Google introduced its latest Pixel 9 lineup a couple of weeks ago. The new phones flaunt the new Tensor G4 SoC, apart from a smorgasbord of Gemini-powered AI features. Notably, Google has also increased the charging capabilities of the most high-end of the trio, the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
The flagship supports 37W fast charging, which is an improvement over 30W charging support on the Pixel 8 Pro. While the Pixel 9 Pro XL flaunts 37W fast charging, it possibly requires specific chargers to achieve the feat. A Reddit thread has documented the new charging tech of the phone.
Pixel 9 Pro XL achieves 37W fast charging using a different method than other phones
According to the thread on Reddit, Google has achieved 37W fast charging support on the Pixel 9 Pro XL using a different method. Instead of increasing the current or amperage to gain higher power, Google has bumped the voltage delivery capacity. In simple terms, the phone uses a higher voltage to charge faster, instead of the regular method of increasing the current.
This type of charging technology is typically reserved for laptops as they have much larger batteries. Changing high voltages back down to battery level can bump the heat, resulting in efficiency issues. The Pixel 9 Pro XL uses the USB Power Delivery PPS technology. As per the Reddit thread, it can support high voltage of up to 18V.
Notably, the ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra and ROG Phone 8 Pro also utilize the USB PD PPS charging technology. However, this way of fast charging is not yet common on smartphones yet.
The phone might not charge as fast as it can with all chargers
It’s worth mentioning that 9 Pro XL might not achieve its full charging potential using all fast chargers. Some chargers might not offer the voltage level it requires to charge despite being capable of delivering 40W power or higher. So, if you are looking for chargers that work with the phone, then you’ll need to confirm it delivers the required voltage.
Some of the best third-party chargers for the Pixel 9 Pro XL include Samsung’s 45W Charger and Anker’s 45W Nano II. Both of them deliver up to 20V at 2.24 ampere over PPS. That said, Google’s new official 45W charger is perhaps the safest option for one of its latest phones.
2024-08-28 15:09:04