By Mariella Moon, Engadget
We hope you prefer wired charging if you're buying Google's Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL phone with no intention of getting a Pixel Stand.
The tech giant's new flagship devices don't support 10W Qi charging and
will only reach 5W charging speeds on most wireless chargers. Google
has confirmed the charging cap after an Android Police
reader measured it and found that to be the case. The reader contacted
Anker, their wireless charger's manufacturer, and the accessory-maker
told them that the phone "sets a limitation for third-party charging
accessories."
A Google spokesperson said that the phone can reach
10W charging speeds on a Pixel Stand thanks to a "secure handshake," an
extra layer of security that also allows the Pixel 3 to show the
Assistant UI on its screen while docked. Turns out there's more to it
than that, though: Google also said that it's certifying chargers for
the new flagship via the "Made for Google" program.
The tech giant pointed Ars Technica to a Belkin wireless charger that claims it can reach 10W charging speeds with the Pixel 3,
because it was "specifically engineered to optimize performance for"
the device. Its product page clearly says that it "uses Google's 10W
proprietary wireless charging technology." Unfortunately, it's not yet
clear if that technology can be retroactively applied to existing
charging pads or if Google can only certify new chargers for its phone.
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