What is Qi2 and which wireless charger do I need?
Magnetic alignment, 15 W, Qi2 25W, and the right power supply: FRATU explains what really matters with wireless charging.
Wireless charging sounds simple — just place it down and you're done. But how much power actually gets through depends on several components working together: power supply, cable, wireless charger, and smartphone.
With Qi2: additional magnetic alignment between charger and smartphone.
A wireless charger's maximum rating doesn't automatically match the charging power every smartphone actually uses. The entire combination needs to fit.
What is Qi?
Qi is the established wireless charging standard from the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Since its introduction in 2010, more than 13,000 Qi Certified products have been certified worldwide.
Only products that pass the WPC certification tests may carry the Qi or Qi2 logo. Not every product that charges wirelessly in some way is automatically Qi or Qi2 certified.
If a certification can't additionally be confirmed in the official WPC product database, FRATU uses the manufacturer designation from the beclad catalog (e.g. "Qi2.0" or "Qi2.2") instead of making its own certification claim.
Qi, Qi2, and Qi2 25W
Qi
Established wireless charging standard, widespread since 2010.
Qi2
Introduced by the WPC in 2023 (Qi specification version 2.0): magnetic alignment (Magnetic Power Profile) between charger and smartphone, up to 15 W.
Qi2 25W
Newer generation based on Qi specifications 2.2/2.2.1: up to 25 W. The WPC markets Qi v2.2.1 as "Qi2 25W".
Technical version designation (e.g. Qi v2.2.1) and WPC consumer branding (e.g. "Qi2 25W") aren't the same thing and are deliberately kept separate here.
Why magnetic alignment?
Qi2 uses magnetic alignment to correctly position the transmitter (charger) and receiver (smartphone) relative to each other. The WPC describes this as a benefit for usability and power transfer.
Imprecisely positioned
Magnetically correctly aligned
Simplified illustration.
15 W or 25 W – what does that mean with Qi2?
Qi2
up to 15 W
Qi2 25W
up to 25 W
The power actually used depends, among other things, on the wireless charger, power supply, smartphone, and supported configuration.
25 W on the charging pad alone isn't enough.
A wireless charger provides a maximum power rating. Whether that power actually gets through additionally depends on the connected power supply, the cable, and the smartphone.
Example of a specific manufacturer configuration
Samsung's 25 W Magnetic Wireless Charger is Qi2 certified and uses USB Type-C. For wireless charging at up to 25 W, Samsung documents an official Samsung power supply rated at 45 W or higher with PPS 20 V.
This is an example of a specific Samsung configuration — it doesn't follow that every Qi2 25W charger requires a 45 W power supply.
Qi2 and Qi2 Ready aren't the same thing.
The WPC maintains separate designations for four different logos:
With Qi2 Ready, the certified Qi2 function can depend on a specific combination of device and approved accessory — such as a magnetic case. That's not automatically the same as a complete, native Qi2 implementation in the device itself.
FRATU only states a specific smartphone compatibility when it's verified by the manufacturer or the WPC.
Do I need a magnetic case?
That depends on the specific smartphone and the configuration used — there's no blanket answer.
For its current Magnetic Wireless Charger, Samsung documents that a Qi2-compatible case is required for Galaxy smartphones; magnetic alignment is available for Galaxy S25-series models or newer.
This information refers to the Samsung product and model year mentioned — it doesn't automatically carry over to other Galaxy generations.
beclad. wireless chargers at a glance
Real manufacturer data from the beclad product catalog, dynamically matched against the current FRATU shop catalog.
beclad. distinguishes in its catalog between wireless charging pads with the manufacturer designation "Qi2.0" and "Qi2.2" — both variants are separate items and are deliberately treated separately here.
%2520black%2520(1).png&w=3840&q=75)
%2520white%2520(1).png&w=3840&q=75)
beclad.
Wireless Charging Pad (Qi2.2)
49,90 €
beclad.
3in1 Folding Wireless Charging Pad (Qi2.0)
65,90 €
Currently unavailable
beclad.
2in1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand (Qi2.0)
58,90 €
beclad.
3in1 Wireless Charging Stand (Qi2.0)
65,90 €
Magnetic cases from beclad.
The beclad manufacturer catalog confirms magnetic cases — but no Qi2 certification for them at this point. FRATU therefore calls them "Magnetic case", not "Qi2 case".
.png&w=3840&q=75)
.png&w=3840&q=75)
.png&w=3840&q=75)
.png&w=3840&q=75)
Wireless or cable?
Wireless
- Convenient placement
- With Qi2: magnetic alignment
- No plug on the smartphone during charging
Cable
- Different or, depending on the device, higher power profiles possible
- Device can be moved independently of a charging surface while charging
No blanket statement that "cable is always faster" or "wireless is better" — both charging methods have different strengths.
Which wireless charger fits me?
Smartphone at the desk
A compact wireless charger or stand is enough for daily use at the workplace.
Smartphone + earbuds
2-in-1 solutions charge smartphone and earbuds at the same time.
Smartphone + watch + earbuds
3-in-1 solutions cover several device classes at once.
Compact charging pad
Space-saving and well suited for on the go.
Stand for simultaneous use
A stand lets you use the smartphone while it's charging.
Qi2 25W
Provided the device and product configuration demonstrably support it.
Qi2 with Samsung Galaxy – check the exact model.
Galaxy isn't a uniform technical platform. Support and requirements for Qi2 can differ by model generation.
Find matching Galaxy accessoriesFrequently asked questions
What is Qi2?
Qi2 is the Qi specification version 2.0 introduced by the WPC in 2023. It introduces magnetic alignment (Magnetic Power Profile) between charger and smartphone and enables up to 15 W.
What is the difference between Qi and Qi2?
Qi is the established wireless charging standard, widespread since 2010. Qi2 is the 2023 evolution with magnetic alignment and up to 15 W.
What is Qi2 25W?
Qi2 25W is the newer generation based on Qi specifications 2.2/2.2.1 with up to 25 W. The WPC markets Qi v2.2.1 as "Qi2 25W".
Does every Qi2 smartphone charge at 25 W?
No. The power actually used depends on the wireless charger, power supply, smartphone, and supported configuration — "up to 25 W" is a maximum value, not a guaranteed value for every device.
What does Qi2 Ready mean?
Qi2 Ready is a separate WPC designation, distinct from Qi2 and Qi2 25W. With Qi2 Ready, the certified Qi2 function can depend on a specific combination of device and approved accessory, rather than being fully native to the device.
Do I need a magnetic case for Qi2?
That depends on the specific smartphone and configuration. For example, Samsung documents that its current Magnetic Wireless Charger requires a Qi2-compatible case for Galaxy smartphones.
Can I charge a Qi smartphone on a Qi2 charger?
Qi2 chargers are generally certified for interoperability; however, Qi2's magnetic alignment and higher power are only available to certified Qi2 devices.
Which power supply do I need for a Qi2 charger?
That depends on the specific wireless charger. For its 25 W model, Samsung documents, for example, an official 45 W power supply or higher with PPS 20 V — there's no universally valid statement for all Qi2 chargers.
Is wireless charging slower than charging by cable?
There's no blanket answer. Wired charging enables different or, depending on the device, higher power profiles, while wireless charging offers convenient placement and, with Qi2, magnetic alignment.
What is the difference between Qi2.0 and Qi2.2?
These are manufacturer designations for different product generations or Qi specification versions. Qi2.2 is based on a newer specification version that supports higher power values (up to 25 W) than earlier Qi2.0 products.
Can I also charge my Galaxy Watch or earbuds?
According to the manufacturer catalog, some beclad. wireless chargers support several device classes at the same time (e.g. smartphone, watch, and earbuds) — the power supported for each device class is product-dependent and stated in the respective product's technical data.
Are magnetic smartphone cases automatically Qi2 cases?
No. A magnetic case alone isn't a Qi2 certification. Whether a specific case-and-smartphone combination forms a Qi2 Ready configuration depends on the respective manufacturer and model.
Power supply, cable, wireless charger, and smartphone — the charging combination only fits when they work together.
Learn more about watts, GaN, USB Power Delivery, PPS, and USB-C cables in the other FRATU guides.