The upcoming iOS 17.2 update will add Qi2 support to older iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models. Based on MagSafe, Qi2 is the next-generation wireless charging standard.
Announced at CES 2023 by the Wireless Charging Consortium, Qi2 uses a Magnetic Power Profile with an Extended Power Profile for faster charging and better efficiency.
MagSafe goes mainstream with Qi2
Qi2 brings MagSafe to Android phones and other devices. This will allow them to magnetically snap and align to wireless chargers, allowing for a more secure connection. This, in turn, will enable faster charging while generating less heat.
Barring iPhones, all current Android phones use Qi charging standard. So far, the iPhone 15 series was the only phone to support Qi2 officially. This will change once iOS 17.2 lands, enabling Qi2 wireless charging on iPhone 13 and iPhone 14. Apple’s release note for iOS 17.2 RC mentions “Qi2 charger support for all iPhone 13 models and iPhone 14 models.”
Post the update, these devices should charge at 15W speeds when used with a Qi2 charger. Currently, they are limited to 7.5W speeds, as is the case when charging an iPhone with a Qi charger.
More Qi2 devices should debut in the coming months
Technically, Qi2 and MagSafe appear to be the same technology. So it is not surprising that Apple can add Qi2 support to iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 with a software update.
So far, Belkin, Mophie, and Anker have announced Qi2-compatible wireless chargers, with over 100 more devices in testing. More such chargers should arrive in the coming weeks and months. Android phones and other devices should also adopt Qi2 more aggressively in the coming months, leading to wider availability of compatible Qi2 accessories.
Apple should release iOS 17.2 to the public next week, as it has already seeded the Release Candidate to developers.
