Opinion
Charging my phone takes too long!
by Dayan Pfammatter
Qi2 Ready announced: standard for wireless charging is changing for the better… and worse
15/1/2025
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Instead of advancing the wireless charging standard, the Wireless Power Consortium is announcing a new sub-label in Qi2 Ready. Chaos, pure and simple.
At first it sounded like a success story – now it’s sinking into chaos. Just over a year ago, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) launched a standard for wireless charging in Qi2, widely supported by the industry. Apple was on board, as were Samsung, Google and all the other major accessory manufacturers.
The logic is simple: Qi2 chargers work with all certified smartphones and charge them wirelessly at 15 watts. A magnetic holder ensures optimum power transfer and enables the use of a wide range of accessories.
Android manufacturers slacking
Pissing off consumers with Qi2 Ready
And how is the Wireless Power Consortium reacting to the fact that Android manufacturers have largely ignored Qi2 so far? Simple: by introducing a new label, Qi2 Ready. In short, it certifies smartphones that support Qi2 charging speeds but don’t have built-in magnets. A magnetic holder can then be retrofitted with a Qi2 Ready case.
This isn’t actually new, since magnets were optional in the original Qi2 standard – but still useful. After all, a magnetic holder offers true added value.
So, instead of strengthening the Qi2 standard, the WPC waters it down and annoys consumers. In many cases, a Qi2 Ready device can’t even be used with a Qi2 charger, since magnets are required to attach the smartphone in the first place.
What’s next for Qi2?
Really, the Wireless Power Consortium should’ve just waited to introduce the standard until all important manufacturers are ready for it. Alternatively, it could’ve limited Qi2 to just the charging speed and technical specifications instead of including magnetic mounts.
Even better, the certification should’ve been clearly linked to certain conditions: if you want to advertise Qi2, you should support all the details of the standard. This would’ve been a consumer-friendly solution, even if the range of Qi2 smartphones remained very limited for another year.
However, now there’s a risk that numerous smartphones with the Qi2 Ready label will come to market and not work with many chargers since they’re missing an additional case. Only leading to frustration among many buyers.
The Wireless Power Consortium has to make improvements next year at the latest. If the Qi2 standard is further developed for faster charging speeds, this should be combined with a standardisation of requirements. It’s the only way a standard makes sense – singular rules, clearly defined for everyone.
Header image: Lorenz Keller
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
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