The latest May Pixel Drop update seems to have caused some battery life issues for Google Pixel smartphone users. Just as we reported on Samsung’s One UI 7 update causing battery drain problems, a similar issue has now emerged on Pixel phones.
According to a report by 9to5Google, Google’s support forums and the Pixel subreddit are both flooded with complaints about poor battery life after the latest OS update. Users are reporting excessive battery drain and overheating issues, particularly when using apps like Instagram.
For example, one Google Pixel 9 user posted on the support forum asking if anyone else is experiencing bad battery life after the May 2025 update. Another Pixel 9 Pro user mentioned that their phone gets hot and experiences significant battery drain, especially when using Instagram, after the update. The Battery Megathread on Reddit also has several users reporting similar issues across various Pixel models, including older devices like the Google Pixel 6.
To address the battery drain issue on Pixel phones, users can try a few solutions. One common culprit is third-party apps, so limiting background app usage can help. Users can go to Settings > Apps > App battery usage, select the app causing issues, and toggle off ‘Allow background usage.’ Additionally, disabling location tracking by turning off Improve Location Accuracy in Settings can also help preserve battery life. In extreme cases, performing a factory reset by going to Settings > System > Reset options and selecting Erase all data can potentially improve battery performance.
Ultimately, users are hoping for a firmware update from Google to address the battery life issues caused by the May Pixel Drop. It’s crucial for Google to resolve these issues promptly, especially since the update was intended to fix bugs rather than introduce new ones.
