Now we may have the best reason to watch the Unpacked event: the Google Pixel 10 makes could use the new Qi2 wireless charging. Say goodbye to guessing where the pad is—this version will stick the phone in place using magnets, giving Google a head start over Samsung, OnePlus, and Motorola. Photos keep showing a Phone that looks the same as last year, but this invisible glow inside the chassis could be its secret weapon.
Qi2 first snagged our attention at CES a couple years back, promising faster, steadier, and way simpler reverse charging. So far, the promises are languishing in the documents of a few iPhones and Samsung flagships. Why the hold-up? The chips are pricey and companies fear few will pay more for a pad that looks like it always plugged in the wall. Google, if these leaks hold, may flip the script overnight. Add magnets like Apple’s MagSafe and watch the bedtime charging dock go swipe Amazon’s “Add to Cart” column. The Pixel 10 isn’t just a following device anymore.
Magnetic wireless charging could move from being a neat trick to a game changer. Apple’s MagSafe proved that a little magnet can tidy up a charger’s alignment, speed up charging times, and even let you snap on a collection of cool extras like cases, wallets, and tripods. If Google pulls off a version of this magnet magic with the Pixel 10, it would hand Android fans the same level of ease that’s currently exclusive to Apple, and that’s a ball Samsung and OnePlus aren’t exactly running with.
Still, the charging speed and reliability on the Pixel 10’s Qi2 are the two big questions everybody’s asking. MagSafe is tidy, but it’s not the speed record-holder; people want to know whether Google can serve up a speedy and tidy meal at the same table. If the Pixel 10 can handle a higher wattage on Qi2, it would serve up a faster, more reliable daily boost and paint Google as the brand that rewrote the rules on about charging without wires.
If that magnet-assisted Qi2 really hits, it could flip the way folks think about the Pixel name. For the longest time, Pixel phones impressed with pure Android, stunning camera features, and not much else in the hardware wow department. Pop a reliable Qi2 magnet charger on the picture and suddenly the narrative is dialed up a notch. Google would snag a legitimate tech edge right as the wireless charging world finally starts to find its groove; the headlines would welcome a brand new Chapter.
So, picture this: Google has been step-by-step turning its Pixel line into a must-have phone, each model picking a key feature and making it shiny. First, the Pixel 6 rolled out the made-by-Google Tensor chip. The Pixel 7 polished low-light and Night Sight shots. Then the 8 plugged in AI tools for easy, tap-to-perfection photo edits. The next Pixel, the 10, is rumored to swing in this August with a new twist capable of kicking the Pixel out of last place and into the spotlight: blazing-fast, next-gen wireless charging.
If what the leaks say is the real deal, this Pixel 10 could launch in a few weeks and cement a title right next to its battery. Apparently it’s ready to grab new charging tech that has literally been kept for the tech-loving edge and stick it in a phone that sells to the everyday consumer. Samsung and OnePlus have owned this category for a while, but a smooth, ultra-fast, wire-free experience—especially if the charging pad pours juice while the phone is still in the case—could shift the competition map. People want performance, but they want jumping-to-the-next-level convenience just as much. One tiny shiny “P” icon on the charging dock could be the thumbs-up that moves the shopper to that line outside the Google Store.