What is Qi2? A Magnet Supplier's Guide to the WPC Wireless Charging Revolution

If you design or manufacture wireless chargers, power banks, or phone cases, you've almost certainly heard the term Qi2. But what exactly is it — and why should a magnet supplier care?

The short answer: Qi2 is the Wireless Power Consortium's (WPC) latest standard that makes magnets mandatory for wireless charging alignment. For the first time in the history of wireless charging, the humble NdFeB magnet ring has become a certified, specification-driven component — not an optional accessory.

What is Qi2?

Qi2 (pronounced "chee two") is a wireless charging standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), the same industry body behind the original Qi standard used in billions of devices worldwide.

The key innovation: Qi2 incorporates Apple's Magnetic Power Profile (MPP), which uses a ring of precisely positioned magnets to automatically align the charger with the phone. No more misaligned coils, no more waking up to a dead phone because it shifted 3mm off-center overnight.

Qi2 Version Timeline

Why Magnets are the Heart of Qi2

In traditional Qi charging, alignment was entirely manual — you placed your phone on a pad and hoped the coils lined up. Qi2 changes this fundamentally:

• Automatic alignment: The magnet ring in the charger pulls the phone into the optimal position with a satisfying snap
• Higher efficiency: Perfect alignment means less energy lost as heat — critical for 25W fast charging
• Accessory ecosystem: The same magnet ring enables wallets, stands, car mounts, tripods, and power banks to attach magnetically

Qi2 Magnet Ring Specification

The Market is Exploding

The MagSafe/Qi2 accessories market was valued at approximately $8.6 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $22.4 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 11.2%.

Key growth drivers:

• Android is joining: Google Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S25 now support Qi2 natively, opening a market previously exclusive to iPhone
• 25W upgrade cycle: As Qi2.2 (25W) replaces 15W Qi2, the entire accessory ecosystem needs magnet rings capable of handling higher thermal loads
• Certification creates barriers: Only 133 products were Qi2-certified as of September 2025 — meaning the market is still in early adoption, and certified magnet suppliers have a significant advantage

What This Means for Product Designers

If you're designing a Qi2 product, your magnet ring is not a commodity — it's a precision component that directly affects:

• Charging speed: Weak or misaligned magnets cause efficiency drops of 10–20%
• User experience: A magnet ring with insufficient holding force leads to product returns
• Certification pass rate: WPC testing requires consistent magnetic performance across production batches
• Brand reputation: Premium brands (Anker, Belkin, Mophie) audit magnet suppliers for ±0.02mm consistency

Key Takeaways

• Qi2 makes magnets mandatory — the magnetic ring is now a certified, specification-driven component
• The market is at an inflection point — Android adoption + 25W upgrade cycle = massive demand growth
• Quality matters more than ever — certification requirements favor precision manufacturers over commodity suppliers
• The ecosystem opportunity is vast — the same magnet specification works across chargers, car mounts, wallets, power banks, and phone cases

About Aim Magnet

We specialize in precision NdFeB magnet rings for Qi2 and MagSafe applications, with ±0.02mm tolerance and ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing. Contact our engineering team to discuss your Qi2 magnet requirements.