A cool wireless charger but tragically too expensive

You might think that Google was new to wireless charging if you did not follow its products for years. Nexus 4, 5 and 6 all had wireless charging capabilities. Google even launched its own charger in 2013. After ignoring wireless charging for several years, the feature is back on the Pixel 3 and 3 XL. Google is also selling a wireless charger again: the Pixel Stand.

Not much has changed in the last five years. The official Google wireless charger is more expensive than the competition and its design is unusual. However, the Pixel Stand includes a truly cool technology and tightly integrates with Pixel 3. You probably will not do it. need these features, however. It's hard to justify $ 79 for the stand when you can get a Qi-compatible pad that charges your phone as well for $ 20.

Design, material, what's in the box

Pixel support is the ultimate minimalist deconstruction of what can be a charge carrier. There is a flat circular base, an oval-shaped back to support the phone and a small lip to hold it in place. That's all. The Pixel stand looks like a person who started drawing a chair in Microsoft Paint, did a bad job and gave up.

Google's wireless charger is only available in white, which seems like a missed opportunity. Google could have provided versions that match all pixel colors. The underside has an unexpected touch of color – it's a kind of coral, I guess? Near the back, there is an opening and a recessed section where you connect the USB Type-C cable.

The material is covered with soft-touch plastic, which prevents the phone from slipping too much when you drop it. The lower lip that prevents the pixel from sliding has a scalloped edge, which is a bit strange. Nothing prevents the phone from slipping from one side to the other, so you should avoid jostling the stand.

Your Pixel 3 will charge at 10W when it is on the stand, which the phone says as "Charge fast". Although it's 8W slower than you'll get with the cable, and 5W slower than Samsung's wireless charger with its phones. A small hidden LED lights on the front of the pixel holder when you connect your phone to the docking station to inform you of its connectivity. Support charges any phone with compatible wireless technology (Qi), but Google's custom features only work with the Pixel.

The Pixel Stand combines an identification signal on wireless charging waves using technology designed by Google. This means that your phone automatically couples with your pixel support. No Bluetooth or NFC is required. When connected, your phone will always listen to the wizard and can offer suggestions (via a button on the screen) such as reading news or reading your news. messages. In the Pixel Stand docking station, you can rename your media and set it up so that it activates Do Not Disturb, turns off the screen at night, or automatically displays recent photos. It also integrates with the Nest Hello doorbell.

The box does not contain anything unexpected. You get pixel support, a USB C-to-C cable and a plug. The charging device can charge 18W when it is plugged directly into your phone. I imagine that it is identical to the original charger supplied with the Pixel.

Should you buy it?

Probably not. I congratulate Google for adding a wireless charging device to their phone, but the Pixel Stand is simply too expensive to compete with all the inexpensive charge pads that use the same Qi technology. Google's custom features are neat and improve the experience. However, they are not worth the exorbitant price of $ 79 requested.

I like that putting the Pixel 3 on the stand allows enabling features such as permanent listening and photo frame mode. The way Google identifies your Pixel Stand via the charging signal is undeniably smart. You can even have multiple Pixel Stands (for example one at home and one at work) with different settings. It is also easy to install on a cluttered desk because its footprint is reduced. This will fit perfectly into your setup because it is a commonplace device. The Pixel Stand is neither elegant nor interesting, it's just is. The soft touch surface prevents the phone from slipping, but I would feel more secure if there was something that prevented it from slipping from one side to the other: the lip scalloped does not seem sufficient.

If you start buying multiple pixel supports for home and work, the cost will increase quickly. The price is just too high when there are well rated chargers that can do 10W for much less (like this and that). Even the sleek Samsung Quick Charger costs about half as much as the Pixel Stand. You could say that it comes with a fast pixel charger, and that's $ 35 alone. However, you'll just leave the support plugged in all the time, and Google's wired chargers are also pretty expensive.