Qi2 is the future of wireless chargers and Belkin is already on board. On Thursday, it took the wraps off a pair of accessories that use the emerging standard.
Qi2 was created to bring the advantages of iPhone’s MagSafe to Android. Wireless chargers from Belkin and other companies that support the standard will work equally well for Apple and Samsung, etc. handsets, as long as they support Qi2.
Get ready for a rush of Qi2 accessories
For those who are unfamiliar with it, Qi2 is heavily based on the MagSafe system built into current iPhones, including building magnets into both the phone and the wireless charger.
The upcoming iPhone 15 series will be reportedly among the first handsets to support the standard, including 15W charging.
But there’ll be many, many more. And that includes plenty of Androids. The Wireless Power Consortium that created Qi2 with Apple’s cooperation expects it to become global standard for wireless charging.
New Belkin wireless chargers on the way
Belkin clearly isn’t going to miss the boat. At the IFA trade show, it announced two accessories with the charging standard. That puts it ahead of virtually all its rivals.
Photo: Belkin
The BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2 (see above) includes a Qi2 mat that offers up to 15W of power next to a standard charging mat that supports 5W. A USB-C port can be used to juice up a third device, like an Apple Watch charger .
The accessory-maker also revealed the BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand. It’s designed for work or on the go, and switches between a changing mat to a stand that holds a handset up for taking calls or streaming video.
Belkin isn’t getting too far ahead of its competitors: while it unveiled these accessories ay IFA, it didn’t actually release them. The Charging Pad is scheduled to launch later in 2023, but the Pad to Stand won’t be out until after the start of 2024.
Belkin has yet to say anything about pricing.
