Google skipped Qi 2 on the Pixel 9 Professional so I took issues into my very own arms

Name me loopy, however MagSafe may simply be probably the most impactful enchancment within the smartphone accent ecosystem. A easy ring of magnets embedded within the telephone has opened up an entire world of equipment that seamlessly combine with the iPhone.

From wallets to tripods, energy banks, and desk charging stations, I’ve invested a good amount of cash in buying a sequence of equipment that work completely with my iPhone. However there’s a catch. Like many smartphone fans, I dual-wield smartphones. And none of those equipment are suitable with my Pixel 9 Professional. So, I made a decision to take issues into my very own arms.

In a super world, all 2024 flagships would assist the Qi2 normal. Developed as a follow-up to the ever-present Qi wi-fi charging normal, Qi2 helps the identical magnetic alignment infrastructure as MagSafe.

Actually, Apple contributed to the event of the usual. Nonetheless, we’re not in a super world, and the one Qi2-compatible telephone is, satirically, an HMD machine. You’d anticipate the newest Pixel, Google’s flag bearer of Android smartphones, to be on level with the newest normal, however that’s clearly not the case.

However as at all times, there’s an answer. I picked up the Ringke Onyx MagSafe suitable case for the Pixel 9 Professional ($19.99 at Amazon) to offer all of it the identical capabilities as my iPhone 16 Professional Max, and it’s been unbelievable.

At first look, the case appears no totally different from the 1000’s of smartphone instances available on the market. It’s ever so barely thicker than many different choices, however not sufficient to be noticeable whenever you slip a telephone into it. To date, so good. However the secret sauce lies within the sequence of magnets built-in into the again of the telephone. These magnets will let you connect virtually any MagSafe accent to your smartphone.

During the last couple of years, I’ve stopped carrying my pockets altogether. Between digital funds, I solely actually need a bank card for big purchases, and my MagSafe pockets is ideal for storing a few playing cards. Beforehand, if I weren’t carrying my iPhone alongside, I’d simply slip the pockets into one other pocket. Nonetheless, Ringke’s case lets me maintain it shut at hand on the Pixel.

Elsewhere, I normally carry a MagSafe tripod with me when assembly pals to seize group pictures. However, clearly, that tripod solely works with an iPhone. Not anymore. The magnets within the Pixel 9 Professional’s case are sturdy sufficient to permit me to place the telephone precisely as I would like — each vertically and horizontally.

In fact, MagSafe energy banks are one more apparent use case. I do know it’s not probably the most environment friendly strategy to cost on the go, however there’s a sure comfort that comes from not having to lug a cable round. It’s a cleaner and far neater setup, and all it took was a case to make the Pixel 9 Professional suitable with my energy financial institution.

Lastly, I’ve talked about my love for the iPhone’s Standby Mode in depth. I even went forward and picked up aesthetic desk equipment to finish the look. Nonetheless, as you’d have guessed it, these desk charging equipment are MagSafe solely. Beforehand, I’d simply resort to digging out a cable to cost up the Pixel. Due to the Ringke case, my Pixel 9 Professional can now comfortably cost on the identical mount.

Look, I’m a easy man with easy wants. All I would like is an ecosystem of equipment that work collectively. Whereas multi-million greenback companies attempt to determine how one can use the newest tech requirements, the answer is usually not that sophisticated.

In my case, all it took was an after-market case so as to add assist for all my equipment. However hey, Google, when you’re listening — it shouldn’t should be like this, and I actually hope the Pixel 10 lineup contains assist for Qi2 proper out of the field.