Qi2 standard brings MagSafe to your Android

Qi, the standard for wireless charging, is getting a successor. And good news for Android enthusiasts: the MagSafe functionality is coming to the Qi2 standard.

Qi, the Qi of wireless charging

Qi (life energy in Chinese) is the technology’s solution to the problem of dangling cords. Place your phone or other wirelessly rechargeable device on the Qi charger and thanks to electric magic, also known as induction, the battery in your rechargeable device is charged.

Thanks to Qi, devices from different manufacturers can be charged on the same chargers. Including, very importantly, those of the two industry leaders Apple and Samsung. Both, and other manufacturers, work together in the Wireless Power Consortium. But Qi is starting to get a little outdated. Then it’s time for a successor, Qi2.

The improvements in Qi2

The most striking improvement is that there are now magnets on the back of every Qi2 smartphone and charging station, with which you can place your phone in exactly the right place on the charging station.

Because the further the induction coils of the device and the charger are from each other, the worse the charging is. Thanks to the magnets, they are always in the best position, exactly on top of each other.

This feature is known from Apple Magsafe and that is no coincidence. Because Apple has actively contributed to the development of Qi2. Not out of the goodness of their hearts, of course, because the Apple patents will make them a lot of money.

Qi2: slightly higher charging speed

Second, slightly less noticeable change is that the charging speed, now a meager 15 W at most, has increased slightly. But, says the consortium, that’s just the beginning. This charging speed must increase significantly in the more distant future.

Android users will have to wait until the end of this year 2023. Only then will the first models with Qi2 be sold.