How does the Google Pixel 5 charge wirelessly if it has a metal body?

The Google Pixel 5 has just been launched, alongside some very interesting new products from the Search Engine giants (such an all-new Chromecast dongle). The Pixel 5, of course, packs a bunch of upgraded features and capabilities, in addition to Google’s stock Android experience—and now, you’re also getting wireless charging (missing on the Pixel 4a).

However, a big question is: how does wireless charging work with the Pixel 5’s aluminium body? For some context, wireless charging doesn’t really work as well on metal surfaces, and most Qi-compatible smartphones use glass backs as a result. Metal reduces the efficiency of the charging mechanism, and this can also result in high device temperature—never a good thing for computers (even mobile ones).

Despite that, Google has equipped the Pixel 5 with Qi-certified wireless charging, although you’ll need to purchase the charger separately. To get wireless charging to work, the company designed the Pixel 5’s aluminium body with a physical cutout above the charging coil. Basically, the new flagship Pixel smartphone has a tiny hole cut into its body.

You won’t be able to actually see this hole, however. According to David Imel of Android Authority, Google covered up the smartphone body with bio-resin (a form of plastic)—so the hole in the aluminium body is hidden and protected from the elements by the layer. Google promises that bio-resin is a durable material, so you won’t be able to feel the coil either.

This is also the largest battery on a Pixel phone ever, with a 4,080mAh battery under the hood. However, the use of bio-resin as a protective layer also helps to maintain the Pixel 5’s slim profile—just 7.62mm. Personally, it’s a relief to see a larger battery on the Pixel 5, and anything less than 4,000mAh on a flagship device is just unacceptable in 2020.

So, what do you think? Google’s unique workaround certainly opens up a lot of doors for smartphones in the future. While glass bodies are popular for their premium finish, they can certainly add to the cost of a smartphone. Now that there is a way to have wireless charging and metal bodies, we might see wireless charging becoming more readily available on affordable smartphones.

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