Although I started out doubtful, wireless Qi chargers equipped with built-in fans to maintain phone temperature during charging have convinced me. I expected them to prove noisy, ineffective, or merely flashy, yet a week using the new $59.99 Kuxiu D5 Qi2.2 charging dock changed my view. Its active cooling kept my device from warming excessively, setting it apart from prior Qi chargers I tested. This matters because of my earlier trouble with an overheating handset.

Last year I damaged the logic board on my titanium iPhone 15 Pro. I was riding a hot train while editing 4K video on the phone, which drew power from a magnetic Qi battery pack. Oof, my iPhone is getting really hot, I noticed, right before the display went permanently dark. The repair cost €660.33 (over $750), covered only because it fell just inside the two-year warranty. Apple’s technician avoided confirming overheating, but I prefer not to risk a repeat.

Heat is the enemy of batteries

Heat harms batteries. Elevated temperatures speed chemical breakdown in lithium-ion cells, cutting their long-term capacity. Qi charging relies on electromagnetic induction, which wastes more energy as heat than a direct cable connection. That warmth often forces phones to slow wireless charging to safeguard the battery.

Even so, I return to Qi docks and power banks for their convenience. I also rely on Apple’s StandBy mode, which converts the phone into a desk or bedside clock and widget display when docked in landscape.

Luckily, firms such as Anker, Aukey, ESR, and Kuxiu now integrate active cooling into Qi chargers. These models use small heat sinks and quiet internal fans to pull heat from the phone’s rear during charging. The result keeps the battery cooler and supports quicker rates. Strong magnets maintain precise coil alignment to boost efficiency and reduce wasted heat.

The display on the D5 shows the charging status of up to three devices, and whether the active cooling is enabled.

A look from behind at the cooling fan beneath the Qi2.2 phone charger.

This button lets you switch off the display, switch off active cooling, and retract the watch charger.

The 45W GAN charger is a great in-the-box addition for such an inexpensive Qi2.2 charging dock. Here the watch charger is shown recessed.

The fan in the Kuxiu D5 runs quietly yet can be disabled. The screen provides useful data, though its winky-faced saver feels unnecessary. I value seeing the time, per-device draw, and total power, but the animation distracts when noticed peripherally. It also seems too bright on a nightstand. A button press turns the display off.

I appreciate that the Kuxiu D5 includes a 45W USB-C PD charger. Without it, users would need to verify whether an existing adapter meets the dock’s combined output: up to 25W for Qi2.2 phones, 2.5W for Qi watches, and 5W for Qi earbuds. It works with multiple Apple, Samsung, and other device generations.

Kuxiu labels the D5 a “5-in-1” charger, which overstates capacity since it charges only three devices at once. The count apparently includes the screen and fan. I would prefer a 4-in-1 label, as the display adds limited benefit for many and may create future complications.

The watch charger feels overly complex. Holding the single button extends the watch pad via a small motor. It may aid durability during travel, yet the gain is minor, and retraction requires wall power.

1/7

The display when charging a single device.

Overall the Kuxiu D5 is a solid Qi2.2 dock improved by active cooling. It suits both desks and nightstands and costs less than comparable models from Anker, ESR, and others.

Active cooling for Qi chargers is an idea whose moment has arrived. Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo phones have long supported 50W-plus wireless charging, but only on proprietary docks that remove excess heat. The Qi standards body is now developing a global 50W specification due by 2028. Makers will probably need active cooling to sustain those higher speeds reliably.

Fine by me. Whatever keeps that essential Qi power flowing.

All photography / The Verge

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Thomas Ricker