The Qi2 charging standard was announced earlier this year at CES 2023.
Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) introduced Qi2 charging standard, also known as Chi Two, early this year. Following it is the Qi wireless charging standard, that is almost identical to Apple’s MagSafe technology, which was launched together with the iPhone 12, possesses a coil for wireless charging as well as a magnetic system. WPC affirmed that the objective was building an unified system which is anticipated of operating on iphoses and android phones alike. Nonetheless, it has a novel functionality dubbed the Magnetic Power Profile that ensures that devices such as phones are placed precisely for efficient and faster charging. Such brand compatibility is also meant in case of certified devices.
According to WPC, the first Qi2 productions are “completing” certification testing. That means we can expect the first Qi2 charging devices, which should mark an official start of this technology, to come out soon. Among the first to hit the market would include Qi2-enabled devices by Anker, Belkin, as well as many other accessories brands. Similarly, the WPC said, there are over a hundred devices in the process of Qi2 testing including those still waiting for certification.
According to the press release, one of the first smartphones using this new wireless charging technology would be that of the iPhone 15 series. At the moment, the only known items that belong under qi2 products are chargers and battery packs, except for i-phone 15 line of smartphones. Additionally, it is uncertain whether older MagSafe-supported iPhones use this standard.
WPC had previously announced their own charging standard known as Qi2 which is pronounced “chi two”. It follows Qi wireless charging standard, like Apple’s MagSafe technology that was introduced with iPhone 12 and utilizes magnetic coil for wireless charging as well. It said the objective is to evolve a single integrated solution which is anticipated to work with both iOS and Android smartphones. However, it has an additional feature called the Magnetic Power Profile to ensure that phones and other devices are placed accurately for maximum charging effectiveness and rate. Brand compatibility of certified devices will also be ensured by it.
According to WPC, the first Qi2 productions have been “completing” the certification tests currently. This means that the initial Qi2 charging devices are likely going to be available in a matter of weeks, thus becoming the debut of the technology. The first few devices for the Qi2 charging technology will come from Anker, Belkin, and other accessories brands. WPC also noted that there were over 100 devices in the process of undergoing Qi2 testing or being certified.
The press release announced that one of the first phones to utilize this new wireless charging technology would likely be in the new iPhone 15 collection. Currently, only chargers and battery packs are known to be Qi2 products except for iPhone 15 series phones. The compatibility of such a standard for old MagSafe-supported iPhones is also doubtful.
There’s buzz about the upcoming Google Pixel 9 series possibly being among the first Android phones to embrace Qi2 wireless charging technology. A recent blog post by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), noticed by The Verge, points out that Liyu Yang, a senior hardware engineer at Google, has joined the consortium’s board. Yang, who’s been involved in developing wireless charging systems for Pixel phones since 2017, is now heading the research and development for the next-gen wireless charging technologies in the upcoming Pixel products.
The Qi2 platform, aside from enhancing safety features to prevent device damage and battery wear, supports faster 15W charging and comes with foreign object identification capabilities. According to WPC, devices adopting the new Qi v2.0 Extended Power Profile (EPP) without magnets won’t showcase the new Qi2 emblem, making the inclusion of magnets the most noticeable change for consumers. This suggests that the Pixel 9 lineup might bring not only improved wireless charging but also a feature set that aligns with the latest advancements in wireless charging technology.
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