Apple's MagSafe was originally an exclusive feature on the 2020 iPhone 12 line, but five years later, the best parts of MagSafe are now also available on Android phones like Google's Pixel 10 line. That's because Apple has contributed the key parts of MagSafe into the open Qi2.2 standard, and the next wave of flagship phones might have faster wireless charging and support for magnetic accessories.
The Qi2.2 wireless charging standard comes from the Wireless Power Consortium, whose membership includes Apple, Google and many other phone companies that collectively build and implement improvements to Qi wireless charging.
It doesn't mean that Apple's MagSafe is going away. The company will continue to use the term for the magnetic accessories that Apple makes or certifies from third-party accessory makers. But it does mean that other phone makers will adopt the Qi2.2 standard -- which is essentially the same as MagSafe -- and even rebrand it. Google, for instance, launched a line of PixelSnap accessories that use Qi2.2, meaning they'll work just fine on Pixel phones and on Apple's iPhone.
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Even better, these wireless charging accessories are cheaper now than when MagSafe debuted, with companies such as Anker and Belkin making Qi2.2 magnetic charging pads and stands that support 25-watt speeds. These fastest speeds are currently supported by the new iPhone 17 line, the iPhone 16 and Google's Pixel 10 Pro XL, as long as you use a Qi2.2 wireless charger with at least a 30-watt power adapter.
And it's not just about charging. Apple's MagSafe and other phones that support Qi2 with built-in magnets allow for magnetic cases, wallets, stands, grips, and other accessories that can be quickly attached to the back of a phone. This means an assortment of accessories created since the 2020 launch of MagSafe for the iPhone now work on some Android phones, making them more versatile since you can likely keep using them on your next device.
Even though MagSafe is becoming more universal through the Qi2.2 standard, there's still a lot to decipher between the new standard versus what is provided with older Qi wireless charging accessories. We'll break down these differences in the next few sections.
Apple's MagSafe charger is a magnetic disk. The newest version requires a 30W wall plug to get the max 25W charging speed. David Carnoy/CNET
What is MagSafe for iPhone?
Apple's MagSafe for iPhone standard refers to both a series of magnets that have been installed in most new iPhone models since 2020 -- except for the iPhone SE and iPhone 16E -- and a wireless charging standard that can recharge an iPhone faster (15-25W) than the original Qi standard (7.5W).
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