Fast charging gets a new definition on the Google Pixel 9 series

The Google Pixel 9 series has brought some surprising new changes, and one of them is how it defines “fast charging.” Google Pixel 9 Pro XL users noticed that the familiar “charging rapidly” message was missing from their lock screens, replaced instead with an estimated time until the phone is fully charged. This change initially led to confusion about whether the phone was truly fast charging or not.

This change is due to an update in Android that’s currently only active on the Pixel 9 series. Previously, Android considered any charger delivering 7.5W or more as “fast.” However, with the Pixel 9 series, Google has raised the bar to 20W.This means older chargers that might have been considered “fast” on previous Pixel models may not trigger the “charging rapidly” message on the Pixel 9. It’s important to note that this doesn’t necessarily mean the phone isn’t charging quickly; it just means it’s not meeting the new 20W threshold.

While Google’s official 45W charger guarantees the fastest charging speeds, any fast USB-PD PPS charger delivering at least 20W should also trigger the “charging rapidly” message. It’s worth noting that Google’s phones don’t use a proprietary wired charging standard, so you have flexibility in choosing a charger.

So, basically, the Pixel 9 series has redefined what it considers “fast charging” by raising the threshold to 20W. This change might require some adjustment for users accustomed to seeing the “charging rapidly” message with lower-powered chargers. However, it also reflects how the standards of fast charging technology are changing, where higher wattages are becoming the norm for quicker charging times.