CES 2024: Qi2 Adds MagSafe to Third-Party Chargers
MagSafe is a great connector: it can charge your iPhone at up to 15W, wirelessly and without any hassle. The magnets will snap into place and you’re done. But MagSafe products are controlled by Apple, and until now it was the only way to get 15W charging and magnetic locking capabilities.
No more. A new version of the open Qi charging standard, Qi2 , brings the same MagSafe features to third-party accessories that don’t require (costly and time-consuming) Apple approval. If you’re using an iPhone 13 or later with iOS 17.2 or later, you can use the built-in Qi2 charger—just attach it to the back.
Qi2 is still a fairly new product—Apple only announced support for it with the release of the iPhone 15—so third-party options have been fairly limited. That is, until CES 2024, where several popular accessory makers unveiled their own Qi2 charging pads, cables, batteries, and all-in-one solutions. If you like MagSafe and want more, here are the best options.
Belkin
Belkin’s new BoostCharge Pro is already a popular choice, and the Qi2 version takes it even further. Now you can adjust the charging pad to any angle, and your iPhone can rest comfortably in a horizontal position. The stand will be 150% off and will be available in select markets worldwide starting in March.
What’s even more interesting is that they have a new battery that can charge your iPhone wirelessly at 15W. The BoostCharge Pro Magnetic Power Bank will be available in 5,000mAh, 8,000mAh, and 10,000mAh capacities, priced at $60, $80, and $100, respectively. There is pass-through charging so you can charge your power bank and your iPhone at the same time.
There’s also a Qi2 convertible charger that can switch between stand mode and tablet mode.
Hyper
Hyper also has a great new HyperJuice Qi2 4-in-1 charging stand . It costs $149.99 and supports 15W fast charging for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods.
Their HyperJuice Qi2 10,000mAh Power Bank will retail for $129.99 and will charge your iPhone at 15W without any issue. In addition, there is a section for charging the Apple Watch.
Anchor
Anker was the first to announce Qi2 chargers and their products are already shipping. Here are a couple of great options:
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MagGo Power Bank: Power bank with stand mode and 6600mAh capacity, sells for $69.99.
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MagGo Wireless Charging Station: This is a foldable 3-in-1 charger that retails for $109.99.
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MagGo Magnetic Charging Station: This ball-shaped device has an 8-in-1 charging capacity and retails for $99.99. It features AC power cables, USB-C, USB-A, and of course, a 15W Qi 2 charger on the front.
They also announced several new wireless charging products.
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MagGo Power Bank (10K): A sleeker version of the MagGo Power Bank comes with a small stand and a side display for viewing real-time stats and costs $90.
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Anker MagGo Wireless Charger (Pad): This is similar to Apple’s MagSafe charging pad, but costs only $21.99 and comes with a longer, five-foot cable.
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MagGo Wireless Charging Station: This 3-in-1 solution has a vertical, compact design and costs $90. Deliveries will begin in February. A tablet version is also available for $100.
Visit Anker’s MagGo website to learn more about the products available.
Mofi
Mophie will introduce three new Qi2 products at CES 2024.
The SnapPlus Powerstation Mini Stand features a 5,000mAh battery, an aluminum stand, and a USB-C port on the side. There’s also a $130 Snap+ 3-in-1 Stand and a $70 Snap+ Wireless Charging Air Vent Mount for your car. All accessories will be released in March 2024 and will be available on the Mophie website .