[Article] 4XL issue (peeling backsides, swelling batteries) from Phonearena.

[cbreze]

I just checked and the phone looks perfectly fine. Maybe I should just check it every once in awhile.

Cool, Glad to hear it’s OK

 

[mustang7757]

I would check anyway. Just to be safe. Swelling batteries can explode. Not sure how serious this issue could be but they could continue to get worse and the one in the picture with the back starting to peel off probably wouldn’t show up if it was in a case.
From what I’ve seen when a battery starts to swell it doesn’t reverse itself it only gets worse.

They mentioned specifically the 4xl models ?

 

[cbreze]

They mentioned specifically the 4xl models ?

Right, phone arena and android authority. Also eluding to the possibility this could possibly become an issue for google if it blows up even bigger. No pun intended.
U break I fix was quoted as saying the pixel 4xl is the hardest pixel to have to repair. Saying they lose money on them because of the time involved. People calling into google to complain about swollen backsides on their pixels were being referred to U break I fix.

 

[mustang7757]

Right, phone arena and android authority. Also eluding to the possibility this could possibly become an issue for google if it blows up even bigger. No pun intended.
U break I fix was quoted as saying the pixel 4xl is the hardest pixel to have to repair. Saying they lose money on them because of the time involved. People calling into google to complain about swollen backsides on their pixels were being referred to U break I fix.

Yeah , heard that also
Just hope it doesn't get any bigger then it is .

 

[Nick Velazquez]

pixel 4 XL. no swelling however my battery will not show a charge beyond/below 50%. there was also a time where if I didn't place it down extremely gently it would turn off though that seems to have passed.

 

[LLcdPH]

No issues with my 4 XL. Another case of one blogger coming up with something to "get clicks" on while complaining about the Pixel and all of the the others jumping on for a headline. Sad.

 

[syoggy]

No battery issues here. I keep my phone in a case at all times and don't have an occasion to see the back of the phone. I took the case off and checked all looks fine, no peeling or swelling.

 

[STiK]

Media is making way too much out of this. Widespread in media? Yes, widespread among Pixel 4 owners? Not so much.

 

[Mike Dee]

Nothing yet on mine , did see this article the other day .

It's a swell article

 

[mustang7757]

It's a swell article

 

[Mauricio New West]

Several reports of this have been published in the last few days, that someone claiming to be a uBreakiFix employee said that the back glass panel on some 4XL are peeling due to battery swelling. Google has replied on Reddit that if anyone is having issues with the back glass peeling to contact Google support yet cases they've seen so far are not related to swelling batteries... uBreakiFix also released something stating that the connection between battery swelling and back glass peeling is simply a theory of someone claiming to be their employee.

That being said I got a 4XL soon after release, although I always had the phone in a Google case the back glass panel of my unit did start peeling, top right corner opposite side of camera lens... mine and every photo I've seen of this issue the peeling starts at the exact same place (this isn't where the battery is located). After contacting Google and sending them some photos of the unit and the area where peeling was happening, once they were convinced unit didn't have any drop damage they sent me an RMA unit that so far has worked well.
The peeling of the back glass panel is a real thing that is happening to some owners of 4XL, but my own opinion is that it's not related to the battery swelling based on my own faulty unit... instead I just tend to believe the design of the 4XL makes it so any flexing/bending that would normally be more than acceptable for other units can cause the seal on the top right corner of the unit to become loose, that combined with the heat the unit generates while fast charging loosens the glue. Personally I'd advise anyone with a 4XL to not place the unit in their back pocket for instance (something I've done with every single smart phone I've owned since the iPhone 3G, several other iPhones, Samsung Galaxies and 2 pixel units).

 

[MoChewy]

No problems of any kind with my P4XL. In fact, got an amazing pic of the Neowise Comet 2 nights ago.

 

[anon(10673189)]

My battery life is amazing.

 

[Sean Docemo]

The back glass on my Pixel 4xl is peeling. I noticed it in April when I randomly took my phone out of its case. I wish I didn't have this problem.

The Google store support refuses to do anything about this. I'm incredibly disappointed with them.

It is unclear if it is due to the battery swelling or the glue just giving out.

 

[mustang7757]

The back glass on my Pixel 4xl is peeling. I noticed it in April when I randomly took my phone out of its case. I wish I didn't have this problem.

The Google store support refuses to do anything about this. I'm incredibly disappointed with them.

It is unclear if it is due to the battery swelling or the glue just giving out.View attachment 322885View attachment 322886

I'm sorry to hear you have one of those units, try again talk with different person until someone does something about it .

 

[Theot]

I had the battery on my 4XL replaced under warranty three weeks ago because it wouldn't charge much and only showed 50% charge which it did not have. But I never got the swell. However mine is less than three months old so I hope this one holds up.

 

[mustang7757]

I had the battery on my 4XL replaced under warranty three weeks ago because it wouldn't charge much and only showed 50% charge which it did not have. But I never got the swell. However mine is less than three months old so I hope this one holds up.

You still have the pixel 4xl ?

 

[Theot]

You still have the pixel 4xl ?

Yep, it's my backup phone for the moment.

 

[the_boon]

This reminds me of the BlackBerry KEYone, alot of people had their backs separate a bit after a while, especially those who didn't use a case.

However the KEYone isn't even water resistant so it doesn't change much.

But it doesn't look reassuring when this happens to an IP68 device.

 

[Brooper]

This has happened to me twice.

First time in late March. I got my pixel 4 xl in early November in Australia. Google support told me to send back my device, here in Canada, and got a refurbished unit back with RMA. All they asked if if I used the original charger, which I did, and to send a photo of the device.

Same story now in early July.

The first time I was actually worried for battery swelling, as I had read it could be a possibility on Reddit, and half of the glass plate was coming off.

The second time around it was just the top corner, opposite from the camera side coming off. It didn't seem like this would be a battery swelling issue, although I contacted Google and they offered to replace the device again.

I considered selling my 3rd unit ( 2nd refurbished unit sent to me) in its sealed package and switch to another phone... But I couldn't do it!

My first unit always had a case on and it was in mint condition, no scratches, nothing. I never had a case on my second unit. It may be the case doesn't do any difference at all, but only covers up issue.

@Sean Docemo , I would get in contact with Google support again, on both of my occasion they were quite quickly able to offer RMA. As Mustang said, try again until one agent does something about it!