Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile

Google clears the air on disappointing Pixel 6 charging speeds

By

Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro were initially thought to charge at up to 30 watts, but were found to actually charge at substantially slower speeds than that. Now, Google has confirmed that the Pixel 6 does in fact charge at closer to 20W to help preserve the long-term battery life of the newest Pixels.

Writing on the Pixel community forums, a Google community manager explained: “We’ve optimized Pixel’s lithium-ion battery for high charge rates when the battery level is low. Pixel 6 can get up to 50% in around 30 minutes (with Google’s 30W USB-C power charger), and quickly reaches up to 80% in about an hour, depending on device usage and temperature. The peak power that Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro draw from the wired charger is 21W and 23W, respectively. As the battery gets closer to full, charging power is gradually reduced in order to improve battery longevity.”

Recommended Videos

Google says the Pixel 6 should, however, get all-day battery life. The company’s adaptive charging feature means that the phone should learn your usage patterns over time and reduce battery burn so that you won’t have to charge it too many times.

Related

It’s clear that Google does see Apple as the standard to aim for here, as the iPhone 13 Pro Max charges similarly slowly, reaching 80% in just over an hour based on Dxomark’s calculations. On the other hand, for Android phone users who are used to having a full charge in just over an hour, Google’s otherwise reasonable stance becomes more than a little underwhelming.

This marks a continued trend of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro underperforming when it comes to expectations in the battery department. The battery doesn’t charge as quickly as Google implied, nor is it as fast to fill up as Android rivals. It’s also not as long-lasting across the board, with some getting impressive battery life and others seeing average to poor results. It’s an unfortunately inconsistent follow-up to the excellent Pixel 5a and it makes a poor rival to the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s battery.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Michael Allison
Michael Allison
Mobile News Writer
A UK-based tech journalist for Digital Trends, helping keep track and make sense of the fast-paced world of tech with a…
Why you need to be excited about the Google Pixel 8a
A person holding the Google Pixel 8, showing the screen.

This is going to be a busy year for Google Pixel devices. In less than a month, Google is expected to launch its first new Pixel of the year with the Google Pixel 8a. Following that, we're expecting a Google Pixel Fold 2, possibly another Pixel Tablet, the Pixel 9 series, and a Pixel Watch 3 later in the fall.

There's plenty to look forward to with all of those Pixels, but if you ask me, I think the Pixel 8a is the most promising of the bunch. In a year when Google has exciting upgrades planned for its flagship and foldable phones, Google's budget-focused omodel is what's really on my mind.
Google is at its best with cheaper phones
The Google ixel 3a XL (left) and Pixel 3 XL Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends

Read more
Something strange might happen to the Google Pixel Fold 2
A person holding the Google Pixel Fold showing the hinge.

Google Pixel Fold 2 render SmartPrix / OnLeaks

It seems the “Pixel Fold” line is dead at Google after merely a single outing. Instead, Google is planning to fold it into the mainline Pixel series of flagship phones. According to Android Authority, which cites software builds targeting Google’s upcoming phones, the next Google foldable might go by the name "Pixel 9 Pro Fold" rather than the expected Pixel Fold 2 branding.

Read more
The 6 biggest announcements we expect from Google I/O 2024
Google I/O 2019

Google will hold its annual developer conference, Google I/O 2024, on May 14 in Mountain View, California. The event is about a month away, and we're expecting a few big announcements.

As with any Google I/O event, this year's conference will start with a big opening keynote presentation from CEO Sundar Pichai. But what actual announcements are we looking forward to? Here are a few of the biggest things that we are likely to see at Google I/O 2024.
Android 15

Read more