Google's own smartphone is not playing well with Android 9.0 Pie

It looks like Google’s own smartphone is not able to play well with Android 9.0 Pie, which recently started rolling out to Pixel devices. According to some user posts on the Google issue tracker, the Pixel XL smartphone is facing a problem with fast charging post the Android update. Users were already complaining about the same issue since weeks when Android P was under beta version. But unfortunately the problem stays with the final version as well.

For those unaware, Pixel smartphones make use of USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) for quick charging. Plugging any cable or plug that has USB-PD certification with the Pixel XL should show ‘Charging Rapidly’ on the screen of the handset. With this, charging rate stays at 3V/3A. However, the ‘Charging Rapidly’ message has stopped showing on some Pixel XL smartphones running Android 9.0 Pie, even when plugged-in using a USB-PD certified charger.

Google recently closed the original issue tracker for this particular problem by marking it as ‘Won’t fix (Infeasible)’. The reason for this could be that either the issue can’t be fixed or the particular page is not the apt site for a hardware issue.

But then a new issue has been opened on the tracker that resonates the same issue. This time the topic says that "[My] Pixel XL charger says Charging Rapidly every time. All others either say Charging or Charging Slowly - never says Charging Rapidly. This includes 2 Google chargers / USB C cables (1 from 6P pack in and 1 from Google Store), 1 battery backup using a Google USB C supplied cable, and a third party charger and cable. All of which charged the phone "rapidly" 100% of the time before the update." Another said, "Same problem on my Pixel XL. Fast charge never works, original charger."

It is not yet known what exactly is the cause is for this issue. But since this problem is not being faced by Pixel, Pixel 2and Pixel 2 XL users, Google might be having a fix for the Pixel XL users.