Qi2 Wireless position: Everything you need to know (2025)

It is ironic, but here in Wired we have been wireless fans carrying fans. Not having to search the cables is good! Most wireless load devices these days follow the Qi (pronounced Chee) Standard, which has taken its time reaching ubiquity. (The user experience has not always been excellent). The wireless energy consortium, which manages the load protocol, announced the next -generation version called Qi2 in early 2023. Qi2 The wireless load promises a perfect alignment, with the accessories potential to close the Android and the iPhone division.

Unfortunately, Qi2 has not been deployed as quickly or widely as we expected. Although each iPhone (of the 12 ON series) is compatible with Qi2 now, there was only one Android phone certified by Qi2 released in 2024, the HMD horizon, and we dismay when discovering that it did not work with some oldest Qi chargers. The hopes that 2025 can be a different story that have been beaten early with the news that Samsung’s Galaxy S25 is alone ready. So what is happening with Qi2?

Updated in February 2025: We add more details about the adoption of QI2 and an explanation of the new cases and phones ready of QI2 such as Samsung’s Galaxy S25.

What is Qi2?

Photography: Simon Hill

Qi2 is an open wireless load standard from the Wireless Energy Consortium (WPC), and brings important updates on the original Qi standard. The holder is the Magnetic Power Profile (MPP)which is based on Apple Magsafe technology. (Apple was involved in the development of the QI2 standard). This allows Qi2 brand devices to add a magnet ring to ensure perfect alignment with loaders and allow faster loading speeds.

There is another standard: the non -magnetic wireless load Extended Power Profile (EPP). According to the WPC, Paul Golden, EPP refers to a device that meets the specification, but is not officially Qi2 and, therefore, cannot use the logo or called a Qi2 device. Golden told Wired in an email that these devices “would carry the Qi logo, not Qi2, and the packaging and/or marketing materials have a required statement that the device does not contain magnets. Any device labeled like Qi2 is MPP and must include magnets. “

To cloud the waters, now we have the Samsung Galaxy S25 “Qi2 Ready” series. Outside the box, the Galaxy S25, S25+and S25 Ultra support the Qi wireless load standard, and have no magnets. But you can add magnets buying your own cases of ready (available in Samsung and third parties). Combine a certified Qi2 case with a Reading Qi2 phone and will effectively have a Qi2 phone (with the same improved loading and efficiency that you can use with banks and chargers Qi2.

This frustrating stopgap and something confusing is probably due to the long telephone development cycle and the difficulty of designing magnets in them. Looking on the positive side, since Qi2 Ready is cheaper and easier, it can be a viable path to take Qi2 to cheaper phones.