Android to get MagSafe-like Qi wireless charging with magnets at last

SAN JOSE: MagSafe, the magnetic wireless charging system that has been a major unique feature of iPhones in recent years, is at last coming to Android smartphones as part of a new generation of the Qi charging standard.

The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), the industry body responsible for the Qi charging standard, has now announced that the first accessory manufacturers want to launch corresponding chargers on the market later in 2023.

Apple introduced a magnetic ring around the charging field on the rear of the iPhone 12 to make sure that chargers would always reliably snap into place, although the use of magnets also has other benefits.

While Android phones were the first to get wireless charging, phones can still sometimes need repositioning to make sure the phone and charger are aligned.

The magnetic clip-on feature on the backs of iPhones has meanwhile also allowed for power banks that can be easily clipped onto the back of the phone for charging on the go – a feature still missing from Android.

Devices that support the magnetic technology for wireless charging are to get a Qi2 logo. At first, iPhones will be the only phones available as certified devices, alongside numerous chargers.

However, Android manufacturers are expected to integrate this technology into their next generation of smartphone models.

Above all, the use of magnets is designed to make the charging process more efficient and ultimately faster, as it optimally aligns the coils for sending and receiving power.

But the advent of magnetic rears on phones from the likes of Samsung, Google and Xiaomi would also bring with it the option to use other magnetic clip-on accessories, such as phone stands, credit card holders and filming equipment.

The new Qi standard consists of two charging profiles: an extension of the existing Extended Power Profile (EPP) and the Magnetic Power Profile (MPP), which corresponds to Apple’s Magsafe technology.

The Extended Power Profile (EPP) is used for devices without magnetic mounts and is set to be labelled with the familiar Qi logo. – dpa