Qi is a wireless charging standard, and the only one currently used by most major phone manufacturers. Qi is pronounced "chee."
What is Qi wireless charging and why you absolutely want it
Qi isn't the only wireless charging method available, but it is the first to be supported by two of the biggest and most influential smartphone manufacturers: Samsung and Apple.
Wireless charging allows you to charge a device, such as your smartphone, without the need for a charging cable. The concept, known as inductive charging, allows electricity to be transferred through the air using a magnetic field. A transmitter (in this case, a charging pad plugged into a wall socket) creates an oscillating magnetic field with a receiver (a phone). The receiver collects power through a special antenna, which can then be stored in the device’s battery. Although the basic technology has been around for more than a century, it has gained traction with the advent of mobile technology.
While the inner workings of wireless charging technology are quite complex, the basic concept is simple. In order to charge something wirelessly, you need two components called induction coils. These coils are loops of copper wire that are built into wireless charging pads and compatible phones.
