Google Pixel 9 series does not support the new Qi2 wireless charging standard

The upgrade to the Qi2 wireless charging standard was a significant development in the industry, but the Google Pixel 9 series does not support this new standard. Although Qi2 was announced in early 2023 and technically completed at the end of the year, and the first Qi2-enabled products have only recently hit the market, Pixel 9 smartphones do not have this feature.

Here's What We Know

Qi2 is a new generation of wireless charging standard, which is an improvement on the previous Qi standard. The main difference of Qi2 is the use of magnets for more accurate and reliable alignment of the device during charging.

A Google employee who worked on Qi2 suggested that the Pixel 9 series would support the new standard. However, in reality, this did not happen. Although all Pixel 9 models support wireless charging, they do not have a built-in magnetic ring, which is a key component of Qi2.

During hands-on tests with the MagSafe accessory for the Pixel 9, no magnetic connection was noticed. The new standard may not have been included in the development of the Pixel 9 due to production timelines. Even if Google had stuck to the October release, implementing Qi2 would have been difficult due to the limited development time.

The next generation of Pixel, probably the Pixel 10, will have Qi2 support. For now, the first Android device to support Qi2 is the HMD Skyline.

Source: 9to5Google