Is this bad? Bit of a bulge on my Pixel 3xl.

[digitalwanderer]

Noticed there was a crack forming in the back of my phone case and it wobbled when I set it on its back. Took it out and noticed I could clearly see the battery outline bulging through.
I know it's not good, but how bad is it? Am I carrying a bomb in my pocket?

 

[Malo]

Maybe it's going to give birth to a Pixel 3 mini?

 

[WhiningKhan]

I wouldn't charge it anymore in flammable environment (anywhere indoors except maybe concrete bunker). No way to tell really if it is going to blow up - all safety manuals tell you to discontinue use of failing device. I think it isn't horribly expensive to have the battery replaced?

 

[digitalwanderer]

I wouldn't charge it anymore in flammable environment (anywhere indoors except maybe concrete bunker). No way to tell really if it is going to blow up - all safety manuals tell you to discontinue use of failing device. I think it isn't horribly expensive to have the battery replaced?

It's not failing, working fine. Just bulging a bit, don't we all after a few years?
Batteries aren't expensive, but I'd have to buy a heating pad and some tools from iFixit to do it right and that's more investment than I care to make. I don't like other people working on my electronics, it's a luxury I can indulge for the most part fortunately through training and education.

 

[WhiningKhan]

It's not failing, working fine. Just bulging a bit, don't we all after a few years?

Swollen battery is a failing battery. Seriously.

Much like with swollen people, excessive loading and charging them poses significant risks...

 

[digitalwanderer]

If it explodes in my pocket and somehow kills me would my family be able to sue Google successfully you think?

 

[BRiT]

If it explodes in my pocket and somehow kills me would my family be able to sue Google successfully you think?

Nope. Prob some arbitration clause.

 

[digitalwanderer]

Nuts, then I better upgrade.
Anyone recommend anything better than these two? They want $300 broken up into $12.50/mos payments for them plus my old Pixel 3xl.

 

[Malo]

Pixel over Samsung for the raw Android OS without the bloat.

 

[digitalwanderer]

I hate the lack of SD cards on both of 'em and no replaceable battery.

 

[PSman1700]

S22+ seems a solid device.

 

[digitalwanderer]

S22+ seems a solid device.

At that price it bloody well should!
Geo recommended that I contact Google about it so I did online and they took my IMIE and had me send them picts of the phone from all angles and then had a nice conversation about how they'd have a specialist look in to it and let me know. Then I waited a long time until they told me it was taking a long time so they'd e-mail me the results when they got them.
I doubt they'll do anything, but I'd be happy to be wrong.

 

[orangpelupa]

Why not just replace the battery?

Not sure whether any Random-ass phone service can do that or not tho.

 

[digitalwanderer]

It's glued. I hate dealing with heating the glue, it never goes well for me.

Also my daughter pointed out it's a Pixel 3a XL, just to get things all straight. Weird part is me and my wife got the same phone at the same time, hers looks fine and mine is all pudgy now.

 

[Malo]

hers looks fine and mine is all pudgy now.

Are we still talking about phones?

 

[digitalwanderer]

Are we still talking about phones?

Yes damn you!

 

[orangpelupa]

Btw if replacing it with a new pixel, there's a battery limit in one of the settings menu that supposedly made the battery to have longer life span.

But IME with Sony Vaio, it won't stop the swelling. It's weird tho. My swelling Vaio still got most of its original capacity (iirc only dropped around 5 percent capacity) even after many years and swelled large enough to lift the screen.

 

[digitalwanderer]

 

[WhiningKhan]

That seems nice of them.
I've noticed companies having more good will on the battery issues compared to other problems, probably because of the potential fallout they suffer in worst case scenario.

 

[Geo]

Hurt my feelings a little bit when he seemed all surprised that a suggestion I made actually worked. . . LOL.