I’ve been testing and using Pixel phones since they were called ‘Galaxy Nexus’ and one of the best accessories out there is an unsung hero.

The Pixel Stand, in its basic form, is just a wireless charger. It’s unassuming in design, but it wields special powers which you might not know about.

First a foremost, it’s the only way to charge Pixel phones at their maximum wireless charging speed (almost double a regular wireless charger for certain models), plus the Pixel Stand 2 has an inbuilt fan to keep the device cool and you can choose from different charging modes.

That would be enough for me, but there’s more. Once docked, your Pixel phone can turn into a little Nest Hub-style smart display on your desk or bedside table. You can do all sorts of things: view a slideshow of your photos, control Google Home devices, see calendar events, control music playback, and more.

It makes me wonder why other phone makers haven’t copied this functionality. A phone doesn’t need to just sit there and do nothing but charge, after all.

The big problem is that Google bizarrely stopped selling the Pixel Stand 2 almost a year ago. You can probably find a second-hand one somewhere without too much trouble, but wait: we may soon be seeing a new model.

It’s no secret that the Pixel 10 phones are being announced next week at the big Made by Google launch event on 20 August and information on the devices has been leaked at an unprecedented level.

However, there’s a side to this launch that has seen far less of the limelight but is a huge deal. The Pixel 10 phones are set to get inbuilt Qi2 wireless charging. This is like Apple’s MagSafe and means accessories will snap to the back of the phone easily, using magnets.

5 things we still don’t know about the Pixel 10 series

Evan Blass

A basic Pixelsnap charger has been leaked (above) but Google is tipped to be announcing a range of products under this new branding. It would be strange if this didn’t include some kind of charging stand when we’ve been waiting so long, not to mention the phone’s new capabilites.

So if we’re lucky, this time next week we’ll be seeing a Pixel Stand Gen 3, or Pixelsnap stand, if that’s what Google wants to call it. And it could be even better than the discontinued model.

For starters, it should have magnets so the phones snap into place and this could also enable a choice of portrait or landscape charging, meaning you could watch video content much more easily while it charges.

Since AI is a huge trend in tech right now, Google could also add Gemini Live capabilities so your phone can be even more useful while it sits refuelling.

I also hope it supports the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, as this is a downside to the current situation. The charging coil location on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is compatible with the Pixel Stand 2, which is a bummer.

Fortunately, there’s not long to wait until the Pixel 10 phones hit the stage next week, hopefully with a Pixel Stand 3 in tow.