The Google Pixel 2 XL rapid charging apparently doesn't work if the temperatures get below 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).
Just recently, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 owners reported that the February security patch also brought some issues along as their handsets would overheat and the battery would drain faster after the update.
Pixel 2 XL Rapid Charging Issues
The latest reports point to some battery issues as well, but a different kind. As it turns out, the rapid charging is not so rapid after all if the Pixel XL 2's battery gets too cold. The smartphone will still display the "charging rapidly" status, but if the battery temperature drops below 20 degrees Celsius or 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the phone will charge at roughly 3 or 4W.
That's significantly lower than the rate at which it should be. The fast-charging rate for USB Type-C Power Delivery normally peaks at 18W and drops to 10.5W as the battery nears a complete charge. At 4W, the charging rate is dramatically lower, which makes the "charging rapidly" claim extremely misleading.
One user notes on Google's support forum that their smartphone charged just 14 percent in 50 minutes. After using the device for a couple of minutes, however, rapid charging worked again and the device started charging at the rate it should be. Using the phone automatically warms it up a bit, which explains why it started charging rapidly afterward.
It would make sense for the phone to throttle the charging process if the battery overheats so that it would avoid a fire hazard. However, lower charging rates at lower temperatures are a bit puzzling, especially since it's not about freezing temperatures or extreme cold. What's even more puzzling is the fact that the charging indicator is inaccurate, saying that it's charging rapidly when it clearly is not.
No Solution Yet For Pixel 2 XL Charging Issue
Google is reportedly looking into the matter but has yet to get to the bottom of things. The company has yet to determine what is causing this issue, but it's expected to figure things out soon enough and provide a fix, or at least a workaround.
For now, Pixel 2 XL users experiencing slow charging rates at lower temperatures might want to try using the smartphone for a bit so it gets warmer. Once the battery temperature rises above 20 degrees Celsius, it should resume rapid charging at normal rates.
Have you experienced any trouble with the Google Pixel 2 XL rapid charging? Share your experience in the comments section below.
