The Qi2 commonplace is slowly coming, and the large enchantment has all the time been that’s brings magnets that work the identical as Apple’s MagSafe to different merchandise, together with Android telephones. And sure, magnets are certainly required to have one thing say that’s has “Qi2.”
The Wi-fi Energy Consortium introduced the Qi2 commonplace in early 2023 with a main deal with the ring of magnets that open units to raised alignment and compatibility with equipment. The enchantment of that’s large, regardless that it hasn’t seen any massive adoption practically two years later.
However does Qi2 actually require these magnets?
Sure, sure it does.
Confusion on this matter first popped up a couple of months in the past when a “non-magnetic” web page on the “Cost with Qi” web site was highlighted and defined that there have been two logos for Qi2 merchandise. One for merchandise with magnets. One other for merchandise with out.
The web page, which was deleted days after it was dropped at gentle (as you would possibly discover, we by no means coated this story initially – that is why), was straight opposite to all earlier bulletins from the WPC. That deleted web page was additionally the one place this was talked about. When the Qi2 commonplace was finalized in November 2023 (round 9 months previous to when that web page was highlighted), the WPC clearly defined:
The Qi v2.0 commonplace consists of two profiles, the Magnetic Energy Profile (MPP) which relies on MagSafe know-how contributed by Apple to WPC and branded with the Qi2 emblem, and an enhancement to the present wi-fi charging Prolonged Energy Profile (EPP) that doesn’t embrace magnets however complies with the Qi v2.0 commonplace. New Qi v2.0 EPP merchandise will likely be branded with the present Qi emblem shoppers know and use at present.
In different phrases, Qi2 is available in two essential varieties. There’s the Magnetic Energy Profile (MPP), which is what’s branded as “Qi2.” There’s additionally the Prolonged Energy Profile (EPP), which remains to be branded as “Qi,” regardless that it’s model 2.0.0 (or increased) of the Qi commonplace.
If there was any remaining confusion left, although, an official WPC account has made it much more clear.
Qi2 merchandise can solely say they’re utilizing “Qi2” in the event that they embrace magnets.
The affirmation got here in reply on Twitter/X to Chris Thomas of Android Police. Because the WPC initially stated, any units utilizing the Qi2 commonplace with out the “Magnetic Energy Profile” will nonetheless be referenced as utilizing Qi, with the unique Qi emblem nonetheless in use. This contains the Galaxy Ring, which is utilizing the Qi 2.0.0 commonplace, however lacks magnets, nevertheless it’s solely marketed as utilizing Qi basically, not “Qi2.”
The issue, after all, is that we’re nonetheless ready on Qi2 to see any actual adoption. There are tons of Qi2 equipment available on the market, however iPhones with MagSafe stay the one units licensed for Qi2 outdoors of the HMD Skyline, the one and solely Android telephone that has adopted the usual.
2025 doesn’t appear to be it is going to convey a lot of a change. The OnePlus 13 is confirmed to be ignoring the Qi2 commonplace – utilizing Qi 1.3.3 – whereas the Galaxy S25 sequence is anticipated so as to add magnetic equipment, however solely by way of a case.
Extra on Qi2:
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