A recent survey has uncovered a surprising trend among Pixel owners: many are using the wrong type of charger for their phones, leading to slower charging times and potential overheating issues. This is particularly concerning given the recent release of the Pixel 10 series, which comes with built-in Qi2 and Qi2 25W charging capabilities. However, the survey reveals that 27% of Pixel 9 (or earlier) users bought an incompatible new Qi2 charger, while 48% of Pixel 10 series users have older, incompatible Qi chargers.
The issue lies in the fact that older Pixels (Pixel 9 and earlier) drop to 5W on Qi2 chargers, even though they can handle up to 12W. This is due to a handshake problem between the phone and the charger, which results in the phone requesting a drop to the Basic Power Profile, delivering only 5W of theoretical power. In reality, this translates to around 3-4W, leading to very slow charging times.
Similarly, the Pixel 10 series, despite being capable of up to 15W charging over Qi2, also falls down to only 5W on older Qi chargers. This is because the phones drop to the Basic Power Profile and request 5W from the charger, even if it can deliver up to 10W or 15W. This issue has been reported by many users, who are frustrated by the slow and inconsistent charging speeds.
To avoid these problems, it is recommended to use a certified 1st-gen Qi charger that can deliver 15W. These chargers are cheaper and more reliable, ensuring faster and more consistent charging for older Pixel models. For the Pixel 10 series, users should invest in a Qi2-certified charger, which will provide faster and more reliable charging, although the difference in speed is not too drastic.
Google is expected to address these wireless charging issues soon, with a potential software update that could make Qi2 charging more reliable on the Pixel 10 series and allow older Pixel phones to benefit from the full power of a Qi2 charger. This would ensure a better user experience and avoid the overheating and slow charging speeds that have been reported by many users.
