I’ve found plenty to love about my Pixel 10 over the past few months, but so far, nothing has topped the inclusion of PixelSnap. Google’s branded Qi2 implementation — the first of its kind we’ve seen on Android — brings all sorts of magnetic accessories to this year’s lineup, and in my experience, it feels like the closest we’ve come to a modern, market-friendly version of modular design. I’ve spent the last few weeks testing out a handful of magnetic accessories (some Qi2-specific, some not-so-much), and honestly, I can’t imagine going back.
UAG makes up the bulk of what I tried out, with the company having sent over a handful of samples for me to try, and practically everything was excellent. Its two ring stands are — appropriately — standouts, making it easy to keep a steady hand on my Pixel or prop it up on a kitchen counter while cooking. The standard finger ring grip is a fairly standard example of these, combining a hexagon-shaped ring with an extension arm for portrait or landscape positioning, and a fairly powerful magnet helps keep it steady.
But it’s UAG’s Monarch that really won me over. It keeps the same basic stand positioning, but trades away the finger ring for a second magnetic puck, allowing you to quickly mount the phone on any metal service. From home improvement to auto repairs, it has some pretty obvious use cases right away, but you’ll need to make sure it has a strong connection. The Pixel 10 is heavy enough that, even in just a couple of weeks, I’ve found surfaces where the magnet just isn’t strong enough to keep the device elevated.
The good news, though, is that it pulls double-duty as a bottle opener. Frankly, I’ll never get tired of owning things that are secretly bottle openers — easiest party trick you’ll ever learn.
One minor complaint about these: the basic black colorway does seem to chip away fairly easily, leaving silver scrapes on the smaller, cheaper model. If you’re concerned with how these products age, you’ll need to keep that in mind before picking one up.
UAG also sent over a couple less-flexible accessories in its latest slim battery bank and a Kevlar-protected wallet. The battery bank is similar to other slim magnetic cells we’ve seen from the likes of OnePlus, combining a 5,000mAh cell with Qi2 support. In practice, I was able to rise from around 20% to an 80% charge on this thing, good enough for me to give it a solid recommendation. Still, if you’re looking for larger capacities or improved efficiency, I can’t help thinking most people are better off with a standard battery bank.
As for UAG’s slim wallet, it might be my new everyday carry. I’m a fan of slim front-pocket wallets, and anything that also includes magnetic support is a win in my book. This particular offering is one of the few I’ve seen that properly unfolds to include additional pockets, including an RFID slot for your ID. But at just six cards, it’s one or two cards shy of where I’d like to see its capacity top out, especially considering its overall thickness. The Kevlar finish, at the very least, gives it a nice rugged texture.
These two accessories — along with those ring stands, to a lesser extent — do have one additional downside, specifically when it comes to the regular Pixel 10 I’m using. Thanks to Google’s ongoing decision to rely on glossy glass for its back panel, all of these add-ons really work best with a grippy case, like the first-party option I’m using here. You can absolutely use all of these without a case (and honestly, that would be my own personal preference), but you’ll feel it slip around underneath that magnetic connection. I really hope Google finally moves away from this design flourish with the Pixel 11; just make everything matte already.
Outside of UAG’s products, I also tested a couple of options from Statik. That’s a new brand to me, if I’m being honest, and these aren’t technically Qi2-focused — instead, they’re simply magnetic in their own right.
First up was this simple magnetically-braided USB-C cable, which might’ve convinced me this is the best way to travel. I usually wrap my cables around themselves (I’ve never been a cable tie person), but this one holds its own place with just enough pull.
This three-in-one battery, however, feels like a miss. I like the idea in practice — one mini external battery that can power anything you have through its interchangeable magnetic charging heads. Swapping connectors sounds clever, but in practice, it’s too fiddly. The battery can detach too easily, while the heads themselves are too hard to remove from devices, especially if you’re using a case. And I’m not sure how many NewGeekGuide readers even get much from microUSB or Lightning. A pop-out USB-C connector would’ve made far more sense, but, I suppose, that would defeat the whole magnet-first concept.
Despite some minor hiccups, practically everything here has me convinced that Qi2 — and magnets in general — are the future of smartphones and accessories. I really hope those rumors about the Galaxy S26 series fully supporting Qi2 are true, because if they are, I think the accessory market is about to become that much hotter in 2026.
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