Google continues to work tirelessly on Android 16. As part of this effort, beta versions are released at regular intervals. This allows the company to test new features and identify bugs to ensure a smooth and stable final release. However, recent developments suggest that the latest update has caused a serious issue.

Android 16 Beta 2.1 update causes excessive battery drain

Google released Android 16 Beta 2.1 on February 27. According to the patch notes, this update is not a major beta release introducing massive features but rather focuses on bug fixes. However, feedback from users who installed the update indicates that Beta 2.1 has led to severe battery issues.

Many Android 16 beta testers have reported battery problems after installing the update. The issue affects all compatible Pixel devices, with some users stating that they had to charge their phones two or more times a day.

One user experiencing the problem shared the following statement:

“I really want to emphasize this. Today, I had a total of 1 hour and 32 minutes of screen time. I unplugged my phone at 9 AM, and now my battery is at 63%. I hope they fix this soon. It’s bad enough that I don’t even want to use my phone for long periods.”

Beta updates are meant to test new features and detect bugs before the stable release. The critical detail here is that the excessive battery drain issue actually began with Beta 2.0, and Beta 2.1 was supposed to address it. However, Google’s latest beta update seems to have made the problem even worse.