Android fanatics are after all taking part in the benefit of magnetic wi-fi charging. Google formally added Qi2 strengthen with integrated magnets to the Pixel 10 sequence by means of Pixelsnap, and Samsung is rumored to do the similar at the Galaxy S26 sequence.
When it is time to improve your telephone, it will even be a good suggestion to improve your wi-fi charger. There are a couple of first-party choices from Google, however for probably the most section, Android customers want to third-party accent makers to fill the distance. Your subsequent Qi2-supported wi-fi charger would possibly come from an not going emblem: Ikea.
That’s proper — the Swedish home items and furnishings retailer that also dabbles in smart home tech now has a new lineup of official Qi2 chargers. The Ikea Västmärke is a donut-shaped Qi2 wireless charger with a few tricks up its sleeve. You shouldn’t write it off as a gimmick, because it might be the best Qi2 charger for Android users on the market, and it’s certainly the best value.
Wait, Ikea is making an affordable Qi2 charger?
Ikea’s Västmärke wireless charger is available for just $10 in select stores, with delivery available as well. From a design standpoint, it’s thicker than most other Qi2 wireless chargers. The product has a hybrid design, functioning as a portable wireless charging solution or a flat charging base for use on a desk or nightstand.
The donut shape is certainly striking, but it fits right in with Ikea’s modern design language. It doesn’t look like a tech product in the best way, complete with a “happy red color.” There are no bland white, gray, or black color options that we’re all too used to seeing in the tech space. It’s available only in this intriguing circular shape and only in “happy” red.
The charging pad has a built-in cable that spans 47 inches, or just under four feet. It’s a solid charging length that’ll work for stationary desk setups but won’t be too cumbersome on the go. The charging cable is made out of silicone. There’s no power adapter in the box — you can use a 20W USB-C power adapter you already own or add one on from Ikea for an extra $4.
It’s fully certified by the Wireless Power Consortium, supporting both the Qi2 Baseline Power Profile and Magnetic Power Profile. This means it’ll work with older Qi devices without magnets, and it’ll also support snap connection with newer Qi2 ones. Notably, Ikea’s Västmärke supports Power Deliver 3.0 and Quick Charge 2.0.
In other words, the Ikea Västmärke is more than just a gimmick — it provides everything you might need from a Qi2 charger.
Ikea’s charger solves a few problems with Qi2 cables
Wireless charging is somewhat controversial among tech enthusiasts due to a few of its downsides. It’s less efficient, slower, and hotter than charging over a cable. However, I find it hard to build out a wireless charging ecosystem for a different reason. Wireless chargers are only useful if they’re where you need them, and most of the Qi2 chargers on the market would look sorely out of place in a living room.
Ikea’s Västmärke addresses the issue of wireless chargers blending in, and it does it while making a fashion statement. The bright red color and silicone exterior look great, but there’s more to it than that. The Västmärke design serves a functional purpose, too. The 47-inch cable can be coiled and stashed within the donut-shaped charger for cleaner storage and peak portability.
What’s more, the donut’s silicone surface actually pops outward to reveal a phone grip. It’s like having a built-in PopSocket in your wireless charger. That’s helpful because any Qi2 wireless charger adds bulk to your phone, and Ikea’s Västmärke lets you keep using it while charging.
If it wasn’t for the price, I probably wouldn’t have given the Ikea Västmärke another look. But the official Google Pixelsnap Charger is $40 and is relatively uninteresting, save for the fact that it can charge only the Pixel 10 Pro XL at 25W speeds. Instead, I can get four Ikea Västmärke chargers for the same price to cover my home with wireless charging pads.
With the cable stashed away, this Qi2 wireless-charging “donut” looks more like a modern art piece than a charger. For only $10 each, this clever, quirky wireless charger is one I think almost every Android user should consider adding to their magnetic charging ecosystem.
In a crowded wi-fi charger marketplace affected by identical choices, Ikea’s Västmärke sticks out with Qi2 strengthen, a a laugh and colourful design, and a integrated telephone grip. It’s additionally simplest $10, which is slightly inexpensive for a Qi2 charger.
Source: www.androidcentral.com
