Google Pixel 11 Pro XL’s new 67W fast charging fails tests, needing a 21V PPS charger

Google’s Pixel 11 Pro XL, released in 2023, failed to reach its advertised 67W fast charging speeds in independent tests conducted by Android Authority. The phone required a 21V USB Power Delivery Programmable Power Supply (PPS) charger to achieve optimal charging, with generic 67W chargers delivering significantly lower power, according to the test results.

The device is equipped with a typical 5,115 mAh battery and features “fast charging” tied specifically to USB-C PPS chargers, according to Google’s product documentation. However, the company does not advertise a 67-watt wired charging rate for the phone itself; rather, its headline charging figures are linked to the use of a 45-watt or higher USB-C PPS charger.

Google’s official specifications for the Pixel 11 Pro XL, released in 2023, state that the phone supports fast charging “up to 75% in about 30 minutes” when used with a 45-watt USB-C Programmable Power Supply (PPS) charger or higher, which is sold separately.

Independent testing by Android Authority found that the Pixel 11 Pro XL achieved a peak charging power of about 40.7 watts when paired with Google’s own Pixel Flex 67W charger during the first nine minutes of charging. In contrast, a different 67-watt PPS charger lacking the appropriate voltage range delivered only around 25 watts at peak power to the device. Android Central’s early review data showed the Pixel 11 Pro XL reaching approximately 54% charge after 30 minutes on a 45-watt charger, falling short of Google’s best-case scenario of 75%. Notebookcheck, a German-language technology site, reported that to reach the advertised high charging speeds, the Pixel 11 Pro XL requires a USB-C Power Delivery charger capable of supplying 21 volts at 2 amps, a specification absent in many 67-watt and even 100-watt chargers.

The phone’s charging performance is heavily dependent on a specific USB-C PPS profile that supports 21 volts at 2 amps. Android Authority emphasized that achieving around 40 watts of charging power necessitates a charger capable of delivering 21 volts at 2 amps via USB Power Delivery PPS. BGR similarly reported that to reach the charging speeds Google promotes, a charger must supply 21 volts over USB PD PPS. Notebookcheck confirmed that this 21-volt, 2-amp profile is required and noted that many chargers, even those rated for higher wattages, do not support this voltage threshold. Google’s own 45-watt USB-C charger explicitly lists a PPS mode of 21 volts at 2.25 amps, which aligns with the Pixel 11 Pro XL’s optimal charging requirements. A Google support community guide advises users to seek chargers labeled with “PPS 3.3–21 V,” warning that adapters limited to 11 volts PPS will not enable full rapid charging.

Many third-party 67-watt PPS chargers underperform because they lack the necessary 21-volt PPS profile. Android Authority’s tests showed that a non-Google 67-watt PPS charger with a lower voltage range delivered only about 25 watts at peak charging, well below the claimed fast-charge figures. BGR described this discrepancy as a significant issue, noting that despite a 67-watt rating, chargers without 21-volt PPS profiles cause the Pixel 11 Pro XL to negotiate much lower power levels. Technical analyses explain that many mainstream PPS chargers cap their voltage at 11 volts, so although their total wattage rating may be 45 to 67 watts or higher, they cannot provide the high-voltage, low-current PPS profile that recent Pixel Pro models require to reach maximum charging speeds. This behavior is consistent with earlier Pixel models, such as the Pixel 9 and 10 Pro XL, which default to a lower 11-volt PPS mode if 21 volts is unavailable, limiting the charging power. Reviews and technical blogs have described this mismatch as a “PPS marketing trap,” where chargers advertise PPS and high wattage but do not support the voltage range needed for the Pixel 11 Pro XL’s peak charging.

Google’s own chargers, including the Pixel Flex Dual Port 67W USB-C Fast Charger, support PPS up to 21 volts at 3.35 amps, allowing for up to 67 watts output on a single port under proper negotiation. The company’s 45-watt USB-C charger supports fixed-voltage USB Power Delivery at up to 20 volts and 2.25 amps, and PPS at up to 21 volts and 2.25 amps, directly matching the Pixel 11 Pro XL’s charging profile. Google’s community guidance explicitly states that maximum charging rates on recent Pixel phones require chargers supporting PPS up to 21 volts, cautioning that many third-party chargers only support PPS up to 20 volts or 11 volts. Android Central’s coverage of the Pixel’s Extreme Charging mode recommends using at least a 45-watt charger with 21-volt PPS to fully utilize the Pixel 11 Pro XL’s fast-charging capabilities. BGR noted that both Google’s 45-watt USB-C charger and the Pixel Flex 67W charger include the 21-volt PPS profile necessary for the phone to reach its top charging speeds, while many other chargers do not.

Extreme Charging mode, when used with a suitable 45-watt or higher 21-volt PPS charger, can enable the Pixel 11 Pro XL to reach about 45% battery capacity in 15 minutes, according to Android Central. Standard charging mode on a 45-watt charger results in about 27% charge after 15 minutes and 54% after 30 minutes, highlighting the difference between typical real-world charging and Google’s optimal marketing claims. Android Police reported that since the Pixel 9 series, maximum wired charging speeds of around 37 to 40 watts rely on a specific USB-C PD PPS profile with a high voltage and low current, typically 18 volts at 2 amps or similar, which only some chargers support. The Pixels favor this low-amp, high-volt current over more common high-amp, lower-voltage PPS profiles, making charger compatibility more demanding. Both Android Central and Android Authority emphasized that without the correct PPS profile, Extreme Charging and advertised charge times cannot be achieved, even when using seemingly powerful 45-watt to 67-watt adapters.

Technical resources note that support for PPS at 21 volts is now critical for several Pixel Pro XL generations and that a charger’s wattage rating alone does not guarantee compatibility or full charging speed. Some Pixel devices will not accept PPS at 20 volts and instead fall back to 11-volt PPS if 21 volts is unavailable, sharply reducing achievable charging power. This behavior has been observed in the Pixel 11 Pro XL’s charging tests. Reviews characterize the Pixel 11 Pro XL as selective about charging, with chargers lacking 21-volt PPS still able to charge the phone but limited to about 25 watts, well below the fast charging headline and Google’s 75% in 30 minutes claim. A Google community post warns of the “PPS marketing trap,” advising users to check for chargers labeled “PPS: 3.3V–21V” rather than assuming any PPS-labeled or 67-watt-rated charger will unlock rapid or Extreme Charging. Collectively, testing and documentation indicate that the Pixel 11 Pro XL’s reputation for a 67-watt charging ecosystem is misleading; the phone itself peaks at around 40 to 45 watts and only when paired with a 21-volt USB PD PPS charger such as Google’s 45-watt or Pixel Flex 67-watt adapters. Many third-party 67-watt PPS chargers do not meet this requirement and fail to deliver the advertised fast-charge performance in independent testing.