Nissan’s magnetic telephone charger makes Qi2 a actuality in automobiles

Most wi-fi chargers use magnets that give telephones a powerful grip as energy flows. Cars, nevertheless, nonetheless skip this concept, which feels unusual. I wrestle to discover a draw back. Drivers know the frustration properly—putting a telephone on a wi-fi charger, solely to reach with 19% battery left—or worse, a tool that’s overheated or shifted out of place. I can’t assist however surprise if automakers simply don’t need to tackle the additional work. Fortunately, Nissan is transferring forward, changing into one of many first automobile manufacturers within the US to introduce Qi2 wi-fi charging.

Related: From robotaxis to your automobile—let’s see Physical AI in motion

What makes Qi2 totally different

Qi2 stands as an open wi-fi energy customary from the Wireless Power Consortium, and it brings main features over Qi. For instance, Qi capped energy at 5W, whereas Qi2 pushes that quantity to 15W, the identical degree as MagSafe.

When Nissan provides Qi2, drivers achieve quicker energy movement, higher stability, and fewer frustration throughout every journey. The system retains output regular at as much as 15W, which helps telephones keep related.

Friends who take lengthy drives inform me a standard story. They look over and see a telephone slide on the tray, break contact, and cease energy movement. They then want to maneuver it again into place. If that sounds acquainted, Qi2 affords a repair. The design features a magnetic ring that locks a telephone in place. It works with iPhone fashions from 12 onward, Pixel fashions from 10 onward, and Android telephones that use matching instances.

“With the magnetized puck-like surface, drivers can easily place their phone on the charger and know it’s working without needing to adjust it mid-drive,” says Angela Moon, a senior supervisor of Research and Development at Nissan Technical Center North America (NTCNA).

Another enchancment is the built-in cooling fan, which helps handle warmth for each the telephone and the charger. Similar to ESR’s CryoBoost design, this characteristic proves particularly useful for drivers who dwell in scorching climates.

ESR for 15W MagSafe Car Mount Charger with CryoBoost

Which Nissan fashions get Qi2 charging

The Qi2 wi-fi charger will debut in choose 2026 model-year autos, together with the Nissan Murano and the Nissan Pathfinder, with the Pathfinder arriving in early 2026. Trucks and SUVs had been Nissan’s major development drivers within the fourth quarter and all through 2025. Looking forward to 2026, the addition of the Qi2 charger ought to assist the refreshed Pathfinder stand out much more to potential consumers.

Parting ideas on Nissan’s magnetic telephone charger

Qi2 wi-fi charging fixes an issue I’ve by no means understood why drivers had been requested to tolerate for therefore lengthy. By adopting a quicker, magnetized, and actively cooled customary, Nissan removes a small however persistent annoyance that impacts almost each drive. To me, this sort of improve issues as a result of it improves one thing folks use each day, not simply on paper.

As vans and SUVs proceed to drive Nissan’s development, considerate options like Qi2 assist these autos really feel extra trendy and aggressive. If this rollout goes properly, I wouldn’t be stunned to see Qi2 turn out to be a baseline expectation moderately than a standout characteristic.

Grigor Baklajyan is a copywriter masking know-how at Gadget Flow. His contributions embrace product evaluations, shopping for guides, how-to articles, and extra.