In a world of increasingly complex technical school , wireless chargers are refreshingly simple devices . Just take your phone , shed it on a pad or support , and take the air away . That ’s it . And now that wireless charging is essentially a standard characteristic for most flagship French telephone , it ’s quickly becoming the preferred way to keep your phone ’s battery top up . But what if your wireless courser could do more than just excite electrons without the motive for telegram or cables ? Well , that ’s exactly what Google is trying to do with the newPixel Stand .
Pixel Stand
What is it ?
Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)
A wireless charger for the Pixel 3
toll
$ 80
The Pixel Stand’s music screen is a good way to keep tabs on your music while you’re getting ready in the morning.Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)
Like
consecrated screen for exhibit photograph and music , Sunrise alert , smart configurations
Do n’t Like
The ambient photo mode crops in on pictures to best fit the display.Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)
Relatively pricey for a wireless charger , sure functions do n’t work quite as well in landscape mode , chic family consolidation still a number special .
To get going , Google took a 10 - W wireless charging base ( which is a spot faster than most wireless chargers ) and then it did what Google does well : program in a bunch of neat software conjuration . And the result ? When dock , the Pixel Stand transform a Pixel 3 into a mini fresh speaker plusHome Hub , with the potential to be even more in the future tense .
Unlike like other wireless chargers , the Pixel Stand is smart ( or at least smarter ) , so not only does it know where it is , it can also tell between different Pixel phones . There is n’t even a indigence to download the Pixel Stand app , as it should be pre - installed on all Pixel 3s . From there , you may name your standpoint before wading through its setting to well customize its functions for your indigence
Just try not to knock the whole setup over when your alarm goes off.Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)
If you ’re someone who like to keep a wireless charger next to the bed next to your bed , you could set it to automatically turn on Do Not Disturb way so your phone wo n’t nictitate or vacillate when you ’re trying to sleep . In fact , if you want to be even more specific , you’re able to coif the Pixel Stand to only turn on Do Not Disturb between set times , so that you’re able to still see notifications during the day , and still get uninterrupted silence at night . And if you happen to have two Pixel Stands , say one at home and one at work , you may customise them individually to best fit their location .
On top of the Pixel Stand ’s charging and telling duties , Google also created usage music and photo interfaces , so that when a Pixel 3 is sitting on the stand , you could easily view things like record album art and song titles at a glimpse , with big clit along the bottom so you could hesitate and skip between tracks without require to unlock the phone . Now , when you take into account the Pixel 3 ’s muscular front - confront stereo loudspeaker and the Pixel Stand ’s bespoke music user interface , dead everything start to make sense . These products were design in bicycle-built-for-two , and when mix , a Pixel 3 basically becomes Google Home Mini , except that unlike a Home Mini , it ’s much soft to take your telephone with you when you lead the way .
As for pictures , the equipment ’s consecrate gallery mode syncs with Google Photos and expose them on the Pixel 3 ’s projection screen . you could set it to only pull images from specific albums ( in sheath you ’re worried about concealment ) and it will even motley between single stab and a tw0 - guesswork layout that do the good of the phone ’s real estate . So now , the Pixel Stand wrick your speech sound into a mini digital picture frame too . But we ’re not done yet .
Ambient Photo Mode adjusts pretty well to being landscape, music mode not so much.Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)
And for folks who have trouble beat up in the morning , the Pixel Stand also features what Google telephone a Sunrise Alarm . The path it work is that found on whatever consternation you have set , 15 minutes before any noises go off , the Pixel 3 ’s CRT screen turn on and gradually shifts from Orange River to yellow in an attempt to wake you up more lightly .
However , because the Sunrise Alarm is reliant on the Pixel 3 ’s screen for miniature , it does n’t get quite as bright as a dedicated wake - up light . But if you choose to log Z’s in tar sinister light me , the extra yellow light is still quite noticeable . And if light alone is n’t enough to rouse you , when your alarm eventually rifle off , the Pixel Stand ’s alarm clock screen door also include Snooze and Dismiss buttons so you may proceed on ( or not ) with the rest period of your day .
Also , like everything else Google wee-wee these days , the Pixel Stand also sport Google Assistant integrating . That means you’re able to start your twenty-four hour period by have a ready summation or your schedule and a conditions forecast , ascendance brightness or other sassy devices , or just need it any other questions you might have .
The Pixel Stand even has railroad tie - ins with surety gadgets like Nest ’s Video Doorbell , so that anytime the camera senses motion , it will automatically mail the video feed straight to your headphone , assume it ’s sitting on a Pixel Stand . Sadly , this role is currently restricted to Google ’s family of Nest gadget , and while I did have a chance to see this in action during the Pixel 3 launching outcome , I do n’t own any Nest product myself , so I have n’t been able to actually test it out . Hopefully , Google can partner up with more companies down the road so that this variety of functionality is available across a wider compass of devices .
Now as good as all this sounds , there are a few issues with the Pixel Stand . The most obvious of these is that none of these features shape with non - Pixel phones , which is a literal shame because many of the feature article are rooted in software system , one might think it would be Google ’s interest to make them available to the wide Android residential area . The other major problem is that while the Pixel Stand charges phones just fine in portrait or landscape painting mode , Google ’s tradition medicine screen only really works when the phone is resting vertically .
I also had a few issues getting the Sunrise Alarm to work the right way alongside Ambient Photo Mode , as the latter be given to override the consternation ’s radiance wake up projection screen . And while the Pixel Stand boasts some relatively speedy charge speeds , priced at $ 80 , it ai n’t inexpensive either .
Yes, I know my electric bill is due soon. Don’t @ me, the check is in the mail.Photo: Sam Rutherford (Gizmodo)
Out of all this though , there ’s one matter that feels really suspect . Thanks to its 10 - W wireless charging capacity , the Pixel Stand topped off a Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL faster than other similarly price battery charger . That ’s good , veracious ? Well not really , because as part of its charge protocol , Google need the Pixel 3 to establish a“secure handshake”for get full 10 - James Watt wireless charging . All non - Google - certified wireless bandstand are restricted to just 5 - watt charging ( even though the phone will say it ’s “ charge chop-chop ) , regardless of their actual capabilities .
This approach is a new spin on the walled ecosystem that Apple , Microsoft , and more recently , Google have built , and it does n’t feel respectable . I ’m indisputable part of the reasoning here is about protecting the equipment , but given all the bright capabilities of this point of view , it seems like it should also be smart enough to notice how much juice is flowing in and regulate things appropriately , without the need to hamstring tendon chargers made by other fellowship . Samsung and Apple do n’t do this on their phones , and I care Google would n’t either .
But when compared to its less sophisticated brethren , the Pixel Stand serves as a reminder that wireless chargers can do more than just fulfil up your battery . And for anyone dead set on buying a fresh Pixel 3 , I ’d reason that a Pixel Stand is almost a involve accessory , even if part of the rationality for that is because Google resist to play gracious with others . It ’s one part smart speaker system , one part photograph material body , and maybe someday , it will even be a portal into your home plate security department . For $ 80 , not only is the Pixel Stand an above average wireless charger , it makes an already intelligent headphone just that much smarter .
README
Each Pixel Stand has a unique Gem State so you’re able to programme your phone to behave other than depending on whether you connect it to your Pixel Stand at rest home or work .
Thanks to bespoke full - screen UI for display music and exposure , the Pixel Stand turns a Pixel 3 into a mini smart utterer / digital exposure frame .
Currently , the Pixel Stand ’s house security video feed only works with the Nest Hello doorbell photographic camera .
you could charge in both portrayal and landscape painting modes , but the particular photo and euphony screens work substantially in portrait .
The Pixel Stand is Qi - compatible and charges at up to 10 - watts on the Pixel 3 . Charging stop number for other earpiece may vary .
[ Update : 10/25 at 5:00 pm ] We have update the review to reflect that you may change the Pixel Stand ’s options even when your headphone is n’t docked by going to Connected Devices > Previously Connected Devices . Also , for retail Pixel 3 devices , there should n’t be a need to download the Pixel Stand app , as the app should come pre - set up .
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