Pixel 10 Loses Battery Share in Favor of Qi2 Magnetic Charging

Google’s brand-new Pixel 10 lineup arrives with a big change: full Qi2 wireless charging support, complete with built-in magnets that snap accessories into place just like Apple’s MagSafe.

But there’s a catch – one feature long loved by Pixel fans has disappeared.

That feature is Battery Share, Google’s name for reverse wireless charging. First introduced with the Pixel 5, it allowed users to flip their phone into a charging pad to top up another handset, earbuds, or even a smartwatch. For years, it was a handy tool – especially when your accessories were running low on juice.

Things began shifting with the Pixel 9, when Google quietly removed automatic Battery Share activation while plugged in. Now, with the Pixel 10 series, the entire feature is gone. The official spec sheet doesn’t list it, confirming the removal. The reason? The new magnetic Qi2 design. According to Google, the physical magnet array that enables Pixel 10’s precise charging alignment also makes reverse wireless charging impossible. Interestingly, Apple’s iPhones also lack the ability to send power wirelessly.

There’s still hope for the future. Google says it’s exploring ways to enhance the Pixel experience further, leaving the door open for Battery Share’s possible return. Apple is rumored to be working on its own reverse wireless charging tech for future iPhones, though it likely won’t debut with the iPhone 17. Meanwhile, the only other Android device with Qi2 support right now – the HMD Skyline – does manage 5W reverse wireless charging, but it runs on an older Qi2.0.0 standard, while Google is pushing Qi2.1.1, which may have stricter hardware limits.

For long-time Pixel users, this tradeoff stings. Losing a practical feature for the sake of sleeker magnetic charging might not feel like an upgrade to everyone. Still, the evolution of Qi2 could eventually allow phones to balance both. Until then, Pixel 10 buyers will have to live without Battery Share.