Google boasted of the Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro's fast-charging capabilities when it released them. The fast charging speed of the Pixel 6 series devices, which are not included in the box, can be fully utilized by plugging them into the $25 30W Fast Charging Charger. It is capable of charging the phone up to 50% in 30 minutes. Although this impressive specification is universally agreed upon, it might not be realistic.
Android Authority tested the Pixel 6's fast charging speed and found that it was not as fast as Google claimed. Android Authority tested the Pixel 6's 30W charger and found that it doesn't fully harness the power. Instead, the Pixel 6 only achieves a maximum charging speed at 22W.
Android Authority reports that it took 111 minutes for the charger to fully charge the Pixel Pros 5,000mAh battery. It was set up with Adaptive Charging turned off and its Adaptive Battery settings on. Google is correct. The device charges in about 31 minutes with a 50% charge. However, it takes longer to fill up the remaining 50 percent.
At 75 percent, the phone's charging speed drops to 12W, then to 2.5W, which takes almost an hour to charge. It is normal for charging speeds decrease over time to protect the battery from damage and to avoid high temperatures. However, dropping to 2.5W is not uncommon.
It took the charger 111 minutes to charge the Pixel 6 Pros' 5,000mAh battery.
Android Authority compared charging speeds for the 30W Fast Charger and the 18W Power Delivery Unit that Google included with older Pixels. The 30W Fast charger is only marginally faster than the 18W charger, which takes 121 minutes to fully charge the Pixel 6 Pro. This is only 10 minutes less than the 30W Fast charger.
This confirms what we observed during our hands-on Pixel 6 review. Both support fast charging but neither one seemed to be able to charge up as fast. We also found that Google throttles charging speeds after 80 percent, in keeping with Android Authority's findings.
Google does not explicitly state that the Pixel 6 charges at 30W, but it states that both phones can charge up to 50% in 30 minutes using a Google 30W USB C Charger with USB 3.0 (PPS).
It doesn't make sense for Google to promote Fast Charger if it isn't possible for the Pixel 6 to take full advantage. Google encourages users to purchase the charger, claiming that it provides lightning-fast charging rates. Is a 10 minute delay worth $25 more?
Google will also release a second-generation $79 Google Pixel Stand wireless charger in the near future. This superfast wireless charger claims to be capable of charging compatible Pixel phones at speeds up to 23W, which is close to the 22W rate the Pixel 6 Pro and 6 Pro can charge at. It is unclear why Google has not set realistic expectations for its upcoming wireless charger and the 30W Fast Charging. We reached out to Google for comment, but didn't hear back from them immediately.
