The Google Pixel 6 doesn’t charge at 30W speeds after all

The Google Pixel 6 doesn't charge at 30W speeds after all

pixel 6 pro back to camera leaning against books

(Paradigm credit: Tom's Guide)

Update: Google has officially admitted that the Pixel half dozen serial doesn't charge at 30W speeds afterward all. In fact the Pixel 6 has a maximum ability describe of 21W, only 3W to a higher place the Pixel 5, while the Pixel half-dozen Pro offers upwards to 23W.

The Pixel vi's improved charging speed was an upgrade we were looking forward to, merely it turns out it's non all it'south croaky up to be.

While Google marketing and the official support page implies (though doesn't explicitly state) that the phones support 30W charging, a deep swoop from Android Potency shows that the Pixel vi Pro actually maxes out at 22W — but 4W faster than the Pixel 5.

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Google'southward support folio states that the Pixel 6 Pro has "fast charging" which volition give yous "up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with Google 30W USB-C charger with USB-PD 3.0" — an accessory that'due south non arranged with the phone itself.

Despite the implication that the Pixel 6 supports 30W charging, both these things are really truthful. Android Authority found that the Pixel 6 Pro hit l% battery in around 31 minutes, which is only slightly outside of Google's judge and within an adequate margin of mistake.

Even so, in our own Pixel 6 review, we saw worse performance, even when using a 30W charger. In our lab, the Pixel half-dozen's bombardment readout was back to 29% after 30 minutes. The Galaxy S21 got to 55% in that time, and the OnePlus nine, with its 65W charger, came shut to a full recharge.

Pixel 6 Pro battery charging test, using official 30W charger — (Image credit: Android Authority)

In Android Authority'due south exam, past the fourth dimension accuse hit 75%, the Pixel 6 Pro slowed to a 12W speed, and every bit low as 2.5W for the final 'home direct'. That means that while the Pixel 6 Pro hits 85% in a not unreasonable 63 minutes, it takes another 48 minutes to complete that last 15%.

While it'southward standard practice to reduce charging speeds equally batteries fill up upward in order to prolong the long-term life of the cell, a drop to this level is still strange.

This meant that in the site'due south tests, the Pixel vi Pro's 5,000mAh battery went from empty to full in 111 minutes with all adaptive settings disabled. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra managed the same feat in but over an 60 minutes, and our own listing of the fastest charging phones shows that the OnePlus 9 Pro hits 99% bombardment in just xxx minutes.

That might non be an issue if the battery simply needs overnight charging, but our battery tests for the Pixel six and Pixel 6 Pro didn't exactly inspire confidence on that score, with the handsets managing 8:13 and seven:53 respectively.

At that place is, however, a reason to not take those figures equally gospel: our battery test involves continuous spider web surfing over 5G, and that's non how most people use their smartphones.

Indeed, in our Pixel 6 review, our senior editor Philip Michaels was a chip kinder to the battery, writing: "In real world usage over a mix of 5G, LTE and Wi-Fi, the Pixel 6's battery held up pretty well — not enough to claiming devices with the all-time phone battery life, simply enough and then that y'all won't demand to seek out a mid-day recharge."

Nevertheless, this theoretically weaker operation combined with relatively tedious charging should give power users pause before they choice up a Pixel. Hopefully this is something that's addressed with the Pixel 7.

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Freelance contributor Alan has been writing nearly tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably detect him tackling his e'er-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth fourth dimension.