Google’s Pixel 10 series is here and among the talking points was the newest feature addition to the Pixel lineup—Pixelsnap. It brings Qi2 wireless charging to Pixel devices meaning faster charging and magnetic alignment.
Until now, you could use stickers to add magnetic charging to a Pixel or any other Android phone. However, that approach came with issues you no longer have to put up with. What might seem like a simple MagSafe adaptation for Android, is a bigger deal than you think.
Android finally gets its MagSafe moment
The one feature I’ve been wishing for Android to borrow from iPhones is MagSafe. Apple’s magnetic chargers are too good to ignore and a joy to use whether you’re plugging in a MacBook or charging your iPhone or AirPods. For someone who uses all wireless tech and hates wires, I love how reliable it makes wireless charging.
There are two reasons why MagSafe is more than just magnets built into an iPhone. First, it ensures that your phone (or AirPods case) lines up the wireless charging coils in the charger for maximum efficiency and minimum heat generation. Second, it opens up a whole range of accessories for the iPhone, including but not limited to mounts, wallets, stands, and more.
By introducing Pixelsnap, not only is Google improving the wireless charging experience on Android, it’s also essentially inheriting an entire ecosystem of MagSafe-compatible accessories that now work with Pixel devices. Magnets don’t discriminate between iPhones and Androids, they just work.
This means that any wireless charger or accessory compatible with a MagSafe-equipped iPhone now works with the Pixel 10 lineup. Google went all-in and embedded magnets directly into the phone, making it the first major Android flagship to truly embrace what Apple brought to the iPhone back in 2020.
There are, of course, other benefits to Pixelsnap as well. Thanks to Qi2, Pixel devices now get significantly faster wireless charging. The Pixel 10 Pro XL can charge at up to 25W wireless. The rest of the Pixel 10 lineup, along with any other Qi2 compatible devices, charge at 15W.
Previously, you needed a Pixel Stand to charge your Pixel 9 or lower at the fastest wireless charging speeds. These were limited to 23W on the Pixel 9 Pro XL, 21W on the Pixel 9 Pro, and 15W on the Pixel 9 with no support for the Pixel 9a. If you didn’t want to spend extra money for Google’s charger, you were limited to 15W on the entire Pixel 9 lineup and 7.5W on the Pixel 9a.
Pixelsnap changes that. Moving forward, you should be able to charge your Pixel 10 at max wireless speed with any Qi2 charger. This fixes one of the biggest reasons why I went back to cables after trying wireless charging for a year.
However, Google did manage to find a way to get an exclusive feature for its Pixelsnap charger. The Pixel 10 series features a screensaver exclusive to the Pixelsnap charger which can show controls and information such as home controls, weather, clocks, and custom wallpapers when docked. This is a take on Apple’s Nightstand mode, and while it’s a more useful feature overall, I prefer Apple’s implementation.
Pixelsnap isn’t just about charging
Google is also rolling out its own magnetic accessories. You can buy the Pixelsnap charger, a Pixelsnap charger with a stand, and the Pixelsnap ring stand for $39.99, $69.99, and $29.99 respectively. There’s also a collection of Pixelsnap compatible cases from both Google and third-party manufacturers on the Google Store as well.
Google has opened Pixelsnap to third-party manufacturers, which means we’re likely to see way more magnetic accessories for the Pixel 10 lineup. These accessories work both ways, so it doesn’t matter if a magnetic accessory or charger was made for MagSafe or Pixelsnap, it’ll work on both iPhones and Android phones alike.
Pixelsnap can also potentially be the catalyst that finally brings Qi2 to mainstream Android. When a company like Google commits to built-in magnets and launches a comprehensive accessory lineup, other manufacturers are bound to pay attention.
For example, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series already supports “Qi2 Ready” functionality but through specific cases. But for a flagship phone, that’s simply not good enough. Especially considering you can add similar functionality to any wireless charging compatible phone with magnets or cases. There’s also a big difference between being Qi2 ready and Qi2 certified.
Magnetic charging might not sound as exciting as AI features or camera upgrades. But this is the kind of fundamental improvement that enhances your daily user experience in ways you won’t fully appreciate until you have it.
Perfect alignment, reduced heat, universal accessory compatibility, and the convenience of true magnetic attachment aren’t just flashy features. They make wireless charging reliable and are part of the reason why I was able to go all-in on wireless charging.
Pixel 10’s Pixelsnap might just be the feature that makes wireless charging widely accessible as other Android manufacturers race to compete against Google. Given the Android ecosystem’s diversity, there’s a chance we might see one of iPhone’s few unique features disappear overnight. If that isn’t a big deal, I don’t know what else would be.
