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| (Image credit: Tom's Guide) |
You might be tempted to get one of the new 45W USB-C charging bricks at the same time as you pick up a Google Pixel 9. You won't get an adaptor to connect the Pixel 9 into a power outlet; instead, it will only arrive with a USB-C cable. Naturally, you'll want something that can charge your new phone as quickly as possible.
However, this does not imply that the 45W charging brick—which Google has been touting in all of its Pixel 9 marketing—is the best choice. In fact, the 45W charger is definitely going to be a waste of money if you're considering purchasing a Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro, especially if you already have Google's 30W charger.
This is due to the fact that only the Pixel 9 Pro XL is capable of using a 45W charger as opposed to a 30W power brick. The biggest phone can charge at up to 37W, which is a significant improvement above the Pixel 8 Pro's 30W maximum.
However, 27W wired charging is the only option available for the smaller Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro versions. Therefore, purchasing a 45W charging brick for either phone would be unnecessary and maybe not worth the $30 it would cost. Since Google just stated that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold supports "fast charging," which may imply anything, it is unknown what the charging speed is.
Longtime Pixel customers may already have one of Google's 30W chargers, given the device was introduced in 2021. If so, unless you're picking up a Pixel 9 Pro XL, you don't need to pick up a 45W charger. This also applies if you currently own a 30W USB Power Delivery-capable charger.
$25.00
Available on Amazon
Although Google no longer sells the 30W charger, it is still reasonably priced at several stores compared to the 45W charger. You may save money by purchasing the brick from Walmart for $25 instead of $22 as it is listed on Amazon. Finding less expensive choices is also simple; for $15, Amazon Basics is offering a 30W GaN charger that supports USB-PD.
The best thing is that you won't even need to wait a long time for those substitutes to show up. In contrast, the Google 45W charger is still listed as an official pre-order item and won't ship until August 22, which is also the day when the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro XL debut.