Nissan’s new wireless smartphone charger fixes the biggest problems with in-car charging

It's a common frustration: placing a phone in a wireless charger, only to arrive with it hardly charged, or worse — overheated or shifted out of place. Nissan is solving those issues as the first automaker in the U.S. to offer Qi2 wireless charging, available on the 2026 Pathfinder 1 (expected availability early 2026) and 2026 Murano. What is the Qi2 wireless charger? The Qi2 (pronounced chee-two ) wireless charger is a huge step forward. One major difference from previous-generation chargers is easy to spot: The Qi2 charger features a raised magnetic circle. This holds phones in place with the magnetized back of iPhones (12 and newer), Google Pixels (10 and newer) and Android devices with compatible accessory cases. Thanks to magnetization, compatible smartphones are easily held in place. "With the magnetized puck-like surface, drivers can easily place their phone on the charger and know it's working without needing to adjust it mid-drive," said Angela Moon, a senior manager of Research and Development at Nissan Technical Center North America (NTCNA) in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The magnetization doesn't just help hold the phone in place; it helps it charge more efficiently. The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder and 2026 Nissan Murano are the first and only vehicles in their segments sold in the U.S. that currently offer Qi2 wireless charging. "Proper alignment is critical when it comes to wireless charging," said Matt Zimmerman, a manager of Research and Development at NTCNA. "Even a few millimeters can cause a big drop in performance. The magnetic puck helps ensure the phone is properly aligned to receive optimal charging – even with modern phones' large cameras." Another major improvement is the addition of a fan, which helps cool both the charger and the phone. "Thermal management has been a common challenge in earlier generations of wireless charging systems. The fan greatly reduces the amount of generated heat," Moon said. The Qi2 charger’s fan helps keep both the charging pad and the phone cooler, reducing the risk of overheating, which slows charging speeds. The benefits of the fan are twofold: By reducing the temperature, it not only helps prevent the risk of overheating – which can cause a phone to stop charging while it cools down – it also enhances efficiency. "Simply put, a phone can charge faster when it's cooler," Moon said. By adopting the Qi2 charger, Nissan drivers get faster, steadier charging — and fewer daily frustrations. That's because the Qi2 charger delivers consistent power up to 15 watts, compared to the watts of many previous-generation chargers. "Previous designs would adjust power delivery, especially if the charger became too warm," Zimmerman said. "In this latest version, the need for that fluctuation is greatly reduced. Users will arrive at their destination with a battery more charged than was possible with the outgoing charger." Combined with the cooling fan, the time it takes to go from 10% charged to 90% charged was reduced from four hours to just over 90 minutes. A final, small but important detail: an LED light indicates the Qi2 charger's status. A solid orange light indicates charging is underway; a green light indicates the device is fully charged; and a flashing orange light indicates a foreign object is detected. The latter can alert the driver if keys or a wallet were placed on the charger, but can also signal that the phone is not secure on the charging pad. The Qi2 wireless charger features an LED light to indicate its status. "The Qi2 charger is all about enhancing usability, and the charging indicator light supports that goal. It eliminates the guesswork; you can check if your phone is charging with a quick glance," Zimmerman said. Adopting the Qi2 charger is just one way Nissan is using the latest technology to make people's lives easier. By innovating this everyday experience, Nissan is empowering drivers to spend less time worrying about charging their phone and more time enjoying the ride. Which Nissan models have the Qi2 wireless charger? The Qi2 wireless charger launches in the following model year 2026 vehicles: Nissan Murano Nissan Pathfinder (expected availability early 2026)