Google’s Pixel Chargers Get Firmware Updates
▼ Summary
– The latest Pixel Stand app update contains code strings indicating a future feature to check the firmware version of a Pixelsnap Charger.
– This feature would allow users to view their charger’s firmware in the device settings, but it is not yet active in the current update.
– The update also references a Google Support article, though the linked page does not yet contain specific firmware information.
– The article notes that, similar to Apple’s MagSafe, Google’s charger will receive firmware updates, but the update process details remain unclear.
– It is uncertain whether Pixelsnap firmware updates have already been occurring or if this will be the first, as the discovered code only hints at potential future features.
Modern devices often receive software improvements, and it appears Google’s Pixel chargers are no exception. Recent code within an updated Pixel Stand application suggests that Pixelsnap wireless chargers will soon be capable of receiving firmware updates, much like other smart accessories. This development points to Google enhancing its hardware ecosystem with ongoing software support, potentially improving charging performance, compatibility, and security over time.
The findings come from an examination of the latest Pixel Stand app, version 2.2.0.834194002. Within the application’s code, several new text strings explicitly reference Pixelsnap firmware management. These strings include prompts for users to “Attach your Pixelsnap charger to view your device’s firmware version,” along with status messages like “Checking firmware… this may take a few minutes” and error notifications such as “Couldn’t get firmware version. Try again later.”
While these options are not yet active in the current public version of the app, they indicate a forthcoming feature. It is expected that once enabled, users will find this firmware information and management within their phone’s Settings, under Connected devices and then Pixelsnap Charger. For now, that menu only displays basic options like “Forget this device” and “Do Not Disturb while docked.”
The code also references a dedicated support page for Pixelsnap firmware, though the linked URL currently directs to a general Pixel accessories help page that has not yet been updated with specific firmware details. This suggests Google is preparing its support documentation in tandem with the new feature.
This move aligns with practices from other tech companies, notably Apple, which has quietly updated firmware for its MagSafe chargers in the background for some time. Apple provides visibility into the charger’s firmware version, though users typically cannot manually initiate updates. It remains to be seen if Google will adopt a similar hands-off approach or offer more user control.
A key unanswered question is whether Google has already been deploying firmware updates for the Pixelsnap charger since its launch last August without user visibility, or if the upcoming app update will facilitate the very first wave of these improvements. The new code strings primarily provide a method for checking the version, leaving the update process itself unclear.
(Source: 9to5 Google)
