Google says it has fixed a battery drain issue affecting some Pixel phones, but the update has not ended complaints from users who say their devices are still losing power too quickly.
The issue, described in Google’s Issue Tracker as “Severe Idle Drain: kepler_spi_irq_handler & gnss_ipc Suspend Aborts,” has reportedly affected Pixel users for months. According to Google’s latest update, the fix was merged into the July 2026 monthly patch release for select Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 models.
That sounds like good news. But for some Pixel owners, the problem is not over.
Which Pixel Phones Got The Battery Drain Fix?
Google said the July MPR build CP2A.260705.006 includes the fix for the following devices:
- Pixel 9 Pro XL
- Pixel 9 Pro
- Pixel 9
- Pixel 10 Pro XL
- Pixel 10 Pro
- Pixel 10
- Pixel 10a
Google also said the fix will arrive for the Pixel 8a and Pixel 9a in the September QPR update.
The problem is that Google’s update does not clearly mention other affected models, including Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 series phones. That has become one of the biggest complaints from users following the tracker update.
Why Pixel Users Are Still Upset
Some users say their phones are already running the July build but still show heavy idle battery drain.
The issue appears to involve the phone using power even when it should be resting with the screen off. In plain terms, the device may fail to settle properly into a low-power idle state, causing battery percentage to drop even when the phone is barely being used.
Reports from Pixel users suggest the drain became noticeable after earlier 2026 updates. Some users claimed their battery life was effectively cut in half, while others said the phone continued losing power overnight or while sitting idle.
Google marked the issue as fixed, but the reaction from some users has been negative. Several users replying to the tracker and related community threads said the July update did not solve the problem for them.
Pixel 8 And Pixel 7 Owners Want Answers
The missing mention of Pixel 8 and Pixel 7 models is another concern.
Those phones are still within Google’s software support window, so users are asking why the fix timeline only names select Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 models, plus the Pixel 8a and Pixel 9a later this year.
This does not necessarily mean Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 models will never receive a fix. But as of this writing, Google’s public tracker update does not give a clear schedule for those devices.
That uncertainty is what makes the update feel incomplete for affected users.
What Pixel Owners Can Do Now
Pixel owners who are still seeing unusual battery drain should first check whether their phone is already on the July 2026 build.
To check your build number, go to:
- Settings > About phone > Android version > Build number
If your Pixel is on CP2A.260705.006 or later and the battery drain continues, users may want to report the issue through Google’s Issue Tracker or the Pixel Help Community with their device model, build number, and battery usage screenshots.
Google also recommends keeping Adaptive Battery and Battery Optimization enabled. The company notes that battery drain can temporarily increase after a software update while the phone finishes optimizing apps and system files.
Still, users reporting this specific idle drain issue say the problem goes beyond normal post-update behavior.
What Happens Next?
The next key update to watch is the September QPR, which Google says will include the fix for Pixel 8a and Pixel 9a.
For now, the July update appears to be Google’s official fix for select Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 phones. But with some users still reporting problems, the story may not be fully closed yet.
As of this writing, Google has not provided a broader explanation for Pixel 7 or Pixel 8 series users who say they are affected by the same battery drain issue.
via: 9to5Google | Google Issue Tracker | Google Pixel Help | Reddit
