Club Benefits
I am the first to admit that I was not captivated by wireless charging from day one. It wasn't until I upgraded to the Pixel 10 Pro — one of only five Android phones to feature the Qi2 and the MagSafe-style wireless charging system — that I appreciated just how useful they could be.
I knew I was going to enjoy being able to use magnetic accessories, without having to rely on a specialized case, but I didn't think magnetic chargers would have quite the impact that they've had — to the point where, six months after buying one, I never want to go back to magnet-free wireless charging.
My experience with MagSafe-style chargers
I purchased the Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Foldable Wireless Charging Stand, which is pretty basic as far as wireless chargers go. It's only capable of recharging a single device at a time, with no specialized pads for earbuds or smartwatches, and maxes out at 15W wireless charging speeds rather than the current 25W maximum afforded by Qi2.2.
Article continues belowBut basic was exactly what I was going for. The folding nature of this particular stand meant it was fairly compact, with the ability to act as both a phone stand and a regular wireless charging pad.
Sure, I could have opted to pay a bit more money for something more elaborate, but the only extra feature I would have wanted is some kind of built-in cooling system to counteract the heat produced by wireless charging
If I need to charge in the middle of the day, all I need to do is slap my Pixel into the stand, and it automatically snaps into the right place. The magnetic connection also means I have complete freedom to orient the phone in whatever position I like, and if I ever just need a stand — and no power — I just need to unplug the cable.
These are all very simple needs that could be accounted for in any number of ways, on any number of products, but the built-in magnets make it so convenient that I am now completely hooked. That poses a problem for any times I have to use non-magnetic phones.
The Samsung Galaxy problem
Doing what I do, I have to use a bunch of different devices on any given day. Most of those devices do not have their own magnets, even if they support the Qi2 standard, which means my wireless charger loses everything that makes it so great.
It's not an issue with my daily driver, the Pixel 10 Pro, or any of the best iPhones released over the past 5 and a half years. They all have magnets built into the back, and can snap onto the charger without issue. But I've been spending a lot of time with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and that has caused some problems.
I can still use my BoostCharge stand as a wireless charging pad, but you lose all the other benefits in the process, which defeats the purpose of having a magnetic charger in the first place.
Sure, I still get all the non-magnetic benefits of Qi2 with a Galaxy S26 series phone, including the 15W speeds and smarter charging protocols, but you still have to contend with the fact that the phone is just sitting on the charger with no real support. It charges just fine, assuming I correctly position the phone, but it always feels like a very precarious and flimsy placement.
Since the stand function relies on a magnetic grip, there's no way to fix a non-magnetic phone in places, which strips away one of the key benefits of owning any kind of magnetic wireless charger.
I'll admit I could pick up a magnetic case for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but that's evading the real issue — and is enough to make sure I'll never go back to a non-magnetic phone anytime soon.
Bottom Line
There are certain things in life that, once you do them, you realize you never want to go back to the way things used to be. It could be as mundane as adding an extra clove of garlic to your spaghetti sauce or as life-altering as switching to an electric car, but once you've made that change, it's permanent.
For me, the transition to Qi2 and finally being able to use a MagSafe-style magnetic charging stand is one of those things. It's just so much more convenient than old-school wireless charging or plugging in with a cable. While it won’t be the only factor when it comes to choosing which phone I buy in the future, it will certainly influence my decision. A MagSafe-like case is fine, but it's not the same as having that functionality right out of the box.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
More from Tom's Guide
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
