If I had to choose, I would prefer faster charging to charging and sharing battery at the same time

Google hasn't explicitly stated why they made this change, but it's speculated that it's to protect the Pixel 9's battery health. Charging and discharging simultaneously can put stress on the battery, potentially reducing its lifespan. By disabling Battery Share while charging, Google may be prioritizing the long-term health of the device over a less frequently used feature.

It's worth noting that this change doesn't completely remove Battery Share from the Pixel 9. You can still use it to wirelessly charge other devices, as long as your phone isn't plugged in. So, while you can't be a power bank for your friends while your phone is charging, you can still help them out in other situations.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to prioritize fast charging or Battery Share comes down to individual needs and preferences. If you frequently find yourself in situations where you need to charge multiple devices simultaneously, then Battery Share might be more important to you. However, if you value speed and convenience, fast charging is likely the better choice.

The Pixel 9's battery share change might be a minor inconvenience for some, but it's a small sacrifice for the benefits of faster charging. In a world where time is of the essence, the ability to quickly top up your phone's battery is a valuable asset.

While some might miss the old Battery Share functionality, it's important to remember that technology is constantly evolving. Companies like Google, Apple, Samsung, and others are always looking for ways to improve their products, and sometimes that means making trade-offs. In this case, it seems like the decision to prioritize fast charging over Battery Share is a step in the right direction.

It will be interesting to see how this change impacts user experience and whether Google decides to bring back the old functionality in future updates. For now, Pixel 9 users will have to adjust to the new Battery Share limitations and embrace the speed and convenience of faster charging — as long as you're using the right charger, of course.

As technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more innovative features and improvements in battery technology. Perhaps in the future, we'll have phones that can charge incredibly fast — as many outside of the U.S. (and let's not forget OnePlus) already do — and share their power with other devices without any limitations. Until then, we'll have to make do with the trade-offs and choose the features that best suit our needs.