ESR Qi2.2 25W Magnetic Charging Pad: 22W Through a Case, 26W Without
I tested the ESR Qi2.2 magnetic charging pad with an iPhone 16, with and without a case. Here's what the meter actually showed.
The ESR Qi2.2 25W magnetic charging pad is worth buying if you want a MagSafe charger that also props your phone up. On my meter it hit 26.3W bare and about 22W through my everyday case. Skip it if you charge exclusively in a thick case and expect the full 25W.
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How this review was made: written from my own video review of this product. Every opinion here is my own, from using it myself.
Quick Verdict
Dead iPhone 16, case on, meter plugged in: 21 watts. Wow. Then I pulled the case off and it climbed to 26.3. The kickstand is what I actually use most; it hits 21W through my case and 26.3W bare.
Buy if you:
- Want to watch something in landscape while the phone charges
- Have an iPhone 12 or newer with MagSafe
- Worry about heat during fast wireless charging
- Want a nightstand pad you can pull the phone off one-handed
Skip if you:
- Expect the full 25W through a case, because mine capped around 22
- Need a travel-flat puck, since this has a fan and a hinge in it
- Carry an iPhone 16e, which isn’t on the compatibility list
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| Max output | 25W Qi2.2 certified |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 15 mm |
| Cable length | 5.9 ft USB-C to USB-C |
| Stand angle | 0, 150° adjustable |
| Magnet hold | Up to 1,200 g (2,000 g with ESR case) |
| Fan noise | Under 25 dB |
I Fell for This One at IFA
I spotted this on ESR’s stand at IFA, picked it up, flipped out the kickstand, and immediately wanted to own it, which is not how I usually react to charging pads. They sent the silver review unit; I asked for burgundy, they sent silver, make of that what you will. Not sponsored beyond the sample.
It’s a slim pad, 15 mm thick, silver and white, with a kickstand that folds back out of the body. Inside the box: the pad, a white USB-C to USB-C cable, a cable tie, and a stack of paperwork. That’s it. The cable’s long. I guessed four feet on camera and the listing says 5.9 ft, so I undersold it.
The Case Costs You About Three Watts
Through my everyday driving case, this topped out around 22 watts. Not 25. I plugged a meter inline, dropped a pretty much dead iPhone 16 on the pad, and watched it climb: five watts, nine, ten, twelve, thirteen. Then it jumped to fifteen, then twenty, then 21. Through the case. That’s better than I expected, and I say that as someone who has tested a pile of 25W pads that choke badly through plastic.
Then I gave it a couple minutes. Max through the case: about 22 watts. Case off, phone straight on the magnets, and the reader showed 26.3 and change. So the 25 watt number is real, you just need bare glass to see it. If you never take your case off, mentally buy this as a 22W MagSafe charger and you won’t be disappointed.
One other thing from the meter: the wattage was kind of all over the place in the first minute or so while the phone booted back up. That’s normal for wireless, but if you plug in a reader and panic at nine watts, give it sixty seconds.
Where It Doesn’t Fit
This isn’t a travel puck. It’s got a hinge and a fan in it, so it doesn’t pack like a flat disc. And the compatibility list leaves out the iPhone 16e, which is the kind of detail that bites people who assume “iPhone 16 series” means all of them. Samsung S25/S26 and Pixel are listed, plus iPhone 12 through 18 and the Air.
Very thick cases and wallet cases are the other edge. Mine is a normal everyday case and it still lost a few watts. Add a wallet and more distance and you’re pushing the magnets below that 1,200 g hold.
How It Stacks Up Against the Apple Pad
The cooling is the differentiator here, not the wattage. Apple’s own 25W MagSafe charger and most Anker MagSafe charger stands hit similar numbers now that Qi2.2 is the spec everyone’s building to. Heat is where they differ. Fast wireless charging generates it, and you don’t want that with your phone. ESR’s answer is CryoBoost, an actual fan built into the pad, which they rate at up to 11.7°F cooler than the official 25W Apple pad and under 25 dB.
Worth knowing on timing: this one’s price bounces around a lot, and it’s been well under its usual level before. Right now it’s sitting about where it’s been for the past three months. It’s also selling noticeably better lately, #2,945 in Cell Phones & Accessories against a 90-day average near #7,556. Check the live price at the link rather than assuming.
Plug It In, Drop the Phone, Done
Setup is one step: plug the cable in. No app, no account, no pairing. I plugged the USB-C in, set the phone within an inch of the pad, and the magnets yanked it into alignment before I’d let go, no nudging, no second attempt, no checking whether it was actually charging.
What I didn’t expect to like as much as I do is pulling the phone off one-handed. You hold the charger body with one hand and pull the phone off the magnets. No fumbling around with a Lightning or USB-C port in the dark.
Flat on the Table Doesn’t Block the Fan
I assumed laying this flat would smother the cooling. It doesn’t. ESR offset the body so the hot air and the fan still work with the pad down on the tabletop, which is the use case I actually default to at my desk. The kickstand swings back through 0 to 150 degrees when I want it, landscape for a movie while it charges, and folds away when I don’t.
Two Thumbs Up, With One Asterisk
The only trade-off is the case penalty: 26.3 watts bare, 22 through mine. 26.3 watts bare proves the 25W claim outright. 22 through a case is still faster than most of what’s on my desk. The fan keeps it cool, the stand swings to 150°, and the cable is 5.9 ft, all in 15mm.
26.3W bare, 22W through a normal case, a fan that actually runs, and a kickstand that holds landscape without sliding, at this price it beats every flat Qi2.2 puck I’d otherwise recommend. Current pricing is on the product page.
Pros
- Hit 26.3W bare on my meter, so the 25W Qi2.2 rating holds up
- Still managed about 22W through my everyday case, better than most pads I’ve tested
- CryoBoost fan keeps the phone cool during fast charging
- Kickstand folds back for landscape viewing while charging
- Body is offset so the fan still breathes lying flat on a table
- One-handed phone removal, no port fumbling
Cons
- You lose roughly three watts to a case, and it won’t reach the full 25W with one on
- Wattage bounced around for the first minute before settling
- Not every color is widely available; I wanted burgundy and got silver
- iPhone 16e isn’t supported
What we’d improve
Two things the next version could tidy up:
- No wattage indicator on the pad, I had to run an inline meter to know what I was getting. A small LED that changes color at full speed would tell you instantly whether your case is costing you.
- Color availability, the burgundy exists and it’s the nicest one. Make sure all the colorways actually ship at launch instead of silver and white first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it come with a wall plug?
No. You get the pad, a 5.9 ft USB-C to USB-C cable, a cable tie, and a guide. You’ll need your own USB-C power adapter, and it needs to be a capable one if you want the full 25W.
Will it charge a Samsung or Pixel?
Yes, Samsung S25/S26 series and Pixel phones are on the compatibility list, along with iPhone 12 through 18 and the iPhone Air. The iPhone 16e is the one exclusion.
Is the fan loud enough to bother you at night?
It’s rated under 25 dB, which is quieter than most room ambient noise. ESR specifically calls it out as quiet for day and night use, so a nightstand is the intended spot.
Does it need an app or subscription?
No app, no account, no firmware. Plug it into power and set the phone down. That’s the whole experience.
Will the phone stay on it if I tap the screen in stand mode?
Yes. The magnets hold up to 1,200 g, or 2,000 g with an ESR magnetic case. I had mine propped in landscape without it sliding, though a heavy-handed swipe on any MagSafe stand will shift things slightly.
Get it now
ESR Qi2.2 25W Magnetic Charging Pad
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