Pixel 11 specs might disappoint, but Google got one crucial detail right

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There have been complaints from Pixel fans that the Google Pixel 11 series is lacking in updates. That may be a problem with the cameras or the battery capacity, but I, for one, am glad to see continuity in one particular area: Google’s focus on its magnetic Pixelsnap accessories.

Pixelsnap debuted on the Pixel 10 family last year, and marked Google as the first major phone brand besides Apple to tap into the full potential of Qi2 wireless charging . As someone who’s already deeply involved in the MagSafe ecosystem for my iPhone, I found it delightful to see this on an Android phone. I was concerned that this could end up being a one-year effort, where even if Pixel 11 models were still magnetic, Google wouldn’t do much else. Thankfully, Google proved that fear wrong.

While they didn’t get much attention during the Made by Google showcase, Google’s lineup of Pixelsnap accessories remains — and, importantly, has been updated. There are new cases to fit Google’s four new phones, with options from both Google itself and popular independent case makers like dbrand, Spigen, Mous, Case-Mate and Bellroy all available from launch in a variety of colors. The same goes for the Ring Stand accessory from last year, which is now sold in hues that match the phone’s color options.

It’s not purely aesthetic changes either. You now get a higher 25W charging speed when pairing a Pixel 11 Pro with the official Pixelsnap charger — previously a Pro XL-only feature — while other models make do with 15W of cable-less power.

That said, the fact that Google’s Pixelsnap Charger Stand, which is just a frame that the standard Pixelsnap puck sits in, no longer color-matches is weird. I like the new Fog color that Google is offering on some of its new phones and peripherals, but I don’t like the two-tone effect it produces with the white stand.

Pixelsnap relies on the Qi2 magnetic wireless charging standard, which has been around since April 2023. Despite the underlying tech being over three years old now, Google remains the only major phone brand other than Apple to properly tackle magnetic accessories.

There’s still HMD, of course, whose 2024 Skyline model was the first Android handset to offer full Qi2 compatibility. Unfortunately, HMD is a small player in most markets. And while some brands like Samsung have made overtures, it’s still not putting in its full effort.