Google is having experiments on battery saving features for optimizations. Many users of Google’s latest mobile operating system, Android 9 Pie, today report that their smartphone’s battery saving feature is automatically activated even when the phone is fully charged.
When entering the setup menu, the user could see that the power saving was set to activate automatically when the battery was 99%, something very strange because the maximum threshold for activating this feature is 75% power.
An overwhelming number of Reddit users and Google communities reported the inconvenience caused by Google’s response, which was confirmed by a representative that this problem resulted from a series of internal corporate tests implemented remotely earlier than expected. In particular, the Google spokesman reported on the PixelCommunity in Reddit:
Hello everyone, some of you may have noticed that today the battery saving feature was automatically activated. This was an internal experiment to test battery saving features that were accidentally extended to more users than expected. We have now restored the battery protection settings by default. Please configure according to your needs. Sorry for the confusion.
We shouldn’t be surprised at all by this kind of Google experimentation, as system applications like Google Play Services or Device Health Services allow the company to remotely test and control your device. One thing that happens is that you actually shouldn’t notice it so easy, and that’s why the messages make so much “noise” because of the remote control operation of your device. So if you’re in any doubt about the scope of Google Play Services in this sense, please check the app’s permissions for your phone and see for yourself.