Samsung’s new Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 are seemingly by all accounts impressive pieces of hardware. They are the South Korean giant’s most refined foldable phones to date. Yet, despite the improvements (and $100 price increases compared to last year’s models) they still lack what I think should’ve been a table-stakes feature for a $1,000-plus phone in 2024: Qi2.
The next version of wireless charging, Qi2 was first publicly announced in early 2023. The new standard supports faster charging speeds and can utilize the “Magnetic Power Profile.” Based in part on Apple’s MagSafe system, which has been used in iPhones since 2020’s iPhone 12, this profile takes advantage of magnets to help align wireless chargers for more secure and efficient refueling.
Samsung’s phones have for years supported at least part of what is now standard with Qi2, the 15W wireless charging speed (which Samsung has branded on its devices as “Fast Wireless Charging 2.0”). But the bigger benefit of the new standard is in the magnets.
Not only would utilizing this profile potentially open up Samsung’s devices to a world of new MagSafe-like accessories, but it could also allow its phones to charge much more efficiently.
“These certified Qi2 chargers provide smoother, faster charging that is more energy efficient, and offers wide interoperability,” Paul Struhsaker, executive director for industry group Wireless Power Consortium, said in a statement late last year when announcing that the first devices have completed certification testing. Qi2 accessories have been on the market since last year’s holiday season.
Not having the Galaxy S24 series from earlier this year ready for Qi2 isn’t an easy sell, but I can at least potentially hear an argument. It takes a while to design, develop and manufacture phones, and perhaps the turnaround was too tight for Samsung to make it in time for the early 2024 flagship devices.
That holds less weight to me for the new foldables, as their announcement was five months later or nearly 18 months from the WPC’s public reveal of Qi2. (Samsung, like Apple and Google, is a member of the WPC and has a seat on its board of directors so their input on the standard likely dates back far earlier).
CNET has reached out to Samsung for comment and will update if they respond.
As arguably the most prominent smartphone manufacturer outside of Apple, Samsung’s absence from Qi2 over a year after the standard’s announcement is notable, but the company isn’t alone. Motorola’s new Razrs also seem to lack the benefits of Qi2 as do recent devices from OnePlus. So far, the most notable, fully Qi2-compatible device (with magnetic charging support) is probably HMD’s new $500 Skyline.
Yes, there are third-party cases from a variety of manufacturers like Pitaka, Dbrand and others that let you add magnets to tap into MagSafe-like accessories for a host of Android phones. But this should all be built into the expensive device you’re buying, not something that requires another purchase.
Some Galaxy S24 Ultra owners even reported issues where third-party cases would interfere with the S Pen stylus’ ability to communicate with the device. Samsung integrating proper Qi2 support could help avoid such problems.
It’s a shame Android makers have been slow to adopt something that seems to be nothing but a win for consumers. Hopefully, Google will surprise us by including the feature in its next batch of Pixels in August and finally bring this feature to the Android masses.
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