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Guide

Magnetic charging explained

MagSafe is Apple’s trademark for the magnetic charging system on iPhone 12 and later. Qi is the open wireless charging standard, and Qi2 adds magnets to it. A “magnetic” power bank lines up with the phone’s magnet ring and charges it wirelessly.

Published 30 October 2026 by ONDO. Sources and the date we read them are listed at the end.

What MagSafe is

MagSafe is a trademark of Apple. Apple uses it for the ring of magnets built into iPhone 12 and later models, and for the chargers and accessories that Apple makes or certifies for that system. Apple’s support pages list the iPhone models that work with its magnetic charger, from iPhone 12 onwards.

Because it is Apple’s name, other makers cannot call their products MagSafe unless Apple allows it. That is why you see phrases like “magnetic”, “magnetic wireless” or “works with the magnetic ring” on other power banks.

Qi and Qi2

Qi is the wireless charging standard of the Wireless Power Consortium, first launched in 2010. A coil in the charger and a coil in the phone pass energy across a small gap. The phone and the charger have to be lined up for it to work well.

Qi2, launched in November 2023 at 15 W, adds magnetic attachment, so the phone and the charger snap into line every time; the Consortium says that alignment improves energy efficiency. Qi2 25W, launched in July 2025, raises the power, and the Consortium says it delivers nearly 70 % more than the original Qi2. Only products that pass the Consortium’s tests may carry the Qi2 name.

What “magnetic ring compatible” means

It means the product has a ring of magnets that matches the ring in the phone, so it holds on and keeps the coils lined up, and it charges with Qi. It does not mean the product is certified by Apple, and it does not mean it is Qi2 certified. Those are separate tests with their own names on the box.

Why a thick plain case weakens the hold and the charge

Magnets pull more weakly with distance, and wireless charging loses energy with distance. A plain case adds both: millimetres of plastic between the power bank and the phone, and no magnets to pull them together. The power bank can slip out of line, charging slows down, more energy turns into heat, and with a thick case it can stop altogether.

A case with its own magnetic ring solves this, because the magnets in the case sit in line with the phone’s coil. With a plain case, the cable is the reliable choice.

Android phones

Magnetic charging works on an Android phone if the phone supports wireless charging and has magnets to hold on to: built in, as on phones that support Qi2, or added with a magnetic case or stick-on ring. A ring on a phone without wireless charging gives the hold but not the charge.

Where the ONDO 20K fits

The ONDO 20K is a magnetic power bank. As the manufacturer publishes it, it charges at up to 15 W through its magnet and at up to 22.5 W over USB-C. It is not certified by Apple, it is not a Qi2 certified product, and we do not use Apple’s trademark to describe it. The compatibility page shows which phones and cases it works with.

Sources

MagSafe is a trademark of Apple Inc. ONDO is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple. Qi and Qi2 are marks of the Wireless Power Consortium.