Apple, which usually plays it safe when it comes to new standards, had already surprised us with the iPhone 15’s Qi2 compatibility, but it turns out they’re going even further in Cupertino.as discovered by 9to5 mac and some user release notes iOS17.2RC (Release Candidate) states that this update adds “Qi2 charger support for all iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models.” This means the iPhone models listed above should support up to 15W wireless charging using Qi2 certified chargers, but the release notes were short on confirming the power specs. We’ll probably know in the next few days when iOS 17.2 will be available to the general public.
Previously, 15W input was only possible on these iPhone models through MagSafe-certified chargers, while cheaper MagSafe-compatible chargers were limited to 7.5W. Qi2’s comparable performance provides consumers with a more affordable option when it comes to 15W wireless chargers, as manufacturers no longer have to pay an Apple premium for his MagSafe certification.
Qi2 was first announced at CES 2023, and its main highlight was the MagSafe-like wireless fast charging standard, which is also available for Android devices. It uses a “magnetic power profile” to ensure compatibility between your phone and charger. According to WPC (Wireless Power Consortium), power output is currently limited to 15W, but future iterations will “significantly” increase charging levels beyond 15W. A number of Qi2-compatible accessories are said to be coming by the holiday season, including some from Anker, and I’m sure that will be a theme at CES 2024 next month.
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