Your Pixel 10 just lost a feature you probably loved – and Google says it’s because of Qi2

Apparently, with the Pixel 10 series, Google has removed support for reverse wireless charging. The feature was known as “Battery Share” and has been nuked in order to offer Qi2 magnetic wireless charging. Battery Share, or Google’s take on reverse wireless charging, was first introduced on the Pixel 5. The feature basically allows you to tap a toggle and then flip your device and turn it into a wireless charger. This way, the Pixel could charge another phone or an accessory like earbuds or a watch. 

Pixel 10 series. | Image Credit – Google

It turns out that the removal of Battery Share on the Pixel 10 was done in favor of the Pixelsnap technology (the Qi2 magnets). And it’s just physical. Basically, the array of magnets presents a physical limitation for reverse wireless charging (by the way, iPhones also don’t have reverse wireless charging). 

However, Google has stated that the company continues to explore future innovations to improve the Pixel experience, which could potentially mean that, at some point in the future, Battery Share may make a comeback. 

Apple is also said to be pursuing reverse wireless charging for future iPhones, but it’s most likely not coming this year with the iPhone 17 phones. Right now, the only other Android phone with Qi2 support, the HMD Skyline, supports 5W reverse wireless charging. But it’s an older Qi2 standard the HMD phone is using (Qi 2.0.0), while Google may be on Qi 2.1.1. Possibly, the newer standard is posing some new limitations on reverse wireless charging. 

I think that people who’ve been using the feature on their Pixel phone may be disappointed to find out it’s not on the Pixel 10. I wonder how many people would think the compromise is worth it. Meanwhile, the possibility of having reverse wireless charging and Qi2 in the future (on Pixels and iPhones) is something I’m personally looking forward to. 

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