Qi2 is an updated version of the ubiquitous wireless charging standard. What sets it apart from the original is a ring of magnets used to align the coils in the charger and the device.
Qi2 is available natively in Google’s Pixel 10 series and available in other devices via “Qi2 Ready,” which uses cases and other accessories.
The Pixel 10 series is here, and while Google’s latest smartphones might look pretty familiar to their respective predecessors, there’s plenty new under the hood. And while Tensor G5 might be the story for some enthusiasts, proper Qi2 support is undoubtedly one of the most exciting changes — though, depending on which phone you buy, it comes with its fair share of limitations.
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As we near the launch of Pixel 10, I’m getting some déjà vu with Google’s new devices, as the company has been pushing forward with its flagship phones for the betterment of the entire Android ecosystem, rather than just its own benefit. Sound familiar?
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While many devices strive to be thinner and lighter than their predecessors, Google’s upcoming Pixel 10 series is thicker and heavier across the board, adding more credence to the idea that these devices will have Qi2 magnets inside in line with recent teases.
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The Wireless Power Consortium has today announced the next evolution of Qi charging with “Qi2 25W,” a faster charging option that will soon include some “major Android smartphones.”
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To say that Qi2 has been a messy launch is a bit of an understatement, but it sounds like the Wireless Power Consortium has some plans for what comes next, as a new teaser hints at a “new era” of Qi wireless charging that will be further detailed next week.
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Samsung hasn’t fully adopted Qi2 in Galaxy smartphones yet, with the focus instead seemingly being on making phones thinner. In a new survey, though, Samsung is directly asking users if they’d prefer proper Qi2 support over a thinner smartphone.
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Qi2 has turned into a lot of disappointment as the magnetic standard continues to be mostly ignored, and Samsung also seems less than enthused as its official Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 cases continue to show that the company isn’t fully investing in the idea yet.
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According to a new report, Google’s base Pixel 10 is getting a bigger battery and faster wireless charging courtesy of “Qi2.”
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Google is apparently finally ready to adopt magnetic charging in the Pixel 10, but its Qi2 support will apparently not be baked into the actual hardware.
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Visually, Google’s upcoming phones look the same, but the big hardware hope is the presence of Qi2 wireless charging with magnetic attachment. The latest Pixel 10 rumor suggests Google is preparing first-party Qi2 accessories called “Pixelsnap.”
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Following in the footsteps of the Galaxy S25 series and likely the Galaxy Z Fold 7 too, Samsung appears to be preparing Qi2 support for the Galaxy Z Flip 7.
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A new listing reveals that Samsung’s new Galaxy foldables – Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 – will apparently have Qi2 support, but it’s unlikely to be the version you want.
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Samsung’s latest smartphones still don’t have proper Qi2 support, but the company is selling a “Magnet” case for the Galaxy S25 series, and those cases are now finally available widely for purchase.
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Thanks to changes to the Qi2 specification, smartphone cases can now be “certified” as Qi-compatible “devices.”
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Despite offering some magnetic accessories, Samsung hasn’t spent any time talking about the Galaxy S25 series being ready for Qi2. Yet, the Galaxy S25 series is the first set of smartphones with Qi 2.1 support, but without any upgrades to charging speed.
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With its new Galaxy S25 series, Samsung is finally adding Qi2 support. Sort of. You’ll need a case to take full advantage of it, and Spigen’s new cases are ready and compatible with Qi2 on the Galaxy S25 series, and taking things a step to solve a big problem.
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Qi2 is finally happening. Two years after it was announced, Samsung is adopting the latest Qi2 standard in the Galaxy S25 series, but it’s not in the way you probably hoped, and you’re going to run into an immediate problem with existing accessories.
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Samsung has unveiled a new wireless charging chip for smartphones that includes Qi2 support and significantly faster 50W wireless charging speeds.
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At CES 2025, two years after Qi2 was first introduced, the first update to the standard was released. It brings “Qi2 Ready,” as well as new support for chargers that have a moving coil.
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The OnePlus 13 is here and while it doesn’t make any dumb excuses about lacking wireless charging, it does still snub Qi2. However, the OnePlus 13 does still debut “Mag,” a collection of first-party cases that add the magnetic aspect of Qi2 to the device after the fact.
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The whole appeal of the Qi2 standard is that magnets can be added to a device in order to improve charger alignment, speeds, and open the door to a ton of additional accessories. But “Qi2 Ready” is now coming, and it may end up throwing a wrench in that.
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At CES 2025, two years after the standard was first announced, it’s been revealed that Qi2 is officially coming to Samsung Galaxy devices this year, and Google is leading development on faster charging speeds as well.
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The Qi2 standard is slowly coming, and the big appeal has always been that is brings magnets that work the same as Apple’s MagSafe to other products, including Android phones. And yes, magnets are indeed required to have something say that is has “Qi2.”
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The Qi2 standard has seen hardly any adoption across Android, but has been rumored to be coming in the Galaxy S25 series. As it turns out, that’s probably not happening, but Samsung may be bringing better wireless charging.
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