Most smartphone manufacturers are refusing to adopt the modern Qi2 wireless charging standard because companies want to save money, technology publication How-To Geek reported.
The Wireless Power Consortium introduced the updated Qi2 wireless charging standard in January 2023 to establish a universal magnetic charging system for mobile devices. More than three years after its official introduction, the technology remains absent from most flagship and mid-range devices, with adoption limited to select handset models from Apple, Google, and HMD.
In an analysis of the market, technology publication How-To Geek reported that many phone manufacturers are actively skipping Qi2 or foregoing custom wireless charging features to avoid spending additional resources. Other companies contend that adding the internal magnets required for magnetic wireless alignment complicates device construction and component arrangement.
Samsung, the world's largest Android smartphone maker, explicitly cited design constraints when explaining why it has not adopted Qi2. The company stated that its refusal stems from a drive to maintain a thinner and lighter overall device profile.
The Wireless Power Consortium is a global technology group formed to manage unified standards for wireless power transfer across consumer electronics. Wireless charging relies on inductive coupling, where magnetic fields transfer energy between a charging base and a phone's internal receiver coil. The Qi2 standard introduced a Magnetic Power Profile designed to keep charging coils precisely aligned for optimal efficiency.
Proprietary systems and hardware trade-offs
Chinese IT giants including Xiaomi and OnePlus have taken a different approach to wireless power. Rather than adopting the universal Qi2 standard, these manufacturers prefer to develop proprietary high-speed wireless charging systems that operate on their own custom hardware protocols.
Apple stands as a major exception to the trend. The Cupertino-based tech company has consistently supported the Qi standard through its proprietary MagSafe technology since MagSafe first debuted on the iPhone 12 series in 2020.
The reluctance to add magnetic Qi2 components reflects broader industry caution surrounding hardware changes that affect phone aesthetics or usability. In mid-August, technology news outlet BGR compiled a list of iPhone features that triggered negative reactions from users after release, including the display notch, the removal of the physical Home button, and the raised rear camera housing.
Smartphone engineers routinely weigh component features against physical ergonomics. Integrating specialized hardware such as magnetic alignment rings, expanded battery packs, or advanced multi-sensor camera arrays requires internal space, forcing manufacturers to choose between adding new features and keeping handheld devices lightweight and slim.
