This is why the Nexus 6P and 5X don’t have Qi Wireless Charging

It’s nearly impossible to design a tech product that won’t generate some reason for complaints from some cross-section of consumers. Make the world’s thinnest device and people complain about specs. Make the most powerful device on the planet with amazing battery life and people complain its too bulky. Everything is a balance, but one particular omission from the newly announced Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X are drawing a lot of complaints: there is no Wireless Charging.

Now we know why Google didn’t include Qi Wireless charging in these new devices:
We added Qi wireless charging starting with N4 because plugging in USB micro B was such a hassle! (Which way is up!?) With this year’s Nexii, we support USB Type-C which has a reversible connector so there’s no more guessing. AND it charges incredibly swiftly: 1% to 100% in 97 mins on the 6P for example (the first ~45 mins of charging is especially fast). Meanwhile, wireless charging adds z (thickness). So, ease of plugging in + fast charging + optimizing for thinness made us double down on Type-C instead of wireless!

The above quote is from a Reddit AMA featuring Hiroshi Lockheimer, part of the Google Nexus Team.

We won’t agree or disagree with the question, because it all comes down to personal preference, and that’s part of Android’s beauty- if you don’t like it there are dozens of other amazing Android phones from which to choose. We will say, however, that we hope the next generation of wireless charging comes soon.