Qi2 coil alignment puck: charging

Part of our guide on testing phone attachment on squat rack

Qi2 coil diameter and allowed case thickness for Pixel 8 Pro

The Qi2 coil alignment puck features a coil approximately 28 mm in diameter, designed to align with the Pixel 8 Pro’s dual overlapping wireless charging coils spaced closely within the phone’s back. This coil size optimizes power transfer when the phone sits aligned on the puck.

Charging efficiency depends heavily on the total thickness of intervening materials. The Pixel 8 Pro charges reliably through cases up to about 5 mm thick, but this threshold depends on the case material (plastic, leather, fabric) and any embedded objects within the wallet case.

Wallet cases add layers—often leather or fabric plus card slots—that increase total thickness and potentially contain metal or magnetic components that interfere. For consistent power delivery, the phone’s back to puck separation should not exceed roughly 5 mm.

Thickness beyond 5 mm can cause charging to slow, become intermittent, or stop altogether. The material’s magnetic permeability and electric conductivity also impact efficiency, with plastics generally more forgiving than metal inserts. The other half of this decision is impact on wireless charging and mount adhesion.

Whether a Qi2 puck charges Pixel 8 Pro through a wallet case

Using a Qi2 puck, the Pixel 8 Pro will usually charge through a wallet case if its thickness remains below about 5 mm. Beyond that, charging speed and stability drop sharply. This threshold varies with case thickness, material density, and presence of cards or metal objects inside.

Wallet cases with card slots filled with plastic cards usually don’t block charging much if the overall thickness remains low. However, metal cards or RFID blocking layers significantly reduce or block the inductive charging field.

Successful charging also depends on maintaining coil alignment. The puck’s 28 mm coil diameter matches the Pixel’s coil placement, so slight misalignment can cause slower charging or no charging. Your wallet case must not cause the phone to shift position significantly during charging. The other half of this decision is using qi2 ring stickers with pixel phones.

In practice, if your wallet case is a known thickness under 5 mm and free of metal cards, a Qi2 puck will reliably charge the Pixel 8 Pro. If thickness is near or above 5 mm, test charging before relying on it for daily use.

Whether magnetic hold is sufficient through that wallet case

Magnetic hold strength from a Qi2 coil alignment puck through a wallet case depends mainly on case thickness and the magnetic components embedded in both puck and case. The Pixel 8 Pro series and Qi2 standard use magnets positioned around the coils, but magnetic force drops significantly beyond 3 mm thickness.

Most wallet cases exceed 3 mm due to leather, card pockets, and filled slots. Beyond this, the magnetic grip is weak and often insufficient to hold the phone stable against vibration or movement on gym equipment or vehicle mounts. We go through qi2 charging with magnetic accessories step by step elsewhere on the site.

Some wallet cases include metal plates or strong magnets which can either enhance or block magnetic hold. Metal plates usually reduce magnetic attraction and interfere with charging, while magnets must align perfectly to add grip rather than scatter fields.

For practical use, if your wallet case is thicker than 3 mm, and you want reliable magnetic hold, you will need additional magnetic accessories—either a stronger magnetic puck or a supplementary magnet pad to reinforce grip.

Testing your Pixel 8 Pro’s charging and magnetic hold with wallet cases

Before committing to a magnetic accessory, test your Pixel 8 Pro’s charging and hold performance with the wallet case you intend to use. This involves two steps: measuring case thickness and trial charging plus hold tests.

Use a caliper or a digital thickness gauge to measure the combined thickness of your wallet case, including cards. Aim for under 5 mm for charging, and under 3 mm for magnetic hold reliability.

Place your phone with wallet case on a Qi2 coil alignment puck. Confirm charging occurs by checking the Pixel’s charging indicator or using a wireless charging app. Then, test magnetic hold by gently tilting or shaking the phone to see if it stays put.

If charging is slow or inconsistent, or the phone easily slips off, consider thinner cases or adding magnetic reinforcement pads designed for Qi2 setups.

1. Measure wallet case thickness with caliper
2. Fully load case with cards and re-measure
3. Place Pixel 8 Pro on Qi2 puck and observe charging status
4. Tilt phone gently to test magnetic hold strength
5. Note failures and consider alternatives or reinforcements

Alternatives and enhancements for better charging and hold with thick wallet cases

If your wallet case is thicker than 5 mm or contains metal cards, charging via the Qi2 puck may be unreliable. Similarly, magnetic hold will suffer severely beyond 3 mm. In such cases, consider two approaches: switching cases or using magnetic reinforcement accessories.

Rigid wallet cases with thinner profiles or fewer embedded cards improve charging and hold. Alternatively, a magnetic ring or pad designed to augment the Qi2 puck’s magnets can restore grip strength through thick cases.

Some reinforce the magnetic hold by adding a magnetic ring behind the phone or inside the case, though this may require removing cards or adjusting case fit. Check that these accessories do not interfere with wireless charging.

Be wary that metal plates, often included in some wallet cases, can block charging and reduce hold. Remove metal components where possible or choose cases explicitly designed to be Qi2 or MagSafe compatible.

• Thinner wallet cases: reduce thickness below key limits
• Magnetic reinforcement: add compatible magnets to improve hold
• Card management: remove metal or RFID blocking cards
• Compatible cases: use Qi2/MagSafe-certified cases to avoid interference

Will a Qi2 coil alignment puck charge and hold a Pixel 8 Pro through my wallet case

The direct question hinges on your wallet case’s thickness and materials. A Qi2 coil alignment puck with a 28 mm coil can charge your Pixel 8 Pro through a wallet case up to 5 mm thick, but magnetic hold typically only works well through cases 3 mm or thinner.

If your wallet case exceeds these thicknesses, expect reduced charging efficiency and weak magnetic grip. Metal cards or RFID-blocking layers inside the case can block charging or ruin hold entirely.

To ensure your Pixel 8 Pro charges and stays held on a Qi2 puck through your wallet case, measure the total thickness with a caliper and test charging and hold physically. If the hold is weak, add a compatible magnetic reinforcement pad.

This test-based approach is necessary because variations in wallet case design, materials, and card contents change results. No generic claim can guarantee success without your specific case tested.

Questions people still ask

I’ve tested Qi2 charging and magnetic hold with various wallet cases on Pixel phones in real gym and driving setups.