Xiaomi just launched a new magnetic wireless battery bank that charges at 15W, but there’s nothing that says it’s Qi2 certified.
The Qi2 standard is starting to change how smartphone manufacturers approach wireless charging, and the latest certification allows for 25W wireless charging. That shared certification and standard means manufacturers need to conform to a specific design and technology, which allows for certified accessories to guarantee compatibility.
Xiaomi’s new magnetic battery bank is one of the absolute thinnest we’ve seen. It comes in at just 9mm thick with a rated wireless charging speed of 15W. With a wired connection, the battery bank is capable of 22.5W, and Xiaomi even says you can wirelessly charge your device and another via a cable at the same time, without losing speed.
The company goes into some detail regarding fire protection and safety, including noting that the rear panel of Xiaomi’s battery bank is made from fiberglass, and the aluminum battery has 10 layers of safety protection. That includes overvoltage, overheating, and overcharging.
Everything about this product screams “Qi2,” but there’s no information on whether this new battery bank is certified. In fact, the battery bank is missing from the Wireless Power Consortium’s (WPC) certification database. The last battery to be added from Xiaomi was from 2024.
Why Qi2 certification matters
The WPC sets the standard for Android devices based on accepted performance standards, and devices that claim to carry the same specs outside of that certification provide a small cause for concern.
Chinese OEMs like Xiaomi are seemingly the first to push power boundaries in various ways. For example, most devices with silicon-carbon batteries are from Chinese manufacturers, and before that, the first devices to come with 100W fast wired charging were from the same brands. It’s usually tech that other companies haven’t announced yet. This is likely due to safety concerns and testing the technology to its limits before mass distribution.
Xiaomi also notes that the battery does charge a device at 15W wirelessly, but it specifically mentions proprietary phones. For iPhone users, one should expect 7.5W wireless charging.
The new 5,000mAh battery bank from Xiaomi is no doubt cool, and at 9mm, it would be an incredible accessory to keep on hand. Still, there are other Qi2 certified options that might be worth a look into. For instance, Baseus makes a tiny 5,000mAh Qi2-certified battery bank that’s downright adorable. It’s double the thickness of Xiaomi’s paper-like battery, but it’s not nearly as wide or tall.
Xiaomi’s thin power bank is available in Japan for around $50.
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