A recent survey has uncovered a surprising trend among Pixel phone owners: many are unknowingly using the wrong wireless chargers for their devices. This issue is more complex than it seems, and it's time to shed some light on it.
The Wireless Charging Conundrum: Unlocking the Truth for Pixel Owners
Wireless charging has always been a bit of a puzzle for Pixel users, with different models supporting various charging speeds. The introduction of the Pixel 10 series, boasting built-in Qi2 and Qi2 25W capabilities, led us to believe that standardization was finally here. But, as it turns out, the reality is far from simple.
After extensive testing, I've discovered that older and newer Pixels behave differently with various wireless chargers. Here's the catch: it's all too easy to buy the wrong charger, and our survey results confirm that many Pixel owners have fallen into this trap.
The Incompatible Charger Dilemma
For those considering a wireless charger, the temptation to future-proof with a Qi2 model, despite owning an older Pixel, is understandable. However, this decision comes with a cost. Our survey reveals that a significant 26.85% of over 2600 users have purchased a newer Qi2 charger, unaware of the incompatibility with their Pixel 9 or older devices.
The issue arises because the Pixel 9 and earlier models drop to a mere 5W when placed on a Qi2 charger. Despite being capable of receiving up to 12W with Qi, and despite Qi2 chargers offering 15W to 25W, the two systems fail to communicate effectively. The result? Your Pixel 9, fearing overheating or incompatible charging, requests a drop to the charger's Basic Power Profile, resulting in a theoretical 5W power delivery, which is less than half of what the phone can handle. In reality, it's even lower, around 3-4W.
This leads to painfully long charging times, even though both your phone and charger are capable of faster charging. Imagine waiting three to four hours or more to fully charge your Pixel 9. One reader, lafreniere.luc, noticed this exact issue with their Pixel 9 Pro Fold and a Peak Design Qi2 motorcycle mount.
And it's not just a Pixel-specific problem. Other non-Qi2 phones, like the Samsung S24 Ultra, face similar issues with Qi2 chargers. As dunkalunk shared, "Samsung has the same issue. I learned this with my S24 Ultra + magsafe case when I got a new Anker charger. Since it was officially Qi2, it wouldn't charge at the full 15W."
If you're planning to upgrade your phone soon, this might be a minor inconvenience. But if you intend to keep your Pixel 9 or older for a year or more, investing in a Qi2 charger is unnecessary. Opt for a certified 1st-gen Qi charger that delivers 15W, and you'll save money and get better performance.
The Other Side of the Coin: Qi Chargers and Pixel 10 Series
On the flip side, the Qi2-certified Pixel 10 series faces issues with older Qi pads and power banks. This problem has been widely reported and was evident in my tests too. The Pixel 10 and 10 Pro, capable of up to 15W charging over Qi2, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL with its Qi2 25W, all drop to a mere 5W when connected to older Qi chargers. In reality, it's even slower, around 3-4W.
This happens even with certified EPP (Extended Power Profile) Qi chargers, which should deliver up to 10W or 15W. A whopping 48% of over 400 surveyed users experienced this issue, complaining about their Pixel 10 series' slow wireless charging on older Qi chargers.
Once again, it's a matter of communication. Despite the Pixel 10 series' ability to handle at least 15W of fast charging and their built-in Qi2's backward compatibility with Qi chargers, they don't seem to get along with older EPP chargers. As a result, they drop to the Basic Power Profile, requesting 5W from the charger, even if it can deliver more.
Many readers shared their frustration. rtisovec commented, "I wish my Pixel 10 Pro XL would charge in my car with the old format like my Pixel 6XL did. So much for backward compatibility." Gregor Smith and samstein had similar issues with their car charging pads, with one stating, "The charging pad in my 2025 Honda CRV is worthless with my Pixel 10 Pro. The charge is so slow it can't even keep up with Android Auto, and the phone overheats massively."
If you're experiencing inconsistent and slow charging with your existing Qi pad or power bank, consider investing in a new Qi2 accessory. While there are still some inconsistencies, all these issues will be less frequent with newer Qi2-certified chargers. You can expect faster and more reliable charging.
I hope Google addresses these wireless charging issues soon. A software update could improve Qi2 charging reliability on the Pixel 10 series and allow older Pixel phones to utilize the full power of Qi2 chargers. Let's hope the Pixel 11 finds a solution to these overheating and speed drop issues. When we see 25W wireless charging, we expect our Pixel 10 Pro XL to charge consistently at a respectable speed.
