Google Pixel 6a Catches Fire and Burns from Inside During Charging Incident

A Reddit user reported charging their Google Pixel 6a with a 45W charger meant for the Steam Deck. The smartphone exploded while charging and suffered internal damage.

According to the user, who goes by the name footymanageraddict, they woke up to a horrible smell and loud noise. The phone, which was on the nightstand next to the bed, caught fire. The user managed to throw the phone onto the tile floor by pulling it away from the charging cable.

«I’m the third person to share this in the last 2-3 months. The Pixel 6a ignited right next to me on the nightstand,» stated footymanageraddict.

The device had recently received an update to the Battery Performance Program, intended to reduce the risk of fire, but the software failed to prevent the incident.

Footymanageraddict plans to reach out to customer support regarding this issue. They mentioned that they won’t be able to get a battery replacement for free, as there are no service centers in their area. «I’m not even sure if they will mail me a new phone in that case or how long it would take,» the user wrote.

In June of this year, a Realme 14 Pro smartphone caught fire on a flight from Irkutsk to Moscow. Passengers attempted to extinguish the device with water, and the flight attendants quickly took it to the bathroom, where they placed it in the toilet tank.