Pixel 9 might come with Apple MagSafe-like Qi2 wireless charging; Pixel 8a dummy units leak

Published On: November 16, 2023

Highlights

Pixel 9 series might come with Qi2 wireless charging support in 2024.
Qi2 wireless charging features a Magnetic Power Profile (MPP), which is similar to Apple’s MagSafe.
Pixel 8a dummy units show the outline of the design.

The WPC (Wireless Power Consortium) has announced that the Qi2 wireless charging standard has completed certification testing. This means the tech is ready to be implemented in products. The first devices with Qi2 certification will be available in time soon, including accessories for the new iPhone 15 lineup. It now appears that the next Pixel flagship, probably the Pixel 9 will also come with Qi2 compatibility in 2024.

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Separately, alleged Pixel 8a dummy units have surfaced online, courtesy of No Name and xleaks7. These images give us a hint about the design and the dimensions.

Pixel 9 might come with Qi2 wireless charging

One of the board of directors at WPC is Liyu Yang (observed by The Verge), who is also a wireless charging expert and a senior hardware engineer at Google.
As per the WPC blog post, Yang is “currently leading the investigation and design of next-generation wireless charging platforms for future Pixel products.”
The words ‘next-generation wireless charging’ and ‘future Pixel products’ strongly establish a connection that Qi2 charging could be heading to the Pixel 9 series.
Since Yang is a board member at WPC, it would be strange if the wireless charging tech didn’t find its way to Google’s flagship offerings.

Qi2 wireless charging

The key upgrade with the Qi2 wireless charging is its Magnetic Power Profile (MPP). This technology is similar to Apple’s MagSafe. Interestingly, this was contributed by the Cupertino giant to WPC. This still offers 15W charging but since it relies on magnets to align the transmitter and receiver coils perfectly, the power transfer is efficient.

There is also another Qi2 profile, dubbed the Extended Power Profile (EPP). The only difference is between MPP and EPP.

Pixel 8a dummy unit

Pixel 8a dummy units have leaked on LinkedIn ahead of launch. The handset will debut as a successor to the Pixel 7a. Details regarding the mid-range phone have surfaced much before the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro launch. The images of a dummy unit show the complete design outline. The dummy unit images show the front, back and sides of the Pixel 8a phone.

Earlier Pixel 7a leaks suggested the phone would arrive with a more rounded design compared to Pixel 7a. The dummy units back this claim. The new leak says the phone will measure 153.44 x 72.74 x 8.94. The Pixel 8a is expected to launch around the first half of 2024.

The Pixel 8a will have a centre-positioned punch-hole cutout and sizeable bezels around the display.
The volume rocker and power buttons are on the right edge.
Moving to the back, you see a horizontal island and this houses dual camera sensors and an LED flash cutout.