While wireless charging has existed in cars for quite a while, the implementation isn’t even close to perfect. Overheating pads, gripless charging modules, and slow speeds make the feature feel like an inconvenience in day-to-day usage.
However, the Japanese automaker Nissan promises to change that by introducing Qi2 wireless charging technology (in select cars).
Qi2 wireless charging finally makes in-car phone charging reliable
In its latest press release, Nissan claims to have solved the long-existing issue by becoming the “first automaker in the U.S. to offer Qi2 wireless charging” on production vehicles. The feature will be available on the 2026 Pathfinder (expected in early 2026) and the 2026 Murano.
The Qi2 standard, established by the Wireless Power Consortium, builds on Qi wireless technology by leveraging a circular magnetic profile (on both compatible chargers and devices) and improved power handling, enabling efficient, quick wireless charging.
In practical terms, Qi2 wireless charging should help Nissan car owners in three ways. First, it will help place the smartphone in the right place on the charger and keep it in place throughout the ride (thanks to the built-in magnetic array).
This eliminates the need to adjust the phone on the charging pad obsessively. Second, Qi2 chargers deliver up to 15W of power, a significant bump from the standard wireless charging pads that offer around 5W. This should charge your Qi2-compatible phone quickly, making wireless car charging truly useful.
Although Qi2 in itself should be more efficient than the outdated wireless chargers in cars, Nissan has also added a cooling fan to the charging module, preventing your smartphone from overheating and ensuring optimal charging speeds.
Faster charging, less heat, and fewer cables to think about
The Qi2 standard, along with the cooling fan, reduces the time taken to charge an iPhone 14 Pro from around 240 minutes to just over 90 minutes (that’s less than half the time traditional wireless chargers take).
Along with the charging module, Nissan’s cars will also include an LED indicator that shows whether the phone is charging (solid orange light) and whether it is fully charged (solid green light).
So, if you’re a 2026 Murano or Pathfinder owner, and you have a smartphone that supports Qi2 wireless charging — including the iPhone 12 or newer models, the Pixel 10 series, or the Galaxy S25 lineup with a magnetic case — you no longer need to worry about carrying charging cables.
Your smartphone stays powered up, even while running Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for navigation, without the usual battery anxiety that makes you carry fast-charging cables.
I also expect other carmakers to adopt the technology and introduce it with the latest variants in 2026, as it’s genuinely a quality-of-life improvement for car owners.