As a general rule, Apple is cautious when it comes to implementing new standards. But the company pleasantly surprised with the implementation of the Qi2 standard on its new iPhone 15, and now surprises.
The release notes for the new iOS 17.2 RC (Release Candidate) state that this update adds “Qi2 charger support for all iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models.” As such, the specified iPhone models should support up to 15W wireless charging via Qi2-certified chargers, although the release notes do not confirm power specifications. iOS 17.2 is likely to be available in a few days.
Until now, the 15W wireless charging power on these iPhone models was only possible through MagSafe-certified chargers. Meanwhile, more affordable MagSafe-compatible devices were limited to 7.5W. With Qi2 support, consumers will have a wider choice of affordable 15W wireless chargers because manufacturers won’t have to pay Apple for MagSafe certification.
The Qi2 specification was announced at CES 2023. Its main feature was a MagSafe-like wireless fast charging standard, even for Android devices. At the same time, the Magnetic Power Profile is used for the compatibility of phones and chargers. According to the WPC (Wireless Power Consortium), while output power is currently limited to 15W, future iterations will “significantly” raise the charging level above 15W. At the upcoming CES 2024, manufacturers are expected to showcase a variety of Qi2-compatible accessories.
Source: Engadget
