The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) recently finalized the Qi2 standard in 2023. Based on Apple’s MagSafe technology, Qi2 solves the alignment problem of wireless charging by using built-in magnets. However, two years later, only a few Android devices support Qi2, with Google being the only company to fully adopt it in its Pixel 10 lineup.
A member of the Nothing content team suggests that legal red tape and industry politics are holding back widespread adoption of Qi2. The problem lies in patented magnet configurations for Apple-compatible wireless chargers. To work around this, companies would need to develop their own magnetic wireless charger, which is a costly endeavor (up to $10 million) with uncertain results.
While it’s unclear how much truth there is to Nothing’s explanation, the development process of Qi2 support on Android smartphones is complex and time-consuming. It’s unlikely that a simple magnet placement can overcome these challenges. There may be other factors at play, and further investigation is needed to understand why Qi2 adoption has been slow among Android makers.
Source: https://www.androidpolice.com/android-phones-skipping-qi2-nothing-thinks-it-knows-why