In this guide
Qi (pronounced “chee”) is an open wireless charging standard that uses electromagnetic induction to charge compatible devices without cables — place a Qi device on a Qi pad and it charges automatically.
- Both charger and device are Qi-certified
- Coils are closely aligned on the pad
- No metal objects are between device and pad
- Charging pad is connected to power
- Your device has no Qi receiver coil
- Device is misaligned or too far from pad
- A metal object or thick case blocks the coils
- The charger is not Qi-certified
How Qi Wireless Charging Works
Qi charging transfers power between two copper coils using electromagnetic induction — the same physics behind electric toothbrushes and induction stovetops. The charging pad contains a transmitter coil that generates an alternating magnetic field. Your phone or earbud case contains a receiver coil that converts that field into electrical current to fill the battery.
The effective range is up to about 1.6 inches (4 cm), but in practice the device should sit directly on the pad for reliable charging. Alignment matters — if the coils are offset, charging slows down or stops entirely.
What Devices Support Qi?
Qi is managed by the Wireless Power Consortium, which certifies both chargers and devices. Most modern smartphones, wireless earbuds, and smartwatches from major brands carry Qi certification. If your device lists “wireless charging” in its specs, it is almost certainly Qi.
| Setup | Works? | Need | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qi phone on Qi pad | Yes | Nothing extra | Any brand combination works |
| Qi phone, thick plastic case | Yes | Nothing extra | Plastic does not block signal |
| Qi phone, metal case | No | Remove case | Metal disrupts magnetic field |
| Non-Qi phone on Qi pad | No | Qi receiver add-on or upgrade | No built-in coil to receive power |
| Qi phone, misaligned on pad | Partial | Reposition device | Charging is slow or intermittent |
Key Benefits of Qi
- No cable wear on your charging port
- Universal — any Qi charger works with any Qi device regardless of brand
- Built-in safety features including temperature control and foreign-object detection
- Works for phones, earbuds, and smartwatches from a single pad
Common Reasons Qi Charging Fails
The most frequent issue is coil misalignment — even being a centimetre off-centre can halve the charging speed. Metal objects between the pad and device (including some card-holder cases) trigger the pad’s safety shutoff. Non-certified chargers may also skip safety checks, causing slow or unreliable charging.
Qi is a power-delivery standard only and has nothing to do with video output. If you are troubleshooting a display connection, see our guide on why USB-C to HDMI is not working or check whether your USB-C port supports video for those topics.
Bottom line: Qi wireless charging is a mature, widely supported standard — if both your device and pad carry Qi certification, place the device centred on the pad and it will charge. The only real gotchas are metal cases, poor alignment, and non-certified accessories.