New Qi2 Wireless Charging Standard Brings Confusion to Android Market – Smartphones

This revelation creates confusion about the capabilities of Qi2-enabled devices, and in particular that they will necessarily have to incorporate magnets to better align the chargers, as is the case with MagSafe chargers and Apple’s latest iPhones.

MPP integrates MagSafe-style functionality into Android devices, allowing them to use the Qi2 logo. In contrast, EPP does not require magnets, but ensures compatibility with the Qi2 standard.

Google, through a spokesperson, said that the upcoming Pixel 9 will be “Qi2 compatible” and will work with both Qi1 and Qi2 chargers. However, the ambiguity of this statement has led to speculation about whether the Pixel 9 will actually support the Qi2 standard or simply be compatible with Qi2 chargers.

Rick Osterloh, a senior Google executive, stressed in an interview that it’s “a little early” for Qi2 technology to be widely adopted, as it takes time to create new standards. So far, the only smartphone released with Qi2 MPP support is the HMD Skyline.

For consumers, devices that support MPP and EPP are differentiated by logos. Devices that support MPP will carry the new Qi2 logo, while devices that support EPP only will retain the old Qi logo.

Despite the excitement surrounding Qi2, it’s important to note that in its current implementation, the new standard doesn’t offer any major upgrades over Qi1 beyond MagSafe-like functionality. Charging speeds are still capped at 15W, just like the previous model.

The introduction of Qi2 is expected to usher in a new era of wireless charging for Android devices, offering an experience similar to Apple’s MagSafe. However, full adoption and potential improvements in charging speed remain issues that will worry the industry for the foreseeable future.