Google · Waterproof Personal Electronics Cases
Google Pixel/ Pixel XL 2 3 Type C USB-C to USB-C USB Data Cable
Low risk. Standard USB cable with no known PFAS triggers.
USB-C cables typically use PVC or TPE jackets without Teflon-family coating coatings. No public lab data or recalls identified.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
PVC or TPE cable jacket, copper wire
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Google Pixel/ Pixel XL 2 3 USB Data Cable is made of, ingredients and materials
Google's Pixel USB-C cables use either PVC or TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) jacket material over copper wire conductors. PVC is a legacy polymer choice that can release plasticizers under heat stress; TPE is more flexible and presents lower concern for repeated flexing. Neither material is known to leach heavy metals or problematic chemicals under normal ambient use conditions typical of a charging cable.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Plasticizer leaching from PVC jacket
If cable uses PVC formulation, phthalates or other plasticizers are theoretically mobilizable under sustained heat. Charging generates minor warmth; direct skin contact is minimal and intermittent, lowering practical exposure risk.
Insulation degradation and wire exposure
Long-term flexing and UV exposure can crack or fray the cable jacket, creating electrical shock or short-circuit hazards. This is a mechanical durability issue, not a chemical one, but is noted as common wear pattern for all USB cables.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Microplastic shedding
No documented evidence that PVC or TPE cable jackets shed microplastics during normal use. Degradation typically results in visible cracking rather than particulate release.
Heavy metals
Copper wire and USB-C connector metals are not known sources of lead, cadmium, or other toxic metals in mainstream cable manufacturing. No recalls or test failures reported for Google Pixel cables.
Source, FDA ↗Electromagnetic interference or signal contamination
This is an electrical performance issue, not a chemical safety hazard. Google's cables meet USB-C certification standards and pose no known toxicological risk.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Google has not published detailed material safety data sheets or chemical disclosures specific to Pixel cable formulations. The company maintains general sustainability commitments but does not advertise third-party safety certifications (RoHS, phthalate testing) for this accessory category. No consumer safety recalls or chemical contamination incidents have been reported for Pixel cables.
How it compares in its category
USB-C charging cables are low-complexity products with minimal chemical exposure vectors compared to cookware, cosmetics, or textiles. This cable sits in the mainstream commercial tier, functionally equivalent to third-party alternatives (Anker, Belkin) that likewise do not disclose detailed polymer composition. Proprietary Google branding does not confer measurably higher safety assurance than certified competitors.
If you buy it
Keep the cable away from sustained heat sources above 60 degrees Celsius (high ambient temperature, direct sunlight in cars) to minimize any plasticizer migration from the jacket. Avoid sharp bends and kinks that accelerate degradation of the outer sheath; replace if insulation cracks, frays, or exposes wire. Uncoil the cable when not in use to prevent permanent deformation and stress points.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Google has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More waterproof personal electronics cases grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.