Google's Qi2 Wireless Charging Fails to Deliver on Promise

The Wireless Power Consortium's Qi2 technology was supposed to be an equalizer for Android users, who had been left behind while Apple's MagSafe party took center stage. However, a recent test of Google's Pixel 10 on older charging pads revealed a mess.

When put on a wireless charger from the Pixel 6 days, the Pixel 10 would only charge at 5W, rather than the expected 15W or more. This is because the phone uses the Extended Power Profile (EPP) protocol, which is not compatible with newer Qi2-certified chargers.

Furthermore, this issue extends to Pixel 9 owners who upgraded their charging pads to Qi2-certified ones, expecting a seamless experience. However, since the Pixel 9 series also uses the legacy EPP protocol, it runs into similar handshake failures and defaults to 5W charging on newer chargers.

This fragmentation has turned what was supposed to be a convenient feature into a technical headache, requiring users to carefully check their charger's protocol version and phone settings. The problem even affects in-car wireless charging for Pixel 10 users, who experience slower charging due to the resource-intensive requirements of Android Auto.