Why don’t the Galaxy S25 phones have Qi2 built in?
Why don’t the Galaxy S25 phones have Qi2 built in?
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The prevailing standard for wireless charging at the moment is Qi [Chee]. It is developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), which has basically all the big names in its list of prominent members - Apple, Google, Samsung, Qualcomm, Mediatek, LG, Toshiba, Verizon, Bosch, and so on. That's why our smartphones — whether Galaxy, Pixel, iPhone, or something else — can "talk" to most wireless chargers out there. Its creators have made a “truce” of sorts and even developed a list of basic requirements and requirements for wireless chargers to deliver power to a smartphone.
Back in 2023, it was a big deal that Apple “allowed” the MagSafe ring to be included as part of the list of upgrades to the Qi2 standard. The magnetic closure is so great for two reasons. First, your phone and charging pad are instantly locked in the optimal charging position, with the device coils perfectly aligned. Secondly, it opens the doors to different accessories, such as wireless stands and stands Power banks that can stick to phone, wallets, pop-ups and kickstands.
Since Qi2 is open for use by anyone willing to meet their list of requirements, it was only a matter of time before Android phones are starting to get their own MagSafe ring...
right?
Well, it's now 2025, and there's only one Android smartphone that has a magnetic ring built into it, like iPhones do. And this phone is... the mysterious HMD Skyline phone. Yes, no one has done that yet.
So we need to ask some questions first:
What is Qi2 and what is "Qi2-ready"?
Samsung is marketing Galaxy S25 phones are “Qi2 ready”. What does this mean? Well, that means they support wireless charging, but they don't have magnetic rings on their backs. However, if you buy one of the official or unofficial cases that have a magnetic ring - voila, you now have a “Qi2 phone”.
But Qi2 isn't just about the magnetic ring. It's a set of new standards aimed at pushing wireless charging further. For example, the official Qi standard guarantees a charging power of 5W – no less, but more consumed. Likewise, Qi2 ensures that the wireless charger will provide 15W of power. The door is open for higher power profiles. For example, Apple The iPhone 16 will charge at 25W from its MagSafe tablets.
There are undoubtedly other technical parameters that Qi2 has put in place in the background to ensure a minimum supply of 15 watts.
Therefore, it is not entirely correct to say that a phone without a magnet is “non-Qi2”, if the phone meets higher power delivery standards. But it is not entirely correct to call it Qi2, because the magnetic ring is a requirement of the standard.
And here we are - we call it “Qi2 Ready”.
Why doesn't Samsung put Qi magnets inside the Galaxy S25 phones?
Let us venture into the territory of personality theory now. The Qi2 standard was completed in the summer of 2023. At the time, it made sense The Galaxy S24 series, which was launched just a few months later, will likely not have a magnetic ring inside. Designing a phone takes time, and production lines are often set up months in advance — and there's no time to make room for magnets.
but now, Galaxy S25 The line is out, and again – no Qi2 magnetic ring (or MagSafe if you will). Why?
Well, here's an idea. The Samsung S Pen doesn't work well when there's a magnet near it - the magnetic field messes with the pen's Wacom digitizer. When you use a MagSafe case with a sturdy accessory attached to the back, the software will pop up and tell you a lot. If you try to write on the screen, you'll notice that the pen's sensitivity is terrible, and it can't draw straight on areas where there are magnets.
Trying to draw lines with a magnetic accessory on the back of the S24 Ultra
So, obviously put a magnetic ring inside The Galaxy S25 Ultra's chassis might be a bad idea, as you can't ship a phone with features that cannibalize or subvert each other.
Well, how about Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+? They don't support the S Pen, right?
True, but this puts Samsung in an uncomfortable corner. If they release a Galaxy S25 And a The Galaxy S25+ has a Qi2 magnetic ring inside...but then a Galaxy S25 Ultra Without one, it looks bad for the Ultra. That's not to say it's an all-in-one feature, but the Galaxy S Ultra line is supposed to be "everything Samsung, in this one phone." You can't have it all without that specific thing, right? Ultra -1 doesn't make great marketing slogans.
That's why I think the S25 wasn't in a rush to get its Qi2 ticket. And Samsung is either working hard to try to figure out the magnetic misalignment issue, or we won't see the Qi2 next year either.
The good news is that we should start seeing Qi2 on other devices Android phones This year – the timeline fits the redesigned Pixel devices, the OnePlus 14 towards the end of the year, and maybe the Sony Xperia, who knows?
The prevailing standard for wireless charging at the moment is Qi [Chee]. It is developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), which has basically all the big names in its list of prominent members – Apple, Google, Samsung, Qualcomm, Mediatek, LG, Toshiba, Verizon, Bosch, and so on. That’s why our smartphones — whether Galaxy, Pixel, iPhone, or something else — can “talk” to most wireless chargers out there. Its creators have made a “truce” of sorts and even developed a list of basic requirements and requirements for wireless chargers to deliver power to a smartphone.
Back in 2023, it was a big deal that Apple “allowed” the MagSafe ring to be included as part of the list of upgrades to the Qi2 standard. The magnetic closure is so great for two reasons. First, your phone and charging pad are instantly locked in the optimal charging position, with the device coils perfectly aligned. Secondly, it opens the doors to different accessories, such as wireless stands and stands Power banks that can stick to phone, wallets, pop-ups and kickstands.
Since Qi2 is open for use by anyone willing to meet their list of requirements, it was only a matter of time before Android phones are starting to get their own MagSafe ring…
right?
Well, it’s now 2025, and there’s only one Android smartphone that has a magnetic ring built into it, like iPhones do. And this phone is… the mysterious HMD Skyline phone. Yes, no one has done that yet.
So we need to ask some questions first:
What is Qi2 and what is “Qi2-ready”?
Samsung is marketing Galaxy S25 phones are “Qi2 ready”. What does this mean? Well, that means they support wireless charging, but they don’t have magnetic rings on their backs. However, if you buy one of the official or unofficial cases that have a magnetic ring – voila, you now have a “Qi2 phone”.
But Qi2 isn’t just about the magnetic ring. It’s a set of new standards aimed at pushing wireless charging further. For example, the official Qi standard guarantees a charging power of 5W – no less, but more consumed. Likewise, Qi2 ensures that the wireless charger will provide 15W of power. The door is open for higher power profiles. For example, Apple The iPhone 16 will charge at 25W from its MagSafe tablets.
There are undoubtedly other technical parameters that Qi2 has put in place in the background to ensure a minimum supply of 15 watts.
Therefore, it is not entirely correct to say that a phone without a magnet is “non-Qi2”, if the phone meets higher power delivery standards. But it is not entirely correct to call it Qi2, because the magnetic ring is a requirement of the standard.
And here we are – we call it “Qi2 Ready”.
Why doesn’t Samsung put Qi magnets inside the Galaxy S25 phones?
Let us venture into the territory of personality theory now. The Qi2 standard was completed in the summer of 2023. At the time, it made sense The Galaxy S24 series, which was launched just a few months later, will likely not have a magnetic ring inside. Designing a phone takes time, and production lines are often set up months in advance — and there’s no time to make room for magnets.
but now, Galaxy S25 The line is out, and again – no Qi2 magnetic ring (or MagSafe if you will). Why?
Well, here’s an idea. The Samsung S Pen doesn’t work well when there’s a magnet near it – the magnetic field messes with the pen’s Wacom digitizer. When you use a MagSafe case with a sturdy accessory attached to the back, the software will pop up and tell you a lot. If you try to write on the screen, you’ll notice that the pen’s sensitivity is terrible, and it can’t draw straight on areas where there are magnets.
Trying to draw lines with a magnetic accessory on the back of the S24 Ultra
So, obviously put a magnetic ring inside The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s chassis might be a bad idea, as you can’t ship a phone with features that cannibalize or subvert each other.
Well, how about Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+? They don’t support the S Pen, right?
True, but this puts Samsung in an uncomfortable corner. If they release a Galaxy S25 And a The Galaxy S25+ has a Qi2 magnetic ring inside…but then a Galaxy S25 Ultra Without one, it looks bad for the Ultra. That’s not to say it’s an all-in-one feature, but the Galaxy S Ultra line is supposed to be “everything Samsung, in this one phone.” You can’t have it all without that specific thing, right? Ultra -1 doesn’t make great marketing slogans.
That’s why I think the S25 wasn’t in a rush to get its Qi2 ticket. And Samsung is either working hard to try to figure out the magnetic misalignment issue, or we won’t see the Qi2 next year either.
The good news is that we should start seeing Qi2 on other devices Android phones This year – the timeline fits the redesigned Pixel devices, the OnePlus 14 towards the end of the year, and maybe the Sony Xperia, who knows?
