What is Qi2 wireless charging — and does your phone support it?
Qi2 added magnets to wireless charging, and the newer Qi2 25W nearly doubled the speed. Here’s what the standard means and how to tell whether your phone can use it.
The short version
Qi (pronounced “chee”) is the global wireless-charging standard from the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), the industry group that certifies chargers for safety and interoperability. Qi2, introduced in 2023, added magnetic alignment — a ring of magnets that snaps your phone into the right spot on the charger, improving efficiency and reducing wasted heat. The magnetic system, called the Magnetic Power Profile, is based on Apple’s MagSafe but implemented as an open standard any brand can use. Standard Qi2 charges at up to 15W.
Qi2 25W (Qi2.2): the speed bump
In July 2025 the WPC finalized an update branded Qi2 25W (technically Qi v2.2.1), which keeps the same magnetic alignment but raises the ceiling to 25W — roughly a 67% jump over Qi2’s 15W. In practice, a Qi2 25W setup can take a supported phone from empty to about 50% in around 30 minutes, versus closer to 45–50 minutes at 15W. It’s backward compatible: a Qi2 25W charger will still power older Qi and Qi2 devices, just at their own maximum speeds.
What you need to actually hit 25W
Three things have to line up, or your phone quietly drops back to a slower speed:
- A phone that supports Qi2 25W. Support is currently limited to recent flagships (more on that below).
- A certified Qi2 25W charger. Look for the Qi2 or Qi2 25W certification mark; certification means the WPC has tested it for safety and interoperability.
- A strong enough power adapter. You generally need a USB-C Power Delivery wall adapter rated around 30W or higher. An old 5W or 12W brick won’t have the headroom, and the system will fall back to a lower speed.
Does your phone support it?
Compatibility depends on both magnets and the standard your phone implements:
- iPhone. iPhones from the iPhone 12 onward have MagSafe magnets built in. Recent models support Qi2 25W speeds, and the iPhone 16 series can reach 25W with an up-to-date iOS version.
- Google Pixel. The Pixel 10 range was the first major Android line with built-in Qi2 magnets, and the Pixel 10 Pro XL was cited as the first device to support Qi2 25W.
- Samsung Galaxy. Samsung’s approach is different: several Galaxy S25 and S26 models support the faster speeds but do not include built-in magnets, so you need a magnetic case to get proper Qi2 alignment with magnetic chargers and accessories.
The simplest way to confirm is to check your phone’s official spec page or manual for the wireless-charging wattage and the Qi version listed. If your phone lacks built-in magnets, a good magnetic case can add the alignment — though a thick or weak-magnet case can slow charging down.
Is it worth upgrading?
If you charge wirelessly often, Qi2’s magnetic alignment is a genuine quality-of-life improvement: your phone lands in the right spot every time, charges more efficiently and runs cooler, which is easier on the battery over time. Qi2 25W adds meaningfully faster top-ups on supported phones. If your current phone only supports older Qi speeds, a Qi2 25W charger is still a safe, future-friendly buy — it just won’t charge that phone any faster than it already can.
General information. Charging speeds depend on your specific phone, charger, adapter and case; check manufacturer specs for your device. Compiled from sources as of June 30, 2026.
Sources
- Wireless Power Consortium — Qi wireless charging (official) — https://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/standards/qi-wireless-charging/
- Wikipedia — Qi (standard) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qi_(standard)
- Belkin — What is Qi2 wireless charging — https://www.belkin.com/company/blog/qi2-wireless-charging-standard/
- UGREEN — Qi2 25W (Qi2.2) wireless charging: what you should know — https://us.ugreen.com/blogs/wireless-charger/what-is-qi2-25w-wireless-charging
