Although Samsung has highlighted some magnetic accessories for the Galaxy S25 series, it hasn’t emphasized the new Qi 2.1 support. Despite this, the Samsung Galaxy S25 series is the first to officially support Qi 2.1, though the charging speeds remain unchanged.
According to the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra are the first smartphones with Qi 2.1 support. They join the HMD Skyline in supporting Qi 2.0.0 and above, while most other Android phones, including recent models, still use the older Qi 1.3.3 standard.
The upgrade to Qi 2.1 in the Galaxy S25 series doesn’t include support for the “Magnetic Power Profile” since the phones lack built-in magnets. Qi 2.1, announced at CES 2025, introduces “Qi2 Ready,” allowing manufacturers to add magnets to cases instead of embedding them in the phones, a key difference from the original Qi2 standard.
What’s the advantage of Qi 2.1.0 in the Galaxy S25 series?
For now, there isn’t much of a benefit. Samsung is using the Qi 2.1 update to promote its own magnetic cases, offering customers a way to use Qi2 and MagSafe accessories with better coil alignment. This also extends to some third-party brands.
There’s no immediate boost in charging speeds either. The Galaxy S25 series is listed with a 15W maximum for wireless charging, which is what you’ll get from most chargers, even with the magnetic alignment. While the phones could potentially handle higher charging speeds, like the iPhone 16’s 25W, the WPC still lists the Galaxy S25 with a 15W limit. Samsung has removed its magnetic wireless chargers from its website, and those accessories didn’t support 25W charging speeds for the S25 when they were available.
