Google released Android 16 beta 2.1 back on February 27. As it’s not a major beta build, this update mostly just offers bug fixes. However, it seems the release also introduced a new bug that causes batteries to drain faster.
Multiple Android 16 beta testers have recently flocked to Reddit to report that they have been experiencing serious battery drain issues ever since installing beta 2.1. It looks like the issue is widespread across all eligible Pixel devices.
Some users claim that the problem is so bad that they have to charge their phones twice in a single day. Putting some perspective on how bad the bug really is, one user states:
To really drive this home. I’ve had about 1 hour and 32 minutes of total screen on time usage today. Unplugged around 9 am, and my current battery life is 63 percent. I hope they fix this soon. It’s to the point where I don’t even want to use my phone for any extended periods of time.
As with any beta, bugs come with the territory. The irony here is that accelerated power depletion is an issue that started with beta 2.0 and beta 2.1 was supposedly released to fix it. But in this case, it appears the fix somehow made the bug worse for some.
