Four generations later, perhaps the most annoying thing about Google’s Pixel Watch line is the lack of accessories and, in particular, charging stations. The appeal of a multi-device charging station that tops off your phone, headphones, and smartwatch is obvious, but Pixel Watch owners are sadly left out. Belkin is now showing off what is easily the best Pixel Watch-compatible charging station I’ve seen, but Google’s apparent inability to stick with a decision basically ruins it.
I’ve tried finding multi-device charging stations for my Pixel family before. I tried a setup a while ago which included two wireless charging pads and a Pixel Watch dock, but it was the best of a bad situation, with so-so build quality and the typical jitteriness that comes from these no-name accessories. And, all the time, Google’s “official” solution requires you to use USB-C instead of wireless charging, no thanks.
That’s why I was very excited to see Belkin launch its first Pixel Watch-compatible charging dock at CES earlier this year. In first impressionIt was a solid option and has only gotten better in my house in recent months.
Belkin’s modular charging dock is a brilliant idea. It has a 25W Qi2 articulating base on top that reveals a second wireless charging underneath for your headphones. Then, a small shelf appears on the back to hold your smartwatch’s charging puck. Included in the box are inserts for Apple Watch, Pixel Watch 1, Pixel Watch 2/3, and select Galaxy Watch models (including recent generations).
But, if you notice, there is no support for Pixel Watch 4.
That’s why this spring has been on my wife’s nightstand, instead of mine.
In recent months, he has been able to use it without problems. After installation, the only initial headache was discovering that the watch shelf had not been fully extended, so charging your watch was inconsistent until we realized it needed to be pulled out a little further. Since then, everything has been smooth sailing. The simple setup keeps your nightstand much cleaner than mine, and it’s truly a “no thought required” experience. The Qi2 portion keeps your Pixel 10 Pro charged and dock weight, while a tiny A little light for my taste, it makes it quite easy to remove the phone without having to lift the entire base. The headphone charger is a little small for the Pixel Buds, but it still gets the job done.
I hate that I can’t use this with my Pixel Watch 4.
I can’t blame Belkin for that. This product was probably in development long before Google mentioned anything about a new charger design, and even then, Google is challenging the industry standard here. Belkin could have designed this product for the large number of Apple Watch owners, but chose to make it possible for Pixel Watch owners to join; there’s definitely no point in modifying it further just because Google changed their uploader again.
Progress and improvements are part of any good technology, and with Pixel Watch 4, I understand and appreciate the improvements made by Google.. But, pleaseCan we stop changing the damn charger? Google’s indecisiveness is ruining what should be great third-party accessories and, for its partners like Belkin, it simply makes the job of creating those accessories much more difficult.
Apple has been using the same charger for almost ten years; Google has already gone through three in just four generations. Just make a decision, at least for our sake.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
The Belkin Modular Charging Dock is available now for $64.99 in both the “Sand” color shown in this review and black as well. If you have a Pixel Watch, Watch 2, or Watch 3, it’s absolutely It’s worth checking out.
There is an option for Pixel Watch 4 owners, but it’s not as stylish.
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