Apple fans have long enjoyed the snap-on convenience of MagSafe since iPhone 12, so any rival claiming magnetic charging deserves a closer look. A fresh leak spotted by Evan Blass shows Google’s upcoming Pixel 10 adopting Qi2 PixelSnap, a MagSafe-style ring that boosts wireless charging to 15W and locks the handset onto pucks, batteries, and car mounts.
Google is expected to unveil Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro at a Made by Google event on August 20. Factory-test photos reveal a polished aluminum frame, a trimmed camera visor, and that all-important magnetic ring centered on the rear glass. While the aesthetic tweaks are minor, the charging revamp signals Google finally conceding that Apple’s magnet-alignment idea is now the de-facto wireless standard.
Apple helped steer the Wireless Power Consortium toward Qi2 by donating its magnet guidelines. As a result, Qi2 adopters must use the same ring dimensions and polarity Apple introduced with MagSafe. That means accessory makers can build one charger for both iPhone and Pixel instead of separate SKUs. For Apple households with a smattering of Android devices, the change simplifies nightstand cable clutter.
Pixel 10’s prototype shows precise magnet placement, suggesting it should click onto existing MagSafe pucks, though peak power falls back to 7.5 W on iPhone-certified pads.
Tensor G4 on TSMC 3 nm mirrors Apple’s move to A18 on the same node
UWB chip repositioned near the top edge, echoing Apple’s key-fob locating tweaks
Pixel 10 will be powered by Android 25 and continues Google’s seven-year update promise. Internal code suggests on-device generative AI for Recorder summaries and universal language translation. Apple’s iOS 18 already brought similar offline voice transcription and smarter Siri suggestions, but the Tensor G4’s bigger TPU may close latency gaps.
Belkin, Anker, and Spigen have Qi2 chargers ready for Q3 mass production. Google will license PixelSnap branding for accessories that pass tighter coil and thermal tests, mimicking Apple’s Made for MagSafe program but without encryption chips. That decision should keep prices lower and, importantly for Apple-centric households, expand the pool of high-quality magnetic stands compatible with both ecosystems.
Anker claims its PixelSnap 5,000 mAh pack hits 50 percent in 30 minutes, similar to Apple’s MagSafe battery output
Belkin is prototyping a dual-side stand that flips between StandBy Mode on iPhone and Pixel’s Photo Frame mode
Logitech is testing a MagSafe keyboard tray that also magnetically docks a tablet using the same Qi2 ring spacing
Google typically opens Pixel teasers in August, ramps September trailer drops, and hosts an October keynote. Carrier leaks point to October 11–18 retail availability. Pricing should stay at $799, with the Pro edging at $1,099 if Google finalizes its 10× periscope lens.
Apple watchers interested in ecosystem-agnostic accessories should mark late Q4 2025. That window is when Qi2 PixelSnap products will flood Amazon, bringing fresh MagSafe alternatives and potentially nudging Apple to release a faster second-generation MagSafe puck.
The Pixel 10 Qi2 PixelSnap leak underscores how MagSafe has become the benchmark for wireless convenience. Apple’s magnetic blueprint is now the industry template, and Google’s adoption benefits every user who juggles devices on the same charging pad.
