Pixelsnap is one of the best things added to Pixel phones in a number of years, but it wasn’t quite a perfect first attempt. Luckily, this year those pesky magnets are a little stronger and more reliable on the Pixel 11 series.
In my testing, the magnets this year are just below the strength of the Magsafe connection on an iPhone. Things will connect more securely to the back of your phone, so you’re less likely to knock things off or encounter issues with any other accessories you might want to pair with the Pixel 11.
It’s hard to quantify without trying it out for yourself. You can sort of see in the quick demo below how there is a little extra force needed to pry the Pixelsnap kickstand from the back of the Pixel 11 over the Pixel 10. It takes less pressure from a single finger on the Pixel 10, whereas you need to actively try to remove it on the Pixel 11.
The magnets just have a little more grip, and it’s improved if the accessory you’re connecting has strong magnets already. I wouldn’t say the connection is quite as strong as when using the magnets on an iPhone, but it’s a lot closer:
We’re still sort of waiting for basically every Android OEM to jump on board with the Qi2 magnetic connection for flagships. So far, only Google, HMD (Nokia to you and me), and Motorola, with the Edge 70 Max, have bothered to add magnets to the back of devices. Most other brands, namely Samsung, have decided to rely on cases to bring the functionality. It’s a lazy implementation, but I guess it’s one that works.
That has sort of left Google to forge ahead and really make Pixelsnap work. I don’t understand why brands aren’t actively trying to implement “Magsafe” as many OEMs love copying Apple at any other time, so why avoid an easy win? My gripes aside, I’m glad that the magnets are stronger on the Pixel 11, because this means less reliance on having a case if you prefer to actually “feel” your phone day-to-day
More on Pixel 11:
- Pixel 11 initial review: This probably could have been a software update [Video]
- Google says Pixel 11’s new MediaTek modem is ‘faster and more power efficient’
- Pixel 11 Pro’s ‘HiLight’ is another half-baked feature burdened by bad first impressions
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