There have been several reports in recent months of older Pixel 6a units spontaneously catching fire or bursting into flames. The issue eventually led to Google pushing out a mandatory update that nerfed the Pixel 6a’s battery performance. To make up for it, the company is even offering free faulty battery replacement or $150 in cash payments to affected users. And now, Google has permanently stopped selling refurbished Pixel 6a units on the Google Store for good, ensuring more users are not affected in the future.
The Google Store in the US officially stopped selling new Pixel 6a units in March 2024, just two months before the Pixel 8a went official. But the device made a comeback, albeit in refurbished form, when Google added a refurbished section to its online store in late 2024. In this iteration, Google sold the phone for $249, enabling it to cater to more budget customers.
However, as 9to5Google spotted, the company pulled the plug on the sales of even refurbished units sometime in late July, likely due to the battery fiasco.
With the Pixel 6a off the shelves, the Pixel 6 is now the most affordable refurbished device you can buy directly from the company, complete with a one-year warranty.
Given the battery issues, Google’s decision to stop selling refurbished Pixel 6a units seems justified. Even with new batteries, the string of fire incidents has likely eroded consumer confidence in the device.
Pixel 10 launch should lead to refurb Pixel prices dropping
Interestingly, while Google is also providing free battery replacement for some Pixel 7a units due to swelling issues, it continues to sell refurbished units through its store.
If you own a Pixel 6a, you should check if it qualifies for Google’s Battery Performance Program. If it does, get its battery replaced or get $150 in cash from Google, which you can use to upgrade to a new phone. And if you were planning to buy a refurb Pixel 6a from Google, wait until August 20, as the launch of the Pixel 10 family should lead to the prices of older models dropping.
