Qi fan | Edge

Despite my initial skepticism, I’m now convinced Qi wireless chargers add built-in fans to keep your phone cool while charging. I thought it would be too loud, too soft, or too eye-catching, but I became a convert after spending a week with the new one $59.99 COXIO D5 Qi2.2 charging base. The active cooling system kept my phone from heating up, unlike every other Qi charger I’ve tried. A good thing, considering my own history with phone overheating.

Last year I fried the logic board on my titanium iPhone 15 Pro. I was on a sweltering train trying to edit a 4K video on my phone, which was charging from a magnetic connector Qi power bank. Oh, my iPhone is getting really hotI thought, just as the screen went blank forever. The repair bill was €660.33 (over $750), which I paid nothing for because it was only Within two years warranty. Apple’s “genius” can’t tell if a phone has overheated, but I’m not keen on tempting fate twice.

Heat is the enemy of batteries. High temperatures accelerate the chemical decomposition of lithium-ion cells, permanently reducing the amount of charge they can hold over time. The electromagnetic induction used by Qi chargers is inherently inefficient, and produces much more heat than transferring electricity through a cable connected to your phone. This heat can cause phones to throttle their wireless charging speed in order to protect the battery.

Even though I know this, I keep going back to Qi charging docks and power banks because they are so convenient. I’m also addicted to Apple’s StandBy feature that turns my phone into a desk or bedside clock and gadget device when docked and charging in landscape orientation.

Fortunately, companies like Anker, Aukey, ESR, and Kuxiu have started building active cooling systems directly into their Qi chargers. They feature small heat sinks and ultra-quiet internal fans that move heat away from the back of your phone while charging. This keeps the battery significantly cooler and allows for faster charging speeds. Powerful magnets ensure perfect alignment between the phone’s receiving coil and the charger’s transmitting coil for maximum efficiency and reduced heat waste.

The fan inside the Kuxiu D5 runs silently, but it can still be turned off if you want. The display is useful, but the little screensaver with the fuzzy face is not. I like to know the time and amount of charge each device is drawing, as well as the total power draw, but I’m distracted by animated motion when it falls out of the corner of my eye. Fortunately, I can turn off the screen with the click of a button.

I like that the Kuxiu D5 comes with a 45W USB-C PD charger in the box. Otherwise, you’ll have to guess whether any charger you have around will support the dock’s maximum total output, which can deliver up to 25W for Qi2.2-compatible phones, 2.5W for Qi-compatible watches, and 5W for Qi-compatible earbuds. It’s compatible with multiple generations of phones, watches, and earbuds sold by Apple, Samsung, and others.

Kuxiu calls the D5 a “5-in-1” charger, which I find misleading because it will only charge up to three devices at once. It appears to include the screen and fan in total. By that count, I’d be much happier if this were a 4-in-1 device, since the added cost of the screen won’t add much value for most people, and could only cause problems down the road.

The watch charger is also a bit silly due to its over-engineering. A long press on the single button on the dock engages a small motor to slowly push the watch dock outward. I think it adds to the sturdiness of the filled dock when traveling, but not much, and it can only be retracted when the dock is attached to the wall.

Overall, the Kuxiu D5 is a fantastic Qi2.2 charging dock that is enhanced with active cooling. It’s equally at home on a desktop or nightstand, and its price is lower than similar docks from Deny, captivatingand Others.

Active cooling on Qi chargers is a good idea and its time has come. Phones sold by Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo support wireless charging speeds of 50W and above For years. But this is only possible when placed on special charging pads that are able to get rid of all the excess waste heat. Now the body responsible for qi is working 50W global standard for release by 2028. Manufacturers will likely need to adopt active cooling to reliably maintain these high charging rates.

Fine by me. Whatever it takes to keep the vital Qi life force flowing.

All photographs by Thomas Ricker/The Verge