Sep 9
Wes Davis
Apple has a faster MagSafe charger to go with the new iPhone 16 phones
Image: Apple
Apple released a new, more powerful version of the MagSafe charger during its September iPhone 16 event today. The puck will be compatible with all iPhones and any Qi2 device, but only the new iPhone 16 models are listed as supporting the fastest 25W wireless charging rate.
That’s a higher maximum rate than the phones offered by Samsung and Google right now — the Galaxy S24 series maxes out at 15W, while Google’s Pixel 9 phones range from 15W–23W when using the second-generation Google Pixel Stand. (Pixel 9 models can only manage 12W charging on standard Qi chargers.)
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Sep 5
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Ugreen’s new Uno chargers have cute emoji faces that change when you charge
Image: Ugreen
Ugreen has a new collection of iPhone and USB accessories for IFA 2024 that really turn up the charm. The Uno line is a collection of GaN and Qi2 chargers, cables, a power bank, and a USB-C hub, each featuring a tiny screen solely for displaying robot-like emoji faces.
The most endearing ones by far are the $60 Uno Charger 100W four-port USB and the $70 15W Qi2 magnetic power bank that sticks to MagSafe phones — each looks like a helpful little bot friend you’ve appointed to live on your desk and help with your charging duties. They’re also the most expressive, with their TFT screens that show up to half a dozen different faces to give some idea of the actual charge levels / rates of your device.
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Aug 21
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Nomad’s updated Stand One Max charger fixes an annoying design flaw
Image: Nomad
Nomad is course-correcting from a small design blunder last year on its three-in-one MagSafe charging stand. Like its predecessor, the new Stand One Max for 2024 is a wireless multi-charger for a compatible iPhone, Apple Watch, and set of AirPods. However, now you can charge all of those devices with your phone in landscape orientation, allowing you to use Apple’s nifty StandBy mode for glanceable information like the time and weather. The new stand is also Qi2-compatible, and at $150, it’s actually $30 cheaper than the original’s launch price, which I love to see.
Other than that, the new Stand One Max (which Nomad calls “third-gen” to align with other models in its lineup, even though it’s only the second version) has a lot in common with the original. It comes in silver or black, includes a color-matched 6.6-foot / 2-meter detachable USB-C cable (but not the required 30W power adapter), fast-charges compatible Apple Watches, and is made from metal and glass. The new model weighs just a touch more at 1.9 pounds (versus the original’s 1.8 pounds), and that’s likely due to the base being about 0.75 inches longer to accommodate the watch charger’s new location, clearing the path for a horizontally mounted phone up top.
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Jul 18
Allison Johnson
All that and Qi2.
HMD has announced the Skyline, a $499 Android phone with an emphasis on repairability and creator-friendly features like a 50-megapixel selfie camera with autofocus. It’s also one of the first phones to support the MagSafe-like Qi2 charging standard — or will be when it ships in August. Bet we’ll see a few more new Qi2 phones around that time, too.
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Image: HMD
Jun 20
Andrew Liszewski
Satechi is bringing another Qi2 wireless charger to your car.
Following announcements of several Qi2 charging accessories at CES 2024, Satechi is now introducing a Qi2 Wireless Car Charger that offers a padded magnetic mount for connecting Qi2-compatible smartphones, a clip for attaching the charger to vehicle air vents, and 15W of power delivery. It’s available now for $59.99 and includes a USB-C cable and power adapter.
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Image: Satechi
Apr 24
Alex Cranz
This Game Boy-looking phone stand is why MagSafe is good
Image by Elago
MagSafe isn’t a particularly controversial standard, but I’ve heard people grumble about it. They get upset because it doesn’t charge quite as efficiently as an old-fashioned cable and they get annoyed that any phone case needs to be MagSafe-compatible. But could charging by cable provide you with something as stupidly fun as this new phone stand from Elago?
The Elago MagSafe MS W5 Charging Standis a mouthful of a name for what’s just a Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP shaped MagSafe stand. Do the buttons and switches work? No! Does it fold close? Absolutely not! It’s merely a piece of plastic you slot a MagSafe charger into. It’s so simple you could probably 3D print something similar at home.
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Apr 5
Quentyn Kennemer
Anker’s folding Qi2 charger and other power banks are up to 30 percent off
Image: Anker
The list of Qi2 smartphones expanded ever so slightly this week, with the iPhone 12 joining the ranks of Qi2-certified phones thanks to a recent update. That means we can safely say that all MagSafe-compatible iPhones — including the iPhone 13, 14, and 15 — are officially Qi2-ready. The timing couldn’t be better, either, as Anker is currently offering 20 percent off its 6,600mAh MagGo Power Bank, bringing your total down to $55.99 (about $14 off) at Amazon and Anker’s online storefront (the latter with code WSCPEW1AZM).
We’ve long been fans of Anker’s MagSafe-compatible power banks, but previous models could only charge newer iPhones at the slower 7.5W speed. Anker says the 15W charging coils in the Qi2 version can take an iPhone 15 Pro from empty to 50 percent in just 45 minutes. It’ll also supply faster speeds on the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 13 Mini, but those are limited to 12W.
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Apr 2
Quentyn Kennemer
Apple quietly added Qi2 charging to the iPhone 12
Photo by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
Apple never mentioned it, but the iPhone 12 received Qi2 wireless charging support when it got updated to iOS 17.4 last month. That means you can make full use of the Qi2-certified chargers that have entered the market, which have adopted the magnetic attachment and 15W speeds of Apple’s MagSafe tech.
Macworld originally reported the update late last week. It published findings from its own tests alongside confirmation from Belkin that its Qi2 chargers supported 15W charging on updated iPhone 12 devices. Anker has since confirmed to The Verge similar compatibility for its products, while Apple has yet to respond to a request for comment.
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Mar 19
Sheena Vasani
Anker’s speedy Qi2 MagSafe chargers have dropped to new all-time low prices
Image: Nathan Edwards / The Verge
Few things test my patience more than waiting for my phone to charge when I’m in a rush, which is why Qi2 chargers are a godsend. They deliver fast, certified MagSafe charger speeds without the price tag, and right now, many of Anker’s new, Qi2 certified versions are down to all-time lows. Amazon’s selling the new version of our favorite MagSafe-compatible battery pack, the Anker MagGo Power Bank, for $47.99 ($22 off). That’s just $8 more than its predecessor and a discount you can also find at Anker with code WSTDMXPG8FSD. Amazon is also selling the MagGo Wireless Charging Station(Foldable 3-in-1) for $82.49 ($28 off) and the 8-in-1 MagGo Orb for $69.99 ($30 off). Anker’s matching prices as well, though you’ll have to apply the code WSTDO8X40SV7 and WSTDASGF2NCU for each charger respectively.
No matter which charger you buy, all three deliver 15 watts of power to the iPhone 13, 14, and 15, which is twice as fast as its Qi-based predecessors. However, the 6,600mAhMagGo Power Bank comes with a foldable kickstand that’s even sturdier than its excellent predecessor. Unfortunately, it’s heavier, so you can’t slap it onto your phone while on the go, but it’s still light enough that you can use it as a portable charging stand.
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Feb 8
Thomas Ricker
ESR Qi2 wireless car charger review: goodbye Mag$afe
It’s not often that a truly useful new technology is released that both increases performance and undercuts the cost of the tech it replaces. But that’s exactly what the new Qi2 magnetic wireless charging standard has done for iPhone owners — and soon, Android — now that the first products have arrived.
For the past two weeks, I’ve been testing a new Qi2 charging mount for cars that matches the performance of Apple’s MagSafe-certified chargers and costs less. Hell, it’ll also work with Android devices once they start shipping with Qi2 support.
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Jan 29
Jon Porter
Nomad’s first Qi2 charger is shipping now for $10 less than its MagSafe model
Image: Nomad
Nomad’s Stand is the latest Qi2 charger to hit the market, offering up to 15W of wireless charging speed to Qi2-compatible phones like the iPhone 15. The accessory was announced in late December, but it’s now shipping in a choice of black or white for $100 from Nomad’s website.
It’s $100 price point makes the Stand $10 cheaper than Nomad’s equivalent MagSafe model, the Stand One, and offers the same “up to 15W” charging speeds and magnetic attachment compatibility as Apple’s MagSafe (Apple helped develop the Qi2 charging standard). The bad news is that Nomad’s $100 asking price doesn’t include the required 20W power adapter — you just get a USB-C to USB-C cable.
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Jan 24
Amrita Khalid
This Qi2 car mount is cheaper than a MagSafe charger and can fast-charge your iPhone 15
Image: ESR
A new car mount for your smartphone just launched that offers a rare combo: Qi2 wireless charging at high speeds — and at a reasonable price. The Qi2 car mount, from accessories maker ESR, offers 15W wireless charging to fast-charge your iPhone 15 and 15 Pro at its maximum capacity while you’re en route.
9to5Toys points out that with a launch price of $30.99, the new car mount is less costly than many other 15W MagSafe-compatible chargers on the market. For comparison, Apple’s standard MagSafe Charger (not meant for in-car) is priced at $39. Many MagSafe car mounts (such as this one by Belkin or ESR’s own car mount MagSafe charger that includes a fan) cost twice that amount.
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Jan 9
Wes Davis
Satechi’s new Qi2 charging stands are stylish and storable
Image: Satechi
Our universal, wireless, magnetic, and fast-charging future is here as the first Qi2 chargers start to arrive, and Satechi is showing off its first two compatible products today at CES.
Both devices are folding stands designed to charge a pair of earbuds and a phone —using MagSafe or Qi2—at the same time, while the higher-end of the devices adds an Apple Watch charger to the back. The company said in its announcement that they’ll be available in the second quarter of the year, costing $79.99 for the 2-in-1 stand and $129.99 for the 3-in-1 version.
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Jan 9
Nathan Edwards
Anker’s new Qi2 chargers deliver MagSafe speed without MagSafe pricing
Anker was one of the first companies to announce Qi2 chargers, in August 2023, and while everyone in the world seems to be launching them now, Anker’s are the first I’ve gotten my hands on.
For iPhone users, Qi2 is an easy sell already: with a compatible iPhone, it’s less expensive than certified MagSafe chargers and just as fast. It’s less compelling so far for Android users or mixed-platform households, though — it’s slower than regular Qi charging on non-certified devices.
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Jan 8
Sean Hollister
We finally touched Thunderbolt 5 and Qi2 (but not meaningfully).
Here at CES 2024, Hyper, J5Create, and Belkin have items on display with the latest in docking and magnetic charging technology — but sadly, none of it is plugged in. Maybe because we’re still waiting on Windows laptops and Android phones to adopt the tech. (There’s nothing to dock yet, right?)
I’m seriously looking forward to 240W charging and 120Gbps speeds from my USB-C ports, though, not to mention a “MagSafe for Android.”
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Jan 8
Jess Weatherbed
Hyper adds to the growing number of Qi2 chargers.
The tech accessory provider introduced a bunch of new products at CES that make use of the new MagSafe-like charging standard, such as the $149.99 HyperJuice 4-in-1 Qi2 Charging Stand and the $129.99 HyperJuice 10,000mAh Qi2 Power Bank.
It’ll be a few weeks until they’re available to purchase, but customers hunting for Qi2 products are already spoiled for choice given the numerous offerings already announced by brands like Nomad and Anker.
Image: Hyper
Dec 20, 2023
Jess Weatherbed
Nomad unveils its first fast Qi2 wireless stand charger
Image: Nomad
Nomad, a reputable producer of phone cases and accessories, has announced its first stand charger based on the new magnet-enhanced Qi2 standard. The $100 Stand Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Charger is capable of charging MagSafe and Qi2-enabled devices at up to 15W, and features a metal and glass design that’ll be available in black or white. You’ll have to supply your own 20W USB-C power adapter, but Nomad has at least included a two-meter USB-C to USB-C cable alongside the product.
Much like other Qi2-based chargers that have been announced — such as Belkin’s new BoostCharge offerings, Anker’s latest MagGo accessories, and Mophie’s upcoming trio — the Nomad Stand Qi2 charger isn’t available to purchase yet. Nomad’s marketing director Chuck Melber told The Verge that it’ll go on sale “in the coming weeks,” but no official release date has been revealed.
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Dec 6, 2023
Richard Lawler
Anker’s Qi2 wireless chargers will fast-charge iPhone 13, 14, and 15 at 15W
Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
Now that Apple has released a preview of the next iOS update, Anker says its upcoming Qi2-compatible wireless chargers will provide faster 15W charging for iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15 devices.
Apple has not responded to a request for comment, but presumably, this support will extend to all Qi2 chargers. The only problem left is that there are no certified products available for purchase yet, despite companies like Anker, Belkin, and Mophie announcing Qi2-compatible hardware a few months ago.
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Nov 21, 2023
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
The best magnetic chargers for your MagSafe iPhone
Image: The Verge
Wireless charging is inefficient in many ways. It charges your phone more slowly than using a cable, uses more energy, and requires near-perfect alignment on a charging pad to even work. But inefficiencies aside, it’s just so dang convenient. So when Apple added a ring of magnets to the iPhone 12 and dubbed it “MagSafe,” things got much more interesting. Not only do the magnets guarantee perfect alignment every time but also, with a MagSafe-certified charger, your iPhone can charge at up to 15W — double the 7.5W they get with other wireless chargers. And the magnets also allow for nifty accessories, like car mounts and detachable card wallets.
Now, the next version of Qi, imaginatively named Qi2, will incorporate a ring of magnets around the charging coil, similar to MagSafe. It should enable wireless charging at up to 15W, even on iPhones, without official MagSafe certification. However, there are no Qi2-certified devices yet — even Apple’s website lists “future Qi2 support” for the iPhone 15 — and we don’t expect any before November. So while Apple’s wireless charging ecosystem is still a little messy (even with the iPhone 15 being the fourth generation of MagSafe phones and now featuring USB-C wired charging), perhaps things may get a little easier in the future once we’re fully in the Qi2 era.
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Nov 15, 2023
Nathan Edwards
Qi2’s MagSafe-like wireless charging is finally almost here
Photo by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
Qi2 — the next version of the wireless charging standard, now with more magnets! — is more almost-here than ever. The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) announced today that the first Qi v2.0 devices are nearly through the certification process, with the first available “in time for the holiday season” and more than 100 either in certification testing or waiting in line. The iPhone 15 series will be the first Qi2-certified phones.
Qi is the open wireless charging standard that pretty much everyone uses. It’s in Androids and iPhones, and MagSafe is built on top of it. Version 2.0 includes updates to the non-magnetic Qi standard, which we’ll get to, but it also introduces Qi2.
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Sep 2, 2023
Wes Davis
Mophie has three Qi2 magnetic wireless chargers on the way
Image: Mophie
Mophie just announced at IFA that it’s releasing three Qi2-compatible, 15W wireless smartphone chargers — the Snap Plus Powerstation Mini Stand ($69.95), the Snap Plus 3-in-1 stand ($129.95), and the Snap Plus wireless charging vent mount ($69.95) — starting later this year.
Mophie doesn’t mention the iPhone specifically, but it’s rumored Apple will enable support for 15W, non-MagSafe wireless charging with the iPhone 15, as the second generation of Qi includes Apple's input and a similar magnet layout. We’ve asked Mophie and will update here if we receive a response.
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Aug 31, 2023
Jon Porter
Belkin’s convertible wireless charger supports new Qi2 magnet-enhanced standard
Image: Belkin
Belkin is embracing the new magnet-enhanced Qi2 wireless charging standard with a pair of new products being announced at Berlin’s IFA 2023 tech show. There’s the BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand (yes, that’s the name), which can either work like a traditional Qi pad or hold a phone upright while it charges — great for the iPhone’s new StandBy feature. There’s also the BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2, which is equipped with a pair of wireless charging pads (one 15W and one 5W) plus a USB-C port for charging a third device like an Apple Watch via an optional dongle.
Announced at CES earlier this year, Qi2 is a new version of Qi wireless charging that effectively integrates the magnets from Apple’s MagSafe standard into a cross-platform spec. Belkin has previously put out several MagSafe chargers, so it’s not much of a surprise that it’s embracing Qi2.
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Aug 31, 2023
Umar Shakir
Anker’s new MagGo wireless chargers might charge iPhones just as fast as MagSafe
Image: Anker
Update December 6th, 9:34AM ET: And now we know — they will work at 15W with iPhone 13 and newer devices, just like MagSage. Our original article continues below.
Anker’s newest batch of mobile power accessories includes new Qi2-equipped MagGo magnetic chargers, stations, and power banks, as well as new Nano USB-C chargers ready for any future iPhone 15 owners who might be tearing out old Lightning-equipped setups to go with their new phones and AirPods. Rumors suggest Qi2 support will be enabled with the launch of the iPhone 15 lineup, possibly enabling 15W charge speeds without Apple’s MagSafe certification.
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Jan 6, 2023
Sean Hollister
The Qi2 wireless charging standard will mandate magnet strength for less slip ‘n slide
Photo by Dieter Bohn / The Verge
I couldn’t justify keeping Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack because it didn’t stay firmly stuck to my phone without swiveling, and I’ve seen third-party attachments that are much, much worse. Thankfully, the next version of the Qi wireless charging standard, Qi2, will mandate magnet strength, size, and dimensions in addition to its electrical properties — even though that’s the opposite of what I reported yesterday.
(The bigger news about Qi2: it should mean that future Android phones and Apple phones will be able to use the same wireless magnetic charger, effectively MagSafe for Android.)
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Jan 4, 2023
Sean Hollister
Qi2: how Apple might finally harness MagSafe by giving it away
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
It’s safe to say that Apple’s MagSafe magnetic charging pucks for iPhone have not created the amazing snap-on accessory ecosystem we’d hoped. Instead of freely allowing manufacturers to create gadgets that power and / or communicate with an iPhone, the company chose its traditional tight licensing stranglehold. But this time, manufacturers realized they didn’t need to play Apple’s game because the two main components of MagSafe — a Qi wireless charging coil and an array of magnets — were freely available. The result: a wide array of “MagSafe-compatible” accessories of varying quality.
But now, Apple’s trying something different. With the blessing of competitors, Apple is about to change the Qi wireless standard itself. It’s contributing to a new version of Qi that works much like MagSafe — magnets, authentication, and all.
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