Magnetic wireless charging used to mean an iPhone. The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), the standards body behind Qi, set out to change that with Qi2, and the accessory aisle followed: magnetic chargers, stands and battery packs from brands such as Anker, Belkin and UGREEN now carry Qi2 certification.
The phones are another story. More than a year after the first Qi2 25W certifications, most Android phones still lack built-in magnets, and Samsung points buyers to cases instead. This explainer sorts out what the labels mean, which phones have the magnets and what to buy for the phone you own.
Trend Signal
58/100 Steady momentum
- Emerging
- Rising
- Mainstream
- Peaking
- Cooling
Chargers went Qi2 faster than Android phones did
The Wireless Power Consortium certified more than 1,200 new Qi2 and Qi2 25W devices in 2025, yet in August 2026 9to5Google described the Android phones with built-in magnets as basically Google’s Pixel 10 and 11 lines plus Motorola’s Edge 70 Max.
Our editorial reading of the cited data, not a forecast. How it is scored
By the numbers
- 1,200+New Qi2 and Qi2 25W devices certified by the WPC in 2025Wireless Power Consortium
- 25WQi2 25W (Qi v2.2.1) power level, launched July 23, 2025, nearly 70% above Qi2Wireless Power Consortium
- 1.5B+Certified Qi2 chargers and receivers in the market within a year of launchWireless Power Consortium
- 14Devices that completed Qi2 25W certification in the July 2025 limited launchWireless Power Consortium
What Qi2 and Qi2 25W actually are
Qi is the wireless charging standard run by the WPC, which says it represents more than 300 member companies. Qi2 launched in November 2023 at 15 watts and added magnetic alignment, the part that snaps a phone into place the way Apple’s MagSafe does. The WPC says that within a year there were more than 1.5 billion certified Qi2 devices, chargers and receivers combined, in the market.
Qi2 25W is the brand name for version 2.2.1 of the specification, announced July 23, 2025. The WPC says it delivers nearly 70% more power than the original Qi2 and can take a phone from 0 to 50% in about 30 minutes. At launch, 14 devices had completed certification and several hundred were waiting in the queue, and the WPC said major Android phones would join the Qi2 ecosystem for the first time.
One detail matters most for Android buyers. According to 9to5Google’s reading of the specification, the non-magnetic Extended Power Profile tops out at 15W, with 25W reserved for the Magnetic Power Profile. In practice, 9to5Google found no 25W Qi2 charger on the market that works without magnetic alignment.
- Qi2: magnets built into the phone, up to 15 watts.
- Qi2 25W (also written Qi2.2): the same magnets, up to 25 watts.
- Qi2 Ready: the phone supports Qi2 charging but has no magnets; a compatible magnetic case supplies them.
- Older Qi: no magnets; some phones still use Qi 1.3.3 and miss the faster speeds, 9to5Google notes.
Accessories adopted Qi2 first
Chargers moved faster than phones. The WPC says it certified more than 1,200 new Qi2 and Qi2 25W devices in 2025, and member companies showing Qi2 25W products at CES 2026 included Anker, Aukey, Belkin, Nimble, Nomad, Satechi, Scosche and UGREEN.
Apple’s own charger followed. With the iPhone 17 in September 2025, Apple announced a Qi2 25W-certified MagSafe Charger in 1-meter and 2-meter lengths. By June 2026, 9to5Google described the vast majority of new wireless chargers as embracing Qi2, with battery banks and other accessories adopting the standard “en masse.”
On the accessory side, Qi2 is already the norm; the open question is the phones.
Which Android phones have the magnets built in
Google moved first. The Pixel 10 series, announced August 20, 2025, introduced Pixelsnap, its name for built-in Qi2 charging; the Pixel 10 and 10 Pro charge at standard Qi2 rates and the Pixel 10 Pro XL at 25W. The Pixel 11 line, announced August 12, 2026, lists Qi 2.2 25W compatibility for the Pixel 11 and 11 Pro, and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold charges wirelessly at up to 25W.
Motorola’s Edge 70 Max became its first phone with built-in Qi2 magnets and supports Qi2 25W. In August 2026, 9to5Google described the club of Android phones with native magnets as, outside that Motorola, basically Google’s Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 series; a leaked “Moto Snap” charger hints Motorola may add more.
Samsung has not. In a statement to 9to5Google, Samsung said the Galaxy S26 series “supports Qi2-compatible phone cases” rather than built-in magnets, citing its “commitment to thinner, lighter designs.” Because 25W Qi2 charging depends on magnetic alignment, 9to5Google concluded that S26+ and S26 Ultra owners need a magnetic case to reach the faster speed. Its review of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 also criticized the phone’s lack of built-in Qi2 magnets.
| Phone | Magnets built in | Wireless charging, per maker or report |
|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel 10, 10 Pro | Yes (Pixelsnap) | Qi2 |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro XL | Yes (Pixelsnap) | Qi2 25W |
| Google Pixel 11, 11 Pro | Yes (Pixelsnap) | Qi2 25W |
| Motorola Edge 70 Max | Yes | Qi2 25W |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 series | No, magnetic case needed | Supports Qi2-compatible cases |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 | No | No Qi2 magnetic charging |
What Qi2 Ready means in practice
Qi2 Ready means the phone speaks the protocol but leaves the magnets to the case. 9to5Google notes that building magnets into phones was the original plan for Qi2 until “Qi2 Ready” became the accepted way to offload them, and that not every case has magnets; even Samsung sells cases without them.
For owners, that makes the case part of the charging system. A case without a properly aligned magnet ring will not hold the phone on a magnetic stand or car mount, and without magnetic alignment the phone cannot reach Qi2 25W speeds. Phones that skip Qi2 entirely rely on casemakers to get alignment right, 9to5Google noted.
- Look for the Qi2 or Qi2 25W certification on chargers, not just the word “magnetic.”
- On a Qi2 Ready phone, buy a case that states Qi2 or MagSafe-compatible magnets for your exact model.
- Check the phone’s own wireless rating; a faster charger does not raise the phone’s limit.
Buy now or wait for the next phones
If you own a Pixel 10 or Pixel 11, or an iPhone with MagSafe, Qi2 25W accessories fit today, and there is no reason to wait. Accessory makers including Anker, Belkin, Satechi and UGREEN showed Qi2 25W products at CES 2026, according to the WPC.
Samsung Galaxy owners can get most of the benefit now with a magnetic case plus a certified Qi2 charger. Whether future Galaxy S phones will add built-in magnets is unconfirmed, so a good magnetic case is the practical route for the phone you have.
For other Android phones, check whether the phone supports Qi2 at all before paying for a 25W charger. Many still use older Qi versions, and the magnets will not hold without a magnetic case or ring.
What to watch next
- Samsung’s next Galaxy S launch, and whether built-in magnets replace the case-based approach.
- Motorola’s lineup after the leaked Moto Snap charger: more Edge models with magnets would widen the Android group.
- WPC certification totals for 2026, which will show whether Qi2 25W accessories keep outpacing phones.
Where to start
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Qi2 gear compared on what your phone needs
| Product type | Good fit for | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Qi2 25W magnetic charger | Fits Pixel 10 and 11 and MagSafe iPhones | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
| Qi2 magnetic phone case | Fits Qi2 Ready phones such as Galaxy S26 | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
| Qi2 magnetic power bank | Fits charging away from a wall | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
Product types that fit the trend described above, not tested models. Check the exact listing before you buy. How we pick them.
Qi2 25W magnetic charger
Where to look: Amazon
The default wireless charger in 2026. Match the certification level to your phone’s own rating.
- Snaps into alignment
- Up to 25W where the phone supports it
- Needs magnets in phone or case
- Slower on phones rated below 25W
Qi2 magnetic phone case
Where to look: Amazon
The piece that makes a Galaxy S26 work with magnetic chargers. Confirm the listing names your exact model.
- Adds the missing magnets
- Works with the Qi2 accessory range
- Not every case has magnets
- Adds bulk
Qi2 magnetic power bank
Where to look: Amazon
Useful for commuters and travelers. Check the wireless output rating, not just the battery capacity.
- No cable while charging
- Sticks to the back of the phone
- Adds weight and bulk
- Output varies by model
More: Tech and Gadgets trends and how the Trend Signal is scored.
Sources
- WPC ushers in next generation of faster wireless charging (Qi2 25W), July 23, 2025 — Wireless Power Consortium
- CES 2026 wrap up — Wireless Power Consortium
- Pixel 10 series announcement, August 20, 2025 — Google
- The Pixel 11 series: your most personal Pixel yet — Google
- Google’s most sophisticated foldable: Pixel 11 Pro Fold — Google
- Apple debuts iPhone 17 — Apple Newsroom
- Samsung’s excuse for skipping Qi2 magnets in Galaxy S26 ignores the big picture — 9to5Google
- Seriously, how do we not have more Android phones with Qi2 yet? — 9to5Google
- Moto Snap magnetic wireless charger leaks — 9to5Google
- Review: the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s new shape — 9to5Google
Questions readers ask
What does Qi2 Ready mean?
It means the phone supports Qi2 charging but does not have built-in magnets; a compatible magnetic case provides the alignment. Samsung told 9to5Google its Galaxy S26 series supports Qi2-compatible cases instead of built-in magnets.
Does the Galaxy S26 have Qi2 magnets?
No. Samsung cited its commitment to thinner, lighter designs, according to 9to5Google, which concluded that S26+ and S26 Ultra owners need a magnetic case to reach 25W Qi2 speeds.
Which Android phones have built-in Qi2 magnets?
As of August 2026, 9to5Google described the group as basically Google’s Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 series plus Motorola’s Edge 70 Max. An older model, the HMD Skyline, also had them but ran out of software support in late 2025, 9to5Google noted. Google markets its version as Pixelsnap.
Can you get 25W wireless charging without magnets?
Not with current Qi2 chargers, according to 9to5Google, which found that the specification reserves 25W for the Magnetic Power Profile and that every 25W Qi2 charger on the market uses magnetic alignment.
