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Wireless charging has finally become faster and more efficient with Qi2, but not all phones support it how you’d expect. Some lack a key feature that makes a huge difference, and manufacturers aren’t exactly upfront about it.
How Is Qi2 Ready Different From Qi2 Certified?
When you look at a phone like theSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra—a top-tier flagship packed with the latest features—you’d naturally assume it fully supports Qi2 charging. After all, why wouldn’t it? But Samsung’s marketing doesn’t tell the whole story.
Like many other high-end Android phones, the S25 Ultra is labeled as “Qi2 Ready,” but that doesn’t mean what you might think. A Qi2 Ready phone can take advantage of faster 15W wireless charging; however, it lacks the built-in magnets needed for proper alignment and magnetic accessories.
In contrast, a Qi2 Certified phone has a magnetic ring built into the back. These work similarly tohow Apple’s MagSafe feature works on iPhones. The magnets allow the phone to snap onto chargers and work seamlessly with accessories like magnetic wallets and stands.
If you want those features on a Qi2 Ready device, you’ll need to resort to some workarounds, which obviously aren’t as seamless as having the magnets built-in.
What You Can Do if Your Phone Isn’t Qi2 Certified
If your phone isn’t Qi2 certified, don’t worry—you still have some solid options to add magnetic compatibility. The easiest option is to get a Qi2-certified case, likeSamsung’s Ultra Clear Magnet case, which adds built-in magnets for proper accessory support, but finding first-party cases with magnets for other phones can be pretty challenging.
I’ve personally been using aDbrand Grip Casefor over a year, and it’s been fantastic. Plus the magnets are strong enough to hold all kinds of accessories securely. If you’re going the third-party route, though, I wouldn’t recommend going too cheap. A lot of unknown brands use weaker magnets that barely hold onto anything, making them mostly useless.
Another option, especially for older devices, is touse MagSafe-compatible stickers on your phone. These attach to the back of your device and add magnetic support, but there’s a catch. Depending on your phone, you might experience slower wireless charging speeds, so it’s not a perfect solution.
It’s frustrating that you have to rely on cases or stickers to get proper Qi2 functionality, especially on expensive flagship phones. Whilewe reviewed the Galaxy S25 Ultra highly, the lack of proper Qi2 charging support is a major downside, and Samsung isn’t the only company missing it in its flagships.
Hopefully, more Android manufacturers start embracing full Qi2 certification soon, so we don’t have to deal with these unnecessary workarounds.
