First Qi2 chargers look to expand MagSafe-like wireless charging beyond Apple – Ars Technica

The first wireless chargers to support the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) Qi2 wireless charging standard were detailed today. Chargers and subsequent Qi2 products will feature Apple MagSafe-like technology and promise safer and more efficient wireless charging with the help of magnets. We don’t know which smartphones will support Qi2 technology, but there is hope that with the right compatibility, it will be easier to charge your Android phone using a secure magnetic connection. The new charging standard will also increase the number of chargers that can power Android And iOS devices wirelessly.

Currently, iPhone wireless charging is limited to 7.5 watts unless you have a MagSafe charger, which supports 15 watts. This limitation has given shoppers a reason to purchase a MagSafe charger over many non-Apple chargers, including those that follow the Qi standard. It took five years after Android phones began adopting Qi technology for Apple (with the iPhone 8 series) to join in. In January 2023, months before Apple’s expected iPhone 15 launch, the WPC announced that Apple had “provided the basis for the new Qi2 standard based on its MagSafe technology.”

Together with other WPC members, Apple helped create the MEP standard. When finalized, the Qi2 standard will have requirements regarding magnet strength and magnet dimensions to ensure guaranteed alignment between transmitters and receivers for stable charging and less heat-causing energy loss. WPC sees the design as enabling wireless charging for new product categories, including tablets and smartwatches (it targets the standard at phones and wireless earbuds to start).

But in a January interview, a WPC spokesperson said the edge MagSafe and Qi2’s magnet pattern is not identical, leaving WPC unsure if the iPhone 12, 13, or 14 will be compatible. But the WPC rep also said, “We certainly expect them to be fully on board with Qi2 and we know they are.” This bodes well for mePhone support 15 Qi2And maybe we’ll know for sure after Apple’s event on September 12. At the very least, Anker claims that its upcoming Qi2 chargers are “compatible with all Apple MagSafe iPhone products.”

WPC hasn’t finalized the Qi2 specification yet, so it’s unclear what other differences there might be between Qi2 and MagSafe.

Looking to the future, we can expect more products to be announced with Qi2. Ultimately, we may see fewer new products claiming to be “MagSafe compatible” while offering less power for the iPhone than a true MagSafe charger, poor connections, and less Unofficial MagSafe Android Charging. Qi2 requires authentication, so charging may not work with incompatible chargers.

We won’t get our hopes up, but in the long run, the Qi2 could It’s also leading to a craze for magnetic smartphone accessories that are larger than MagSafe has ever created, In their heyday, they ranged from battery packs to tripods and even RGB smartphone fans.

WPC is also promising to update the Qi2 standard to support charging beyond 15W, with a goal of mid-2024, a WPC representative said. Robot body In January.

But with wires continuing to offer the most efficient charging for iPhones and other devices, and USB-C expected to make its iPhone debut with the iPhone 15, we don’t expect magnets to make charging cables go away any time soon.

Anker and Belkin have announced their Qi2 products as part of their presence at the IFA 2023 trade show. Anker has revealed seven products in its MagGo wireless charging series with no official pricing and an expected release in late 2023. the edge Reports. Belkin said it will offer its own Qi2 chargers, the BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2 ($129.99 each). the edge) and the BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Stand Pad ($60 per The Verge), at IFA. The former will be available “later this year,” Belkin’s announcement said, and the latter will be available in the first quarter.