Qi2 wireless charging seeks to improve the effectiveness of charging your phone. There might be further benefits.
At CES, a quiet announcement regarding the next-generation of wireless charging for phones and other rechargeable battery devices was made among the many robots, TVs, EVs, and this hair printer. The successor of Qi wireless charging, which can be found on devices like the iPhone 14, Samsung Galaxy S22, and Google Pixel 7, is called Qi2 (pronounced “chee two”).
The next iteration of Qi promises to be more effective, in part thanks to the magnets that assist in aligning gadgets perfectly on charging surfaces. If it sounds familiar, it’s because that’s essentially what Apple’s MagSafe charging, which debuted with the iPhone 12 in 2020, is. In reality, Apple, one of the more than 350 firms that comprise the Wireless Power Consortium, contributed to the design of the Magnetic Power Profile, which is a component of Qi2.
Although the Magnetic Power Profile isn’t precisely the same as MagSafe, it might encourage more devices to support Qi2, such as AR or VR headsets. Additionally, it can result in faster charging rates. The maximum speed for Apple’s MagSafe charging for iPhones is 15W, which is also the limit for Qi wireless charging at the moment.
According to Wireless Power Consortium executive director Paul Struhsaker, “Qi2’s precise alignment enhances energy efficiency by decreasing the energy loss that can occur when the phone or the charger is not aligned.” “Qi2 will significantly minimise landfill trash associated with wired charger replacement owing to plugs breaking and the stress exerted on cords from daily connecting and disengagement,” the author writes.
The potential for attachments with Qi2 is another perk. Look at the amount of MagSafe and magnetic iPhone accessories that are now available. Everything is available, including tripod mounts, wallets, and charging stands. Similar gadgets could be useful for Android phones that support Qi2.
Given the variety of sizes and forms of Android phones, Qi2 and its Magnetic Power Profile might act as a leveller to allow some accessories to be used with various Android phones and even different devices. Without the confusion brought on by many USB-C connection types that all appear the same, Qi2 offers a level of universality comparable to what USB-C connectors provide. The distinction between a USB-C cable that supports Thunderbolt 3 and one that supports USB 4 can be difficult to make.
The magnetic power profile used by Qi2 is distinct from that of MagSafe, which uses magnets as well but in a different configuration. Therefore, with Qi2, you couldn’t use a MagSafe charger with a phone. I should note that some manufacturers offer magnetic cases for Android phones so they can function with MagSafe.
In addition, MagSafe has a microprocessor that an iPhone needs to know what it is linked to, but Qi2’s Magnetic Power Profile does not. For instance, if you take Apple’s MagSafe wallet out of your iPhone, it will indicate the spot where it was last secured and may even notify you that it is no longer connected. I suppose manufacturers of Android phones might give Qi2 their own processor for comparable capabilities.
Qi2 might also give Apple a roadmap toward a port-less iPhone, which has been predicted for years, as the EU is requiring Apple to switch future iPhone models from Lightning wired charging to USB-C. Additionally, as Qi2 is a standard, it might assist Apple in avoiding any prospective EU action about wireless charging.
Overall, Qi2 shows a great deal of promise. And while it’s unclear whether Apple will switch to Qi2’s Magnetic Power Profile in place of MagSafe, this does demonstrate that even competing businesses can come to an agreement on a standard that benefits us all. Do the same thing for texting now.
