Question Unexplained Loud Popping Noise and Vibration on Pixel 6!

[skipper56]

Hey everyone, I recently experienced a strange issue with my Pixel 6 (which I've had since 2021) while scroling through Twitter (X). Out of nowhere, I heard a loud popping noise, and also felt a vibration on my finger on the screen. The volume was low, and no video was playing at the time, so the noise was completely unexpected.

This is the first time this has happened, and it startled me. The noise itself was a combination of static and popping, and it was quite loud. It's difficult to describe, but the vibrationl felt on my finger was quite noticeable.

Has anyone experienced something similar, or do you have any ideas about what might be causing this? Any guidance or suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Since this happened, have you been able to test the vibration? Does it still vibrate normally for notifications or incoming phone calls? If not, I would wonder if the vibration motor malfunctioned and broke down.

 

[skipper56]

Welcome to Android Central! Since this happened, have you been able to test the vibration? Does it still vibrate normally for notifications or incoming phone calls? If not, I would wonder if the vibration motor malfunctioned and broke down.

Yeah I've tested the vibration out and notifications still ping properly, only thing out of the ordinary since then that I have noticed is that the left side of my phone now gets a lot hotter than the rest of the phone. When I was using it on charge at work, the left side felt like 2x warmer than the right side. As for the popping sound, that hasn't happened again, I initially thought it could be battery expansion, then haptic feedback malfunction but now I don't know hahah

 

[B. Diddy]

Does sound still come out of both speakers equally and at normal volume?

 

[skipper56]

Does sound still come out of both speakers equally and at normal volume?

There is only one speaker on the Pixel 6. The other side is the microphone. Slightly weird design choice I know hahaha. I've noticed nothing out the ordinary since other than when my phone's on charge the the left side gets much much much hotter than the right and that never happened before

 

[B. Diddy]

There is only one speaker on the Pixel 6. The other side is the microphone. Slightly weird design choice I know hahaha. I've noticed nothing out the ordinary since other than when my phone's on charge the the left side gets much much much hotter than the right and that never happened before

The Pixel 6 should still give you stereo sound -- one channel is from the earpiece, and the other is at the bottom of the phone. Test them by playing any stereo test video from YouTube, and make sure you can hear both channels normally.

 

[VidJunky]

Welcome to Android Central forums.
Everything you describe seems to line up with the battery. Older device, running hotter suddenly, and the pop and punch, which could be the battery breaking free of the adhesive holding it in place or, and I think this would be noticeable but perhaps you haven't really looked, the cover adhesive breaking free due to the expansion pushing it away. Take the case off if you're using one, and take a long hard look at the phone along the long edge and see if the back is bulging or puffed out any. I may be subtle but if the battery is expanding inside of the device there should be something noticeable with the thickness of the device.

Of course using a device with a defective battery can be hazardous so if for no other reason than peace of mind, I would have the battery tested at a Batteries Plus, or a UBreakIFix. If you have a carrier with a physical location they will sometimes also have repair services that could diagnose battery issues too. I would for sure get it checked before you go too many more charging cycles, because again bad batteries can be hazardous.

Let us know what you find.