I don’t usually develop a near instant dislike of new technology, but I’ve quickly come to loathe the new Pixelsnap accessory for the Pixel 10 series. While MagSafe certainly has its merits, Google’s little charging puck is not going to convince me that this is what the future of wireless charging looks like. Especially not when I have the highly regarded Pixel Stand 2nd Gen on my desk (which I’ll refer to as the Pixel Stand from here on out) against which to compare it.
My first and most obvious complaint is: why bother? Yes, the magnets make for a satisfying snap on the back of my Pixel 10, but a dangling puck/cable is no more convenient than a USB-C cable. Plus, I can’t use the Pixelsnap to charge my headphones, tablet, or any other gadget I have lying around. Now, Google is happy to sell you the Pixelsnap Stand to make it into a more traditional dock. Still, at $70 for the complete setup (don’t forget you need to bring your own wall adapter), it’s a massively overpriced piece of plastic that should really have been included in the Pixelsnap’s box for free. The charging puck alone costs $40.