that
burnt a house to the ground - one cordless drill battery that the
owner couldn't get out of the house quickly enough after it started
go, and an unattended laptop.

https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/gallery/resources/SARET/FRNSW%20LiB%20fire%20data%202022-23.pdf
pg. 13

Phones are especially risky since many will have them charging
in their bedroom, increasing the risk of being unable to escape
the fire that they start.

When I was into RC model cars,
there were plenty of reports of NiCads exploding when charged too far
and too fast.

Did the NiCds shoot out flames that set fire to the house like
Li-Ion, or just go pop?

Generally they burnt out the car who's battery was being used to charge
them. Try and shove too much energy to fast into most batteries, and
they will overheat, possibly causing a fire. Lithium batteries are more susceptible since the electrolyte is inflammable.

Power banks do seem to be a problem at the moment (possibly because they
tend to contain more energy than the average phone), several bursting
into flame spontaneously, probably cheap Chinese junk, most airlines are restricting their carriage and use.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 22/10/2025 2:32 am, Rod Speed wrote:

keithr0 <me@bugger.off.com.au> wrote

Rod Speed wrote

keithr0 <me@bugger.off.com.au> wrote

I have a Pixel 6a, I've had it for nearly 4 years, I paid $425 for
it at JB, but it came with a free ChromeCast which I sold for $50 on
eBay so the phone cost just $375. Recently, I got an email from
Google saying that it had battery problems and would be limited to
80% charge, but, in recompense, I could either have a payment of
USD100, or USD150 off a new phone.

I chose to buy a Pixel 9a, which, with the discount, cost $575, with
the idea of flogging the old phone on eBay for maybe $250-300. Two
things became a problem with that, Google put a message on the lock
screen saying "Battery replacement required", and the TV news
carried a scare story that all Pixel 6as were little hand grenades
about to explode into flames in your pocket. That put it's value
down to $100 or less. But then another email from Google said that a
mistake had been made and I was due for some more money, then they
sent me $645.

So I have a new up to date phone, the old phone, and $70 cash in the
pocket, good result.

ÿMate of mine got one of those, and the steaming turd kept shutting
down, claiming it had overheated even in the winter when it wasnt
in the sun or car and that choice review finds its a steaming turd

I've owned 3 Pixels, and a Nexus, never had a problem with any of them.

You just listed the problem you had with the 3a and you gave only just
got the 9a which has that problem.

You really fucked that one up. I've never had a Pixel 3a, I'm not sure
that such a thing even existed. I had a Pixel 3XL which I bought second
hand off eBay, and sold it 2 years later the same way for 80% of what I
paid. I have a Pixel 6a, some copies of which have had problems, but I
have experienced none at all. As far as anybody knows the Pixel 9a has
no problems whatsoever.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)