Google Pixel 6 Pro charging speed: Cannot charge at 30 watts

If you are one of the lucky buyers of the Google Pixel 6 Pro (our review), you have probably already noticed that the charging speed of the flagship smartphone is not as high as hoped. Meanwhile, Google has confirmed that the device cannot be charged with 30 watts at all. The Pixel 6 Pro charging speed turns out to be lower than expected.

Google Pixel 6 Pro charges equally fast with cable and wireless

In a support article, Google has now commented on the charging speed of the new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones. According to this, the maximum speed is not even 30 watts, as originally assumed.

Accordingly, the Pixel 6 Pro charging speed of the 5,003 mAh battery is a maximum of 23 watts, while the small Pixel 6 charges its 4,600 mAh battery with a maximum of 21 watts. Thus, both smartphones charge wirelessly (for example, on the new Pixel Stand) or with a cable at the same speed.

Pixel 6 Pro charging speed decreases

However, this speed is not achieved over the entire duration of the charging process. The maximum speed is only reached up to a battery level of 0 to 50 percent, for which the Pixel 6 series needs 30 minutes.

After that, the Pixel 6 Pro charging speed is automatically reduced to conserve the battery, according to Google. Another 30 minutes are needed to charge from 50 to 80 percent. Between 80 and 100 percent, the speed is reduced once again.

In combination with Adaptive Charging, which can be deactivated in the battery settings, the charging speed can be reduced even further overnight to charge the batteries as gently as possible until the next morning.

The Pixel 6 Pro charging speed problem

The slow Pixel 6 Pro charging speed is causing frustration for many customers. However, this was a smart move by Google, as the company never commented on the maximum speed. Since Google released the Pixel 6 range together with a new 30-watt power supply, many users assumed that this was the smartphone’s charging speed – but that is not the case.

Thus, the Google Pixel 6 Pro is fully charged from 0 percent to 100 percent in about one hour and 47 minutes, which is, for example, much slower than a Samsung Galaxy S21 – not to mention the current OnePlus or Xiaomi models.