Last year, Google did a somewhat large redesign of the Pixel lineup. Flattening the edges of the phone, and even the camera bar, while sticking with its unique design identity. This seemed like a way to get iPhone users to switch over to the Pixel, and it worked. There were quite a few people who put their iPhone away and upgraded to a Pixel 9 device last year. However, this year, Google is taking it up a notch.
While most phones released this year do support Qi2 or MagSafe, very few have the magnets built into the actual device. In fact, the only device on the market that has the Qi2 magnets built in is the HMD Skyline. A mid-range phone that was announced over a year ago, and isn’t even available officially in the US.
But that’s about to change. According to leaks we saw this week, specifically from Evleaks, it appears that Google will be including the Qi2 magnets inside the Pixel 10 devices. This could explain why the devices are getting heavier and thicker (along with the larger batteries).
As we can see here, the new PixelSnap charger will be able to attach and charge the Pixel 10 without the need for a case, which is how most other smartphones are using Qi2 right now – including the $1,299 Galaxy S25 Ultra.
That’s actually a really big deal, especially for iPhone users. As someone who has been daily driving an iPhone since the iPhone 12 Pro launched, I’ve become accustomed to MagSafe and its accessories. It’s one of the things that has kept me using the iPhone for so long. It’s just so much more convenient to snap on a charger, versus needing to hold one and plug it in. And of course, there are other accessories like tripods and stands that make it a really incredible feature.
Is MagSafe enough to win over iPhone users?
But the big question is whether adding MagSafe (without the need for a case) is enough to win over iPhone users. It might be. And it might not be all because of Google, but more because of Apple’s failure with AI.
I for one, am seriously considering replacing my iPhone with a Pixel 10 model this year. In fact, currently, my main SIM is in the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is not common for me. You see, I have a second SIM or phone line from Google Fi that I use for all of my review devices. But the Galaxy Z Fold 7 now has my main eSIM from my iPhone, and it’s honestly been hard to go back to the iPhone after using the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and I’m expecting that to continue with the Pixel 10.
Really, the only thing making me want to go back to my iPhone is MagSafe. Over the years, I’ve bought and received (as review units) quite a few MagSafe products. I have probably 10 different MagSafe battery packs, at least five different MagSafe charging stands, and countless wallets, tripods, and other mounts. Which I can’t use with my Galaxy Z Fold 7 unless I buy a case that has the magnets.
And if Google can improve the Tensor G5 this year (versus the Tensor G4), then there’s a good chance that Google can get even more iPhone users to switch this year.
What’s so great about having MagSafe built-in?
You might be wondering, what’s so great about having the magnets built in, when many cases have had MagSafe support for years now? Well, for one, it means you can use any case you want. For example, with the Pixel 9 Pro, I can’t use the first-party Silicon case that Google sells with it, since it doesn’t have MagSafe. But with the Pixel 10 Pro, I can. Now the magnets won’t be as strong, but it is possible. Of course, Google is including magnets in its new cases anyway.
This is also going to help make MagSafe a core Android feature. As it is likely that other OEMs will also begin to include magnets inside their phones, versus needing a case for it. That’s going to help expand the MagSafe ecosystem, as it won’t be limited to just the iPhone.
Of course, not everyone has used MagSafe. But once you do, you’ll wonder how you lived without it. Before using MagSafe, I rarely used wireless charging. Now, I use it almost exclusively on my iPhone. That’s just how convenient MagSafe has become. I use it in the car with an ESR Qi2 car mount, not because I need to charge, but I need to put my phone somewhere, so why not give it some juice? I have a Mophie MagSafe charging dock next to my bed, I just slap the phone on it before going to sleep, and that’s it.
This one feature has me stupidly excited for the Google Pixel 10.
Google has had some seriously good momentum over the past year
Google has had some really good momentum since releasing the Pixel 9 series last year. The company saw its biggest market share gain in quite some time, with a pretty big uptick in Q3 (when the Pixel 9 was released). Though those numbers did start to drop in the following quarters.
But Canalys just released its US Smartphone Market Share numbers, and Google has now overtaken TCL to become the fourth-largest OEM in the US. Having shipped about 100,000 more units in Q2 2025 vs Q2 2024. That’s a 13% gain year-over-year. In fact, only Samsung, Motorola, and Google saw positive growth year-over-year. Samsung did see a pretty huge jump, almost 38%, or about 2.3 million units.
So the real question is, will Google do enough with the Pixel 10 series to keep this momentum going? From what I’ve seen and what we have leaked about the Pixel 10 series, I do believe they have. Of course, we’ll find out for sure on August 20.
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