The Pixel Stand is a wireless charging dock that Google designed specifically for Pixel phones. It not only charges your phone but also turns it into a mini smart display while docked. Usually, it’s a great accessory — except that it doesn’t work with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
It’s a disheartening revelation, inside the ring that the Pixel Stand is a premium product designed for Pixel phones. It’s reasonable that anyone would assume it’s compatible with Google’s most expensive Pixel phone. Here’s why it won’t wirelessly charge your phone this time around.
Why the Pixel 9 Pro Fold won’t work with Pixel Stands
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is set to officially hit store shelves on September 4, 2024. Sadly, it’s the only phone in the Pixel 9 series that won’t support wireless charging via Google’s Pixel Stands. Google’s support page states that it does not work with the Pixel Stands, both the Pixel Stand and the Pixel Stand 2. The charging coil in the new foldable isn’t perfectly centered compared to previous phones it has released.
Going by Google’s illustration, the coil sits lower, covering the G logo on the phone’s back. It’s a huge difference from previous Pixel phones, where the coil is centered around the G. The misalignment makes it hard to charge the phone wirelessly on the Pixel Stand. The brand has advised you to use other wireless chargers and check the charging indicator on your phone to confirm that it’s aligned correctly.
Pixel 9 Pro Fold doesn’t support the Pixel Stand but it supports many other wireless chargers. The position of the charging coil for Pixel 9 Pro Fold isn’t perfectly centered compared to previous Pixel phones. This might make it difficult for you to charge your phone wirelessly. When you use another wireless charger, adjust the position of your phone to get it to charge. To confirm if it’s aligned correctly, check the charging indicator on your phone
$1800 phones shouldn’t have charging incompatibility issues
It’s a bummer swallowing the high price tag on the Pixel 9 Pro fold plus the incompatibility issues with the Pixel Stands. For Pixel 6 and newer flagship models, Google’s Pixel Stand 2 brought faster charging speeds of up to 23W, compared to the 15W that regular Qi chargers offered.
The Pixel Fold was the first phone to bring the limitation where it could only charge wirelessly at 7.5W, no matter which charger you used, including the Pixel Stand 2. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has made it even worse because it’s not compatible with any Stand at all. So you’re stuck with a maximum of 7.5W with any wireless charger like its predecessor.
It’s not your fault, it’s Google’s
A little warning from the beginning would’ve been nice on Google’s end. Previous leaks didn’t hint at this charging issue and the support page was only updated recently. Frankly, it adds to all the other reasons why the phone doesn’t live up to its name.
Chances are that you already have a Stand you were looking forward to testing with the foldable. Worse, you may have just paid for a new Pixel Stand and are reading this post with regret.
It’s Google’s mistake. Sadly, you’ll be paying for it because all you can do now is buy another charger. It can be a Qi wireless charger or a wired charging solution. It’s possible that the Pixel Stand 3 will address the problem, but you’re in for a long wait.
The first Pixel Stand launched in October 2018, with the second generation following three years later in December 2021. Google won’t rush to bring out a new version, so don’t expect a Pixel Stand 3 for at least a year or two. Hopefully, they’ll surprise us sooner.
