Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Bear in mind once I stated I’d purchase the Pixel 9 Pro XL as a result of it fees sooner? Properly, it appears to be like like I’m about to eat my phrases. Plugging the brand new Pixel 9 Professional XL to quick cost has despatched the Android Authority crew down a rabbit gap of cables and chargers to search out out what works and what doesn’t. Google has simply made USB-C even worse than it already is.
Whereas it’s true that the Pixel 9 Professional XL is a good bit faster to cost to key milestones, because of its boosted 37W energy draw, it seems it’s not all that quick in any respect. Worse, you’re in all probability not going to have the ability to hit peak energy with out shopping for a brand new charger — which I’m not ready to do (once more!).
Sure, the telephone nonetheless makes use of USB Power Delivery PPS; there are tons of plugs on the market for that. Sure, it solely requires 37W; once more, you’ll discover many chargers that may push far more energy than that. In the event you observe the final knowledge for picking the right charger, you’d be forgiven for considering you’re lined by the assortment of best wall chargers available on the market. Nonetheless, the Pixel 9 Professional XL particularly requires roughly 18V at 2A to quick cost, a a lot increased voltage than the 9-10V utilized by most different PPS smartphones, together with Google’s different Pixel fashions, together with final yr’s Professional, and Samsung’s 45W Galaxy S24 Extremely.
I attempted a number of our favourite chargers that matched the seemingly key necessities however had no luck hitting the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s 37W energy degree. As an alternative, I used to be capped at 27W (9V/3A), basically the identical previous energy degree as final yr’s Pixel 8 Professional and the 9 Professional. I grabbed a 5A cable for the XL to see if that would maximize the present output, however to no avail. Fortunately, the Pixel 9 Professional can hit near its marketed 27W energy degree when nonetheless charging at 9V/3A. Curiously, it’ll additionally work at 18V the place out there.
The Pixel 9 Professional XL wants 18V/2A over USB PD PPS, however good luck researching that information.
It’s solely once I ordered Google’s new 45W charger and an assortment of diligently researched third-party plugs that I discovered a number of able to clicking the XL into 37W charging. The one factor these plugs all had in widespread was 20V USB PD PPS assist, however good luck discovering that listed on most product web sites. Manufacturers barely reveal which charging protocols their plugs assist, not to mention the precise energy ranges. Even when customers need to waste hours researching this data, they’ll’t.
To throw additional confusion into the combo, Google’s “Quick charging” popup tells you nothing about whether or not your plug is definitely charging the Pixel 9 Professional XL as rapidly as attainable or not. Even eyeballing the complete cost ETA received’t inform clients if their plug is working optimally. The telephone appears to take roughly so long as the Pixel 8 Professional does to cost totally, even when powered at 37W — so the “time to full” shows roughly the identical ETA even in case you use a PPS plug that isn’t topping it up with most energy. That makes it very onerous to diagnose if a charger is working optimally or not. As an alternative, 37W charging permits the Pixel 9 Professional XL to hit 50% and 75% milestones sooner, earlier than pulling again extra aggressively on energy for a really sluggish cost within the remaining phases. Discuss giving with one hand and taking with one other.
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Clearly, that is all unhealthy information for customers and makes the already horrendously messy world of USB-C equipment even bleaker. Simply after we thought we’d escaped the convoluted mess of proprietary charging, the Pixel 9 Professional XL throws a wrench within the works. I can already hear the cries: “Why is my Pixel XL charging so slowly,” and keen helpers popping up with 101 completely different attainable causes. That stated, Google isn’t alone in requiring increased voltage charging over PSS; ASUS’ 65W ROG and Zenfone smartphones additionally make use of upper voltages for charging. Nonetheless, the actual fact stays that these are the exception not the rule.
Why do some firms require a excessive voltage whereas others can go for decrease rankings? Whereas I can solely guess at Google’s reasonings, increased voltages benefit from dropping much less energy over cable resistance. It additionally means you will get away with cheaper and extra widespread 2A or 3A-rated cables somewhat than a 5A one. The draw back is that stepping down voltages to battery degree will incur some energy loss and, due to this fact, extra warmth contained in the handset. You can also’t use excessive voltages when charging the ultimate phases of a telephone battery, which is precisely what I’ve noticed with the XL. It drops again to 9V and round 18W or so as soon as the cell hits about 60%. I’m unsure there’s a very sensible purpose for choosing 18V over 9V, particularly after we know high-current charging works simply superb in different handsets at increased energy ranges. Maybe there’s some inside part constraint.
What hope is there if, after researching energy and protocols, customers can nonetheless choose the flawed charger?
In the event you want a plug to cost your Pixel 9 Professional XL as rapidly as attainable, we’ve efficiently examined the Google 45W USB-C charger ($29.99 at Google Store), Ugreen Nexode Professional 100W ($119.99 at Amazon), and Satechi 165w USB-C 4-Port ($119.99 at Amazon). The widespread theme appears to be that higher-wattage multi-port PPS chargers usually tend to assist the required voltage, possible as a result of they’re designed for charging laptop computer batteries. However even that’s not a assure.
Whilst you would possibly be capable to discover a appropriate wall charger after a little bit of analysis, energy banks are going to be a lot more durable to purchase appropriately. I’ve not been in a position to establish a single one which lists its output capabilities sufficiently to inform if the XL will cost as quick as attainable or not. In the end, you’re in all probability caught with slower charging when out and about with the Pixel 9 Professional XL for the foreseeable future. Depressingly, that’s precisely whenever you’re most certainly to want a quick top-up.
Whereas Google hasn’t fairly made all of the USB PD PPS plugs I’ve spent the final three years accumulating out of date if I purchase the XL (they’ll nonetheless cost it kind of rapidly), I’m not ready to purchase one other new wall charger so quickly simply to maximise the XL’s potential — speak about pointless e-waste. I feel I’ll avoid wasting cash and go for the slower-charging Pixel 9 Professional as a substitute.
