Qi2 is a new wireless charging standard expected to go into widespread use later in 2023. And, according to an unconfirmed report, the upcoming iPhone 15 will be one of the handsets that supports it, including 15W charging.
That’s not surprising, considering Qi2 is heavily based on the MagSafe system built into current iPhones.
Expect iPhone 15 to support Qi2 wireless charging
With new technology, there’s often a battle over standards until a compromise is reached. Wireless charging for phones is a prime example. At first, there were multiple, competing options but Apple’s decision to support Qi (pronounced “chi”) in the iPhone crowned the winner.
But then Apple improved on Qi with magnets that keep the handset properly aligned on the charging mat, creating MagSafe. The Wireless Power Consortium agrees that’s a worthwhile improvement, leading to the announcement of Qi2 in January.
This isn’t the WPC ripping off Apple’s idea: The iPhone-maker helped develop the new standard. So a leaked report that the iPhone 15 will support Qi2 from ChargerLab doesn’t come as a surprise.
But the report also claims that the iPhone 15 will support 15W charging through the new standard, which is welcome news for those planning on buying a new iPhone later this year. MagSafe supports 15W charging, but iPhones using original Qi are limited to 7.5W.
Qi2 could be everywhere
“Qi2 will be the global standard for wireless charging,” predicted Paul Struhsaker, executive director of the WPC, when the new standard was unveiled.
Although wireless phone charging has been around since at least 2012, plenty of people still depend on power cables for their iPhone or Android. But Qi2/MagSafe is a significant improving over the first generation of Qi, so the new version might bring in more interest.
If Apple follows its usual habits, iPhone 15 will launch in September. The WPC expects other Qi2-certified phones and chargers to be available for the 2023 holiday shopping season.
