Android 16 will allow users to check the health of their phone's battery.

Google has begun rolling out the third beta of Android 16. While it doesn't include any major aesthetic changes, it features several updates that are sure to be welcomed by users. One of the most notable additions is a battery health verification system for the phone, known as Battery Health, which can be accessed through the battery panel in the Settings app.

This new feature does not offer many functionalities aside from an informative summary of the battery’s electrochemical state. This is relevant because lithium-ion batteries, commonly found in smartphones, undergo constant charging and discharging cycles, leading to chemical degradation over time and affecting the battery's charge retention capacity. From a technical standpoint, rechargeable batteries have a limited lifespan.

Various factors, such as impedance and voltage of the battery, are influenced by its chemical age. Based on the battery health, smartphones can implement necessary optimizations to manage the device's charge, prevent shutdowns, and handle issues like performance lags. However, many Android phones did not provide a clear method for users to assess whether their battery was in an optimal state.

With the arrival of this beta update, the Battery Health panel will offer a percentage indicator, similar to what iPhones already provide. Google explains that this percentage represents an estimate of the charge that the battery can hold compared to a new battery. Generally, a battery health indicator above 80% is considered optimal for adequate performance without charging efficiency issues.

In addition to allowing users to monitor battery health over the long term, this implementation will also provide suggestions for optimizing performance. The Battery Health panel will include controls for charge optimization. One of these features is adaptive charging, which slows down the phone's charging speed overnight and only reaches full capacity just before the user wakes up.

Users can also choose to limit the battery charge to 80% of its maximum capacity. Additionally, the panel will provide quick access to guides and articles that will help users find the ideal balance between battery health and device performance. Among the recommendations are reducing background activity of certain functions, enabling adaptive brightness, and restricting background app activity.