Nothing ever changes with google. My pixel 4a was the same thing: each monthly patch was crapshoot, it could go one step forward or two steps back every time. best thing I ever did with that phone was put Lineage on it.
Google rolls out updates to its Pixel smartphones at a regular cadence. Battery life issues appear to plague current-generation and older Pixels after recent updates, though. Early findings have revealed why some Pixel owners are now having to charge their smartphones several times per day.