This Pixel 11 Pro Fold feature is so useful that its other flaws barely matter

Folding phones are becoming thinner and lighter, and all the while, they're packing more performance and more capable hardware. Google's newest foldable, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, isn't the spec leader in any of the major categories. It's neither the thinnest nor the lightest folding phone, and it isn't the fastest one either. Regardless, using the Pixel 11 Pro Fold quickly reveals that Google's foldable is more than the sum of its parts. One feature helps explain why: magnetic Qi2 charging.

It's true that the Pixel 10 Pro Fold also included Qi2 magnets, but they came with a major asterisk. At 10.8mm and 258 grams, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold's magnetic wireless charging and Pixelsnap support arrived at the expense of its form factor. For me, that wasn't an acceptable trade-off. This time, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold has the same Qi2 magnets and faster 25W wireless charging — all inside a sleeker 10.1mm, 239-gram chassis. It's the feature that makes the Pixel 11 Pro Fold stand out from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Motorola Razr Fold.

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold can use MagSafe without a case

It's the only foldable with built-in magnetic Qi2 support

Android users looking for a foldable have plenty of options. They can choose the wide Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, the flagship Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, or the "Goldilocks" Motorola Razr Fold. Every alternative is thinner than the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and only the Razr Fold is heavier. The compromise is that no foldable other than the Pixel 11 Pro Fold packs Qi2 magnets inside, and Google's latest foldable does it while being only marginally thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Razr Fold.

I consider Qi2 magnets to be a basic feature in 2026. MagSafe arrived on iPhones over half a decade ago, and there's a robust ecosystem of MagSafe accessories available for supported devices. For regular phones, having Qi2 magnets built-in isn't as crucial, since many people use Qi2/MagSafe cases with their phones. The situation is completely different for foldables. MagSafe cases for folding phones are thick, clunky, and come in multiple parts.

Putting a MagSafe case on a Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, or Razr Fold ruins the thin and svelte form factors that made them desirable in the first place. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is thicker, but I can snap it onto a wireless charger or MagSafe accessory without a case or magnetic sticker ring in between.

I can use Google's foldable with a handy MagSafe wallet with my ID, credit cards, and Tesla keycard. It securely attaches to the back, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold's compact camera bump ensures that even large MagSafe accessories fit without issue. That includes stands, car mounts, and camera tripods. Every time I switch to a Samsung or Motorola phone without Qi2 magnets, I miss out on a rich and helpful accessory ecosystem.

The Pixel 11 Pro Fold wirelessly charges at 25W

The smaller battery doesn't matter, thanks to Qi2.2 25W

If you don't use MagSafe accessories, there are still reasons to pick the Pixel 11 Pro Fold for its magnetic Qi2 support. Google added Qi2.2 support to the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, boosting wireless charging speeds to 25W with compatible chargers. That's faster than both the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which are both limited to 20W wireless speeds, and lack the magnets required for perfect alignment.

The magnets on the back of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold guarantee that the wireless charging coils in your Google foldable perfectly align with those inside a Qi2 wireless charger. It's satisfying to hear a Qi2 phone snap onto a wireless charger, but there's more to magnetic alignment than convenience. Wireless charging is much less efficient than wired charging, and efficiency decreases when a device isn't properly aligned on a wireless charging pad. The power lost in the process turns into heat, resulting in an overheating phone and slower charge times.

That's why the Pixel 11 Pro Fold's Qi2 magnets are so important. They enable faster charge times than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, as well as the last-generation Pixel 10 Pro Fold. They also help the Pixel 11 Pro Fold charge wirelessly at peak efficiency, which has tangible speed benefits. The new model's 4,806mAh battery is smaller than the one inside the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, but I'll take a smaller battery that charges faster thanks to magnetic Qi2.2 25W support.

While the Razr Fold advertises 50W wireless charging speeds that beat the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, there's a catch you should know about. Motorola doesn't support Qi2 at all on the Razr Fold, so the fastest speeds you'll get on Qi or Qi2 chargers are 15W. The only way you'll get 50W wireless charging speeds is by using Motorola's official 50W Wireless TurboPower Charger. It's a nice feature if you buy the charger, but otherwise, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold will charge faster on most wireless chargers.

Google nailed the foldable features that really matter

IP68 durability and Qi2.2 25W wireless charging are major advantages

Google has another ace up its sleeve for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold. It's the only foldable in the U.S. to support IP68 durability certification, meaning the phone is dustproof. That's important, as a speck of dust making its way into the hinge or under the display can break a folding phone. Although Google first made an IP68-certified foldable last year with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, Samsung and Motorola still haven't been able to copy it. In at least two ways, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is one of a kind.

That's why, despite not being the thinnest, lightest, or fastest foldable, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold still earns my recommendation for those that value MagSafe accessory connection and IP68 durability.