Google announced an extended repair program for the Pixel 7A that promises free repairs for devices that suffer from “unexpected battery swelling” issues, 9to5Google reports. The program covers symptoms that directly indicate an expanding battery, including bulging of the device or separation of the phone cover. Google also indicates that rapid battery draining could be another symptom of swelling that the program covers.
Google says the battery replacement will be done “at no charge for individual end-user owners,” but that isn’t the case if there are other problems like liquid damage, cracks, or other things not caused by swollen batteries. You will need to go through an eligibility process on the program site and, if accepted, you’ll need to mail it in for repair or go to an authorized repair shop to get it fixed.
In some countries (not the US or India) that don’t have repair options, Google will offer money in lieu of fixing the device. You could get $200 (converted to local currency) for out-of-warranty Pixel 7A devices, or $300 towards a new Pixel. In-warranty devices can get a $456 payment.
It’s not the first time Google offered an extended repair program. Last year, the company opened one for the Pixel 8 due to weird pink vertical lines or flickering on the screens. And the Pixel 4 XL got an extra year of coverage for power-related issues.
