GoKawiilRyan Haines / Android Authority
Apple had a big lineup of announcements last week. Of all the news, what particularly caught my eye is the iPhone 17e, which came on the heels of the Pixel 10a — its direct competitor. Call it incredible timing, but it almost felt like Apple was closely trailing Google and launched its own budget phone with one terrific feature I’ve been sorely missing on the Pixel 10a: MagSafe.
The entire iPhone lineup, from the cheapest iPhone 17e to the most expensive iPhone 17 Pro Max, has magnets for more convenient charging. In stark contrast, the weakest link in the Pixel 10 lineup is the new Pixel 10a, which already feels outdated just a few days after its launch.
An ecosystem that is magnets
What makes you call something convenient? I’d say it’s getting the same or even similar results with reduced effort. MagSafe fits that statement perfectly — it lets you wirelessly charge your phone without worrying about placing it correctly on the charging mat. Without it, wireless charging can sometimes get so frustrating that you’d want to plug in the phone instead.
Between MagSafe with slower charging and fast but non-magnetic wireless charging, I’d pick the former without second thoughts — the convenience is that addictive.
Between MagSafe with slower charging and fast but non-magnetic wireless charging, I'd definitely pick the former without second thoughts.
Beyond addiction, it’s also about what device works better with your existing hardware setup. Smartphone purchase decisions aren’t based only on which camp you’re in — iOS or Android — but also on what existing connected devices you own; you wouldn’t pick up an iPhone if your car only supports Android Auto.
The same goes for MagSafe accessories. If you already have a MagSafe charger on the nightstand or as a car mount, you’ll likely go with the handset that works with those accessories. Qi2 is now a critical feature I now look for while shopping for accessories or when upgrading my family’s handsets. I’d specifically avoid the Pixel 10a because it wouldn’t work with all the MagSafe devices spread around my house.
The Pixel 10a is out of that ecosystem — mostly
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