I’m an unapologetic Android fanboy, dating back to the Nexus One. I’ve tried using iPhones before, if only to get the experience needed for my job, and that lasted about a week before I came back.
But I’m not too proud to admit that Apple is getting it right and the MagSafe system is great. It’s so good that I bought a MagSafe compatible case for my Galaxy Z6 Fold just so I can use these super convenient chargers and stands at my desk and next to my bed.
MagSafe – the phone version, not to be confused with previous Mac laptop chargers of the same name – has been around for four years now. And for four years, I’ve been waiting for Android phone makers to copy it or implement a similar system.
Enter Qi2, the updated version of the ubiquitous Qi wireless charging interface, which includes a MagSafe-compatible magnetic attachment system. It was introduced in January 2023, and more than a year later, but phone makers are in no rush to implement Qi2 on most new Android devices and continue to opt for standard Qi receivers. Even Google, an early adopter of wireless charging, omitted any Qi2 functionality on its latest Pixel devices.
To date, there is only one Android phone that uses Qi2: the HMD Skyline, a niche model focused on repairability. In fact, the biggest hardware release for Qi2 is… the iPhone 15. Which didn’t really need Qi2 certification because it already rocks MagSafe.
Where the hell are all the Android phones with Qi2 and, by default, backwards compatibility with MagSafe charging and mounting?
The upcoming Galaxy S25 series is rumored to use it, but I haven’t seen anything definitive yet. The Galaxy Ring is technically Qi2 compliant, but doesn’t use the magnetic standard (even for its proprietary charger). Right now, the most likely place a regular consumer can spot Qi2 is on a new wireless charger… which is actually just for the iPhone since it’s essentially just a new MagSafe charger.
What’s the problem, phone makers? I know it takes a lot of R&D to create a new device, but this hardware has been available to you long enough that new models released today should feature Qi2 technology. And MagSafe is a proven winner both with consumers and the broader smartphone market as a whole! You can find cheap MagSafe-compatible mounts and wireless chargers (many of which lack a pricey official endorsement from Apple) just about everywhere.
And that includes high-end accessories for Android phones, many of which come with “MagSafe adapters,” which are basically just magnetic rings strategically placed on their wireless charging areas. While this works, it can be a bit iffy – you have to position that magnetic circle just right to preserve wireless charging functionality, and this sometimes renders existing wireless chargers (especially vertical “stand” chargers) useless, forcing you to purchase new MagSafe compatible chargers. The low requirements for inserting a magnet into a case also make them less stable than their iPhone equivalents. I tried adding rings and MagSafe cases to my Pixel 5 and Pixel 7, and both phones simply wouldn’t charge wirelessly with a ring in place.
At least one manufacturer seems to have gotten the message, even if its implementation leaves a lot to be desired. Oppo’s upcoming Find X8 phone will get MagSafe compatibility, but not out of the box. Oppo has announced its official case with a MagSafe compatible magnetic ring, working with a portable battery-powered wireless charger. The video shows the same charger and pad working on the iPhone. Again, this system is Qi2 compatible, but it doesn’t use the Qi2 magnetic lock system built into the phone itself.
Android Authority speculates that even the Oppo Find X8 won’t use a magnetic attachment system in the phone itself to avoid the fury of Apple’s patent lawyers. (It’s worth pointing out that companies like Google and Samsung could have made first-party magnetic enclosures, but have chosen not to until now.) And while I certainly agree that almost every company on the planet wants to stay off Apple’s litigious radar. , I’m not sure if this is the main reason for our lack of Qi2.
Qi2 was implemented with a lot of input from Apple – which is a member of the Wireless Power Consortium, after all – and there are magnetic attachment and charging systems that predate the 2020 version of MagSafe. The Palm Pre and its Touchstone charger are an example from 2009, and Microsoft’s Surface laptops also use a proprietary magnetic charger.
A promotional message from WPC member Belkin in 2023 states that “Qi2 will initially be compatible with select iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone 13 and other MagSafe-enabled devices and is available for Android manufacturers to integrate into their future devices”. This implies that Android manufacturers can use the Qi2 magnetic holder if they want. It’s possible that these WPC relationships include significant money swaps in favor of Apple, just to ensure that there is no friction with potentially overlapping patents on the MagSafe system.
This is speculation on my part, to be clear. But between Skyline and Oppo’s cheeky advertising of MagSafe-compatible cases, it seems manufacturers are ready to implement MagSafe in all but name. We can only hope that in 2025 Android users will finally have access to these accessories without the need for an additional box of questionable quality.
