The new Qi2 standard is starting to pop up everywhere, and with it comes the expectation of faster wireless charging. If you choose the wrong Qi2 case for the Pixel 10, the reality might be something short of what was promised, all becuase of case construction. Here’s what to look for.
The Qi2 version 2.2.1 standard launched in July 2025. Companies have since been scrambling to develop products compatible with it in order to deliver 25W fast wireless charging. Most manufacturers aren’t there yet, but even to achieve 15W charging over a wireless connection, there are severe limitations.
The Qi2 2.1 specification outline, which comes directly from the Wireless Power Consortium, lays out every detail that engineers need to follow to achieve an optimal charge. That’s the difference between full 15W or 25W charging and subpar power and thermal performance.
One major aspect that comes into play is how far the interface surface of the phone is from the secondary coil that sits inside the phone; in this case, the Pixel 10.
To achieve optimal performance, the Pixel 10’s Qi2 coil must sit at most 2.5mm from the surface of the device. That includes materials like Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and other materials that might sit in front of the Pixel’s receiving coil. It also doesn’t take into account version 2.2’s requirements, which is what the Pixel 10 Pro XL qualifies for to reach 25W wireless charging. That version might have even tighter restrictions, but the details aren’t currently public.
Between the Pixel 10’s coil and the charger’s coil, the WPC notes that an optimal distance is not larger than 5mm. That’s 5mm, taking into account the construction of the charger and of the phone, and whatever material sits between the two coils, including the case itself.
In essence, any Pixel 10 case that’s truly labeled as “Qi2 compatible” needs to be thin enough to abide by these requirements and close enough to the charger to get a powerful connection. It can’t be too thick, or the distance between coils would exceed 5mm, and that would fall outside of the optimal range.
It appears the WPC requires a 2mm max thickness for magnetic cover components, like cases. This would assume that the case has an additional magnet array, which is what makes a case MagSafe or Pixelsnap compatible.
The image below, taken from the WPC, outlines where the surface of a phone would sit in relation to the surface of a charger. In between that could be a case, but no thicker than 2mm, with the inclusion of its own magnetic array.
A case with thicker walls would require the charger to lower its power output to meet what the consortium labels its “meaningful functionality.” Otherwise, the phone and charger would overheat. That’s how a thicker case can cause the Pixel 10 to charge at a lower rate than 15W.
Mous, for instance, notes that its Limitless cases are less than 2mm thick on the back to meet the new standard. If they were thicker like the cases made for the Pixel 9, they likely couldn’t be labeled “Qi2 cases” – at least, not truly.
Most Pixel case manufacturers are not held to the same standard that companies like Mous, Dbrand, Bellroy, and others are, as “Made for Google Pixel partners.” With that, though, it’s worth keeping an eye out for Qi2 cases that don’t meet those construction requirements.
It isn’t easy to tell when buying a case, as most brands won’t provide the CAD or detailed specs for each piece of TPU they roll out. Still, if you’re looking for genuine 15W charging on the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro or 25W on the Pixel 10 Pro XL, you might want to find a case that’s certified or from a trusted brand. Also, look out for “Pixelsnap compatible.”
If no specs are available for the Pixel 10 Qi2 case you’re looking at, another thing to watch for is a tightly formed camera bar cutout. A case with material that seems to follow the sides of the camera bar back towards the rear of the phone is a good indication that the phone is thin enough for optimal charging. See the example below of Mous’ Limitless case for the Pixel 10.
If that doesn’t matter to you, then go nuts. Also, the new magnetic backing allows MagSafe and Pixelsnap accessories to work without a case at all.
Of course, that means you’ll likely spend more money. Tighter constraints mean more R&D, and accessory companies may pass that cost down to the consumer. Still, some of our favorite case companies are favorites for a reason. Those products last longer and hold up better; now, they’ll charge at full speed.
If you pre-ordered the Pixel 10, take a look at some of our recommendations below. These cases are from Google’s certified partners, and each notes Pixelsnap compatibility, though we haven’t had the chance to fully test them yet.
- Mous Limitless case
- Dbrand Ghost Pixelsnap case
- Bellroy Leather case
- Otterbox Symmetry Pixelsnap case
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