📈 Tech Explain
Wireless Charging Car Mounts: Qi, Qi2 and MagSafe Explained
Three standards, very different retail prices. Here is what you are actually paying for — and what to demand from your supplier.
Half the car mounts we ship now charge the phone. But "15W wireless charging" on a box can mean four different things, and only one of them delivers 15W to an iPhone. Knowing the difference protects your review score.
Plain Qi
The original Wireless Power Consortium standard. Without magnets, the phone has to be placed correctly by hand; misalignment drops charging to 5W or stops it entirely. Cheapest to make, and fine for Android buyers who do not mind nudging the phone.
MagSafe
Apple's magnetic standard. A ring of magnets pulls the phone into perfect alignment and, with licensed hardware, delivers up to 15W on iPhone. Without the licence, an "MagSafe-compatible" mount quietly falls back to 7.5W.
Qi2
The open version of the same idea — the WPC adopted Apple's magnetic power profile. A Qi2-certified mount gives magnetic alignment and 15W across brands without MFi licensing, which is why it is the specification to stock for mixed iPhone/Android markets.
Comparison
| Standard | Alignment | iPhone speed | Android speed | Licence needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qi | Manual | 7.5W | Up to 15W | No |
| MagSafe | Magnetic | Up to 15W | 7.5–15W | Yes (MFi) |
| Qi2 | Magnetic | Up to 15W | Up to 15W | Qi2 certification |
Heat is the real enemy
Charging a phone in a hot car generates heat from both sides, and every standard throttles output when the coil gets warm. Three fixes matter in the spec: a QC 3.0 or PD adapter requirement in the manual, a vented shell, and — for hot markets — a thermoelectric cooling plate. Cooled models keep full speed when a passive charger has already dropped to 5W.
What to ask your supplier
- The exact charging chip and its certification number (Qi, Qi2 or MFi).
- Measured output at 25 °C and at 45 °C — not just the label number.
- Foreign-object detection and over-temperature cut-off.
- Coil count: dual coils for foldables, single for standard bars.
Models to look at
The K8 magnetic vacuum suction charger is our reference 15W magnetic model; the X01 adds dual coils for foldables; the M20 is the fleet-grade suction version. Full range in wireless charging mounts.
Related guides
FAQ
Is Qi2 the same as MagSafe?
Qi2 adopts the magnetic power profile MagSafe introduced, so the behaviour is nearly identical. The difference is that Qi2 is an open WPC standard and does not require Apple MFi licensing.
Why does my 15W charger only deliver 7.5W?
It is either uncertified (iPhone throttles non-MFi magnetic chargers to 7.5W) or the phone is too hot and the charger has reduced output to protect the battery.
Do Android phones charge at full speed?
A Qi2 or correctly aligned Qi charger delivers up to 15W on Android models that support it. Check the phone specification — many Android flagships cap wireless input at 10–15W.
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