What is Qi2 Wireless Charging?

Did you know that wireless charging has been around for ten years already? Time races, and we all adapt to new technology, changing how we maintain our devices without even thinking about it.

But do you charge your phone wirelessly most of the time? Probably not.

That’s because wireless charging is not the best experience compared to a cable, but is that about to change?

The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) has this month announced an update to Qi wireless charging, revealing that the new Qi2 (pronounced ‘chee two’) will launch later in 2023.  Compatible devices will also become available before the year’s end.

Great news for consumers because it helps address the current issues with wireless charging and will ultimately open up the way for broader adoption of wireless charging.  

So how long before we don’t need cables at all to charge our phones?

Qi2, based on Apple’s MagSafe technology, uses a series of magnets to create a magnetic connection.  A phone perfectly aligned with the charging device will receive improved energy efficiency and faster charging. Result!

For this to make more sense, it helps to understand how wireless charging works.

Inside every wireless charger is a coil of copper wire. When an electric current passes through the coil, it generates a magnetic field.  Phones that support wireless charging also include a coil inside their back casing. Placing your phone on a wireless charging pad induces an electric current to the phone’s coil, and then charging begins.

Problems occur as soon as you increase the distance between the two coils. Moving the coils vertically or horizontally away from each other results in a loss of energy and reduced charging speed.

Qi2’s magnets solve this problem by aligning the transmitter and receiver coils almost perfectly.  This results in a more consistent charge (you won’t easily knock your phone off the charger) and is less destructive to your phone. This is because any lost energy during wireless charging converts to heat which can impact long-term battery health.

The WPC says that Qi2 will have “faster charging for some devices” and could enable “significant future increases in wireless charging speeds that are safe and energy efficient.” That means more than the current 15-watt maximum of Qi and MagSafe.  

The million-dollar question is, how long will it be before we receive the same 25-watt plus charge that a cable can provide?

A dramatic improvement in wireless charging could present the opportunity to eliminate ports from phones completely.  That would reduce production costs, free up a tiny bit of valuable space in our phones for something else and improve water resistance.

Exciting times are ahead for phone innovation but much depends on how Qi2 is implemented and the market reaction. 

We always believed that Apple® MagSafe was a superior wireless charging technology and that’s why it’s already integrated into all our wireless solutions. Boom!

The ChargeBox Team