Don’t Charge Your Pixel 6 With Just Any Old Cable

Google determined to not embody a USB-C adapter within the Pixel 6 field, following Apple and Samsung’s strikes in an try to scale back e-waste. But that lack of a charging brick could also be inflicting some points: Scattered reports, initially surfaced by 9to5Google, point out the Pixel 6 experiences charging troubles if charged utilizing an incompatible USB-C cable.

Google does embody a USB-C to USB-C charging cable within the field, however in case you don’t have a USB-C charging brick, you may be plugging an outdated cable right into a USB-A wall plug. In late October, a Google discussion board person posted about a difficulty that arose as they plugged an outdated charging cable into the Pixel 6. “Nothing happens,” wrote the person. “No charge, no warning, no nothing. It’s like it’s not connected.”

A Google Platinum Product Expert then instructed the person to purchase a USB-C cable appropriate with the Pixel 6’s fast-charging USB Power Delivery specification.

“Cables matter,” wrote the knowledgeable, who then adopted up with their evaluation of the potential charging challenge on the Pixel 6. “Swapping cables meant the difference between being able to charge my phone at 7.5W (5V 1.5A nominal) versus not at all, with the same charger.”

Google suggests that you simply use at minimal a USB-C cable with a USB 2.0 energy adapter and cables and toss apart the USB-An influence adapter for a USB-C to USB-C answer as an alternative. Otherwise, the USB-A cable will “charge your phone more slowly”—or possibly under no circumstances.

I drained a Pixel 6 Pro’s battery to see if I may recreate the identical challenge introduced up within the Google boards. The telephone appeared to cost tremendous with a USB-A to USB-C cable charging from an Aukey energy strip, in addition to an Apple 30W MagSafe energy adapter. Even my 10,000 mAh Xiaomi energy brick delivered energy to the machine by way of some freebie USB-C cable I discovered someplace.

I charged the Pixel 6 Pro by way of a proprietary OnePlus Warp charging cable to a generic USB-C energy supply brick. The Pixel 6 Pro was concurrently charging and sharing energy. I additionally tried three different random USB-A to USB-C cables I had mendacity round, together with the one included with an 8BitDo controller, and all of them have been capable of cost the smartphone. I fortunately have new USB-C cables available to cost up, however that’s not the case for everybody.

Low-quality USB-C cables have lengthy been a plague within the tech trade. At least this fashion, Google ensures no vital energy supply points—moreover the one you would possibly already be annoyed with, which is its most 21W-23W energy supply regardless of the suggested use of its 30W Pixel charging brick.

But Google’s efforts to be extra environmentally pleasant are a little bit moot if people have to purchase new charging adapters with a purpose to be certain their telephones cost correctly. If you’ve got solely have a USB-A wall plug available, you’ll probably use a USB-C to USB-A cable—and then you definately would possibly run into the charging challenge.

“This move also generated a drawer full of electronic waste I had in terms of cables and chargers,” notes the forum user who initially submitted the submit. “All of this wouldn’t be an issue if they were not bragging about being environmentally friendly.”