Pixel 10 Pro Fold hit by a battery issue that’s literally a question mark

One thing that Google’s Pixel smartphones unfortunately have a reputation for is battery issues. This year, Google faced criticism over battery problems with the Pixel 4a, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro. For the Pixel 4a and Pixel 6a, Google released a software update to fix overheating problems, while users of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro reported swollen batteries.

Now, it seems the latest Pixel battery issue has appeared, and what’s more concerning for Google is that it’s not on an older device but on the newest model. A user on Reddit recently shared that their Pixel 10 Pro Fold suddenly showed a question mark next to the battery icon and didn’t display the remaining battery percentage. The Redditor said they fixed the problem by restarting their phone, but there’s concern about what the question mark means and what might have caused it.

Some believe that third-party wireless chargers or non-Qi2-certified chargers could be causing communication and calibration errors between the phone’s battery management system and its software (via Piunika Web). As a result, the phone cannot determine the remaining battery life, so it shows a question mark. However, some Reddit users think this question mark could point to a bigger problem with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Is it a bug or a sign of battery failure?

Google says it will be fixing the issue with its November update

Opinions on what the question mark next to the battery icon on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold means are divided on Reddit.

“This is step 1 to battery failure. They will repair your phone under warranty. Your battery will fail within weeks,” one Redditor wrote, while another commented, “My phone failed in less than a week after this. Good luck.”

While the question mark next to the battery icon could indicate an upcoming battery failure or a wireless charging problem, it might also be a software bug.

“A lot of this has been happening since the last security update. I suspect it will come out as just a bug, but you’re smart to reach out to Google to see what they recommend,” one Redditor wrote.

The Redditor who originally posted about the problem said they returned their Pixel 10 Pro Fold as a precaution. A Google spokesperson told Android Central that rebooting your device should fix the issue and that “Pixel 10 Pro Fold users should use certified Qi2 wireless chargers.” Google also stated that a fix for this problem will be included in its November update.

It’s worth noting that the Redditor who initially reported this issue with their Pixel 10 Pro Fold mentioned they were using Apple’s MagSafe charger, so they weren’t relying on a third-party brand. Hopefully, this is just a bug and not a sign of a larger battery health problem for the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but given the Pixel’s battery history, it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold already made headlines when its battery exploded during YouTuber JerryRigEverything’s durability test. Additionally, a Reddit user reported the same question mark issue with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold earlier this month, and Google replaced their device.