Wireless charging: why the Qi2 standard has been a flop so far
12/3/2024
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Hopes were high, making reality all the more disappointing – accessory manufacturers are bringing many Qi2 chargers onto the market. So far, however, this only benefits iPhone users, Android devices are still missing out.
Apple, Google and many Android manufacturers have finally joined forces for a joint project, namely a new standard for wireless charging. And now this mess. Manufacturers such as Belkin and Anker are launching new chargers that support Qi2. But Android smartphones presented so far in 2024 all do without Qi2. The only Qi2 smartphones around are Apple’s. What’s going on in the Android world?
Standard for all, using Apple technology
Here’s what this is all about: Qi2 (pronounced «tshi two») is a standard for the wireless charging of smartphones and accessories. Its advantage? At 15 watts, charging is twice as fast as with Qi. This new standard also defines a system for magnetic docking between charger and smartphone. The technology comes from Apple, where it’s already widely used under the name Magsafe. Android phones with Qi2 can now also use these magnets.
Why were expectations for Qi2 so high? Well, for one thing, it’s rare for the entire industry to agree on a standard without external pressure. And the Wireless Power Consortium, which promotes Qi2, includes all the big names – Apple, Google, Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Oppo, Sony. Over 250 manufacturers in total.
You can read more details here:
Where are Android phones with Qi2?
The big problem with the standard? To date, there’s not a single Android phone out that supports Qi2, and this despite the fact that first Qi2 chargers have been available since early 2024. The Samsung Galaxy S24 presented in January, for example, only supports the slow Qi standard. Although 15 watts of wireless charging is possible, this only works via chargers that support the PMA standard. And no magnets whatsoever.
Source: Lorenz Keller
Hopes that the first Androids with Qi2 would be announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona at the beginning of March have also been dashed. The Xiaomi 14 even offers 50 watts of wireless charging – but only via its own Hyper Charge standard. The Honor Magic 6 Pro charges wirelessly at 66 watts, but again only using its own protocol. The Qi2 standard is completely missing on both models.
Insiders at the Mobile World Congress told me that the Google Pixel 9 will probably only support Qi2 in the autumn. All other new Android releases will be launched without Qi2 by then.
Delay due to late Qi2 finalisation
But why have Samsung, Xiaomi, Honor and others launched their phones without Qi2 so far this year? Well, there’s no official explanations from manufacturers. But in discussions at the MWC, accessory manufacturers revealed what the problem is.
Apparently, there were repeated delays in defining the standard. Although Qi2 was already announced in January 2023 and officially launched in January 2024, not all details were finalised by that date. This was a particular problem for Android manufacturers, who weren’t given enough lead time to homologate the technology. The WPC (Wireless Power Consortium) (page in German) also confirms that this period was too short.
For Samsung, Xiaomi, Honor and co., it’s not just a new charging standard, but also magnetic mounts, which haven’t played a role in the Android world until now. They require technical adjustments to hardware. Samsung, for example, is said to have a problem with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Apparently, the stylus integrated in the casing gets in the way of magnetic docking points.
Source: Lorenz Keller
As a result, a changeover requires some lead time. This is easier for Apple because the iPhone manufacturer provides the technical basis itself. Qi2 hardware is identical to Magsafe, only the software needs to be adapted. It’s why iPhone 15 models could be delivered Qi2-ready right from the start. And with a software update, namely iOS 17.2, allowing all Generation 13 and 14 iPhones to be retrofitted with Qi2.
Accessory manufacturers were also able to convert their holders and chargers from Magsafe to Qi2 quite easily, and were therefore ready for the launch of the new standard.
An annoying question mark remains
Will everything be fine if Android manufacturers jump on the Qi2 bandwagon late? Not necessarily. It’s still completely unclear whether major phone manufacturers will rely on Qi2 with magnets or make do without. Both are possible under the new standard – only the former makes sense, many mounts only work with the magnetic system. Here, a phone is held in position and can be easily docked and undocked.
But magnets also make sense for normal charging pads. They ensure that charging coils always fit perfectly, making wireless power supply more efficient. This minimises the risk of placing the smartphone too close to the charger and it not charging at all.
I think the standard should’ve been uniform. Manufacturers should only receive Qi2 certification with magnetic coupling. This’d also be clear and unambiguous for consumers. Just imagine the frustration, buying a nice charger but not being able to dock your smartphone properly.
Still, there are already case manufacturers who are closing these gaps. Instead of in the smartphone, you simply have a magnetic holder in your smartphone case.
Unnecessary teething troubles
The problem with the current situation is that consumers are unsettled. A new standard is announced, but manufacturers aren’t actually ready for the official launch date.
Instead of simply postponing the Qi2 launch, the launch is pushed through. Anyone who doesn’t deal with the topic intensively is now confronted with a standard for which there are no devices at all, except iPhones. And because of the confusing Qi2 design with and without magnets, further trouble is looming. Namely, frustrated customers who buy chargers they can’t even use afterwards.
Header image: Lorenz Keller
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.