I’m excited for Pixelsnap accessories as an iPhone owner, and you should be too

• What’s the big deal with Pixelsnap?
• How does this help iPhone owners?

Summary

• Google’s Pixelsnap accessories for the Pixel 10 are bound to help Qi2 wireless charging (and magnetic add-ons) become more mainstream after years of stagnation.
• Since Qi2 and MagSafe are broadly interchangeable, that should hopefully result in a flood of new accessories for iPhone owners to choose from, too.
• Expect options to grow throughout 2026, particularly after Samsung’s launch of the Galaxy S26, and the inevitable wave of follow-up Qi2 phones from brands like OnePlus and Motorola.

The number of leaks surrounding Google products are so frequent these days that it’s not only a joke among journalists, but something Google itself has had to adapt to. It’s why the company revealed the name and general look of the Pixel 10 series well ahead of its August 20 press event, for example. The move allowed Google to regain control of the public narrative. There were still leaks circulating, but there was no longer any point in talking about the shape of pre-release cases, or dummy phone models from Asian factories.

One of the things Google confirmed at its event was the launch of Pixelsnap magnetic accessories that exploit the Pixel 10’s Qi2 wireless charging. While I’ve previously pointed to this as a sign of how far Google is behind Apple, it occurred to me recently that I should be onboard with the idea. If it pans out — and there’s little reason to think it won’t — it’s going to benefit both iPhone and Pixel owners alike.

What’s the big deal with Pixelsnap?

Filling in one of Android’s biggest blanks

For a long time now, MagSafe has been one of Apple’s underrated weapons in keeping iPhone buyers hooked. When it first premiered on the iPhone 12, way back in 2020, it might’ve felt a little gimmicky — there weren’t many accessories at first, and strictly speaking, no one needed it. As it turns out, though, it’s hard to go back to Lightning or USB-C for charging, or awkward cases and clamps for mounting and add-ons. When I need to grab my iPhone from my charging stand in the morning, I literally just grab it. No fumbling with a cable. And when I want something like a wallet or portable battery, I can buy one and slap it on, as long as my case is MagSafe-compatible as well.

Qi2 is based on MagSafe, and the two standards are basically interchangeable, even if there are performance variations depending on the exact products you’re using (more on that later). The main difference is that Qi2 is universal, available to both Android and iPhone owners.

In the iPhone arena, MagSafe is mostly about upselling you from cheaper models.

Android phone makers have been oddly reluctant to adopt Qi2 so far. Until the Pixel 10 series, the only Android phone with native support was the HMD Skyline, despite the tech dating back to 2023. My best guess is that many companies weren’t in a hurry to add the necessary magnets, which would increase production costs without any guarantee of new customers. People considering an iPhone are liable to buy one no matter what — if you’re shopping for an Android device, you’ve got a diverse range of choices, and might be tempted pick something based on display or camera specs as much as charging. In the iPhone arena, MagSafe is mostly about upselling you from cheaper models.

Pixelsnap means that Qi2’s moment is finally here. Pixels may not be as popular as Samsung Galaxy phones, but they are widespread, and Google was smart enough to ship Pixelsnap accessories alongside the Pixel 10. A lot of people are going to be snapping them up (no pun intended) by default, after which it’s going to be difficult to persuade Pixel owners to switch to anything without Qi2. Indeed, Samsung is rumored to be adding Qi2 to the Galaxy S26 early next year, probably feeling growing pressure from both Apple and Google. Once Samsung is on the train, you can expect other phone makers to hitch a ride as soon as possible if they don’t want to be left kicking dust at the station.

How does this help iPhone owners?

A rising tide floats all boats

As I mentioned, Qi2 and MagSafe are largely interchangeable. If nothing else then, most or all of Google’s accessories will automatically be compatible with my iPhone. I’m interested to see what else the company churns out, in fact. There’s nothing too exciting going on yet — but if the company can build on the sleek aesthetic of the Pixelsnap Charger with Stand and the Pixelsnap Ring Stand, say with the likes of an all-in-one travel charger, that should give me some interesting options to choose from the next time I need to fill in an accessory gap. It’d be fun to troll purists by slapping a Google-branded battery on the back of an iPhone 16 Pro.

The greater benefit should come from a tide of third-party accessories. Now that there’s an Android device worth building for, the Qi2 market is poised to expand beyond the niche of future-proof iPhone add-ons. Many early products will continue to be conversions from MagSafe, naturally. Over time, however, more original ones should emerge, further enlarging my potential shopping list. Remember that in many countries, Android reigns supreme — it could be that some accessory makers haven’t had much incentive to produce magnetic items until now.

The real question may be how long this expansion will take. I haven’t heard of any additional first-party Google accessories in the pipeline, and there are enough Apple-inspired Qi2 products on the market today that it’s going to be hard to sort out new arrivals. The closest I can come to a conclusion is “by the end of 2026” — accessory makers won’t be able to ignore the combined market of Apple, Google, and Samsung users, never mind any phones brands like Huawei, OnePlus, and Motorola might have in the works. If the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26 are successful enough, I could find myself drowning in Qi2 options by mid-summer.

On top of this affecting adoption rates, shoppers of all kinds are going to have to pay closer attention to specs…

Complicating things slightly is the split in Qi2 charging levels. Most Qi2 phones and accessories are limited to 15W, including the Pixel 10. But 25W products are beginning to emerge, and I’ll bet that some companies — Samsung among them — have been waiting for that tech before diving in. On top of this affecting adoption rates, shoppers of all kinds are going to have to pay closer attention to specs, lest they end up with a charger that doesn’t max out their $800-plus investment.

There is the possibility of Android-targeted accessories going little further than they are at the moment, I’ll admit. It could be that after Samsung ships its Qi2 offerings, we won’t get much more than tweaked versions of products already on the market. I doubt it though — there’s just too much profit incentive to customize for new phones, even if it’s just to match style changes. And the more that happens, the more wireless charging is poised to evolve.