What is Qi2 ? Complete Guide For Qi & Qi2
Let’s talk about Qi first
What is Qi ?
In 2008, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), a multinational organization that maintains standards, released Qi (pronounced “chee”) standards to unify the wireless charging industry and provide a consistent, reliable wireless charging experience across different devices.
After 15 years of research and development, the updated version of the Qi wireless charging standard announced by WPC will be applied to the entire mobile industry. This is Qi2 None Line charging, will be launched in holiday 2023.
Why Need Qi ?
Before the Qi standard emerged, there were several competing wireless charging technologies with varying specifications. This fragmentation results in consumer confusion and compatibility issues as devices using one technology may not work when using another technology working on the charger.
To overcome these challenges and promote widespread adoption of wireless charging, WPC collaborated to develop a Simple Standard – Qi. Its working principle is electromagnetic induction, which requires a charging plate to generate a magnetic field to transmit the induced energy to compatible devices and enable wireless charging.
Qi For Wireless Charging Standard Unify
In addition to the usual wireless charger benefits, including no tangled wires and no frayed cables and ports, Qi is more like a globally recognized standard with universal compatibility. This means that if you have multiple different devices that support Qi, such as smartphones, headphones, smartwatches, etc., simply place them on a Qi-certified charging pad, then it will start wireless charging.
With the popularity of wireless charging, more and more wireless chargers are appearing with various functions. After years of research and development, the updated version of the Qi wireless charging standard announced by WPC will be applied to the entire mobile industry.
Qi2 Overview
According to ChargerLAB, a reliable source of charging-related information, Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro model will support the new Qi2 wireless charging standard. According to the Wireless Power Alliance, the first chargers to obtain Qi2 certification are expected to be available in time for the 2023 holiday season.
Qi2 is based on Apple’s MagSafe standard, which means Qi2 chargers may be able to charge like Apple’s MagSafe. The appliance also charges iPhone 15 models at speeds up to 15W. For the current iPhone, the speed of the MagSafe wireless charger is limited to 7.5W.
ChargerLAB pointed out that Qi2 chargers do not need to use Apple’s expensive MagSafe modules, nor do they need to obtain Apple’s MFI “Made for iPhone” certified program. This will bring more affordable MagSafe-like chargers to the market.
The website confirmed to supply chain sources that Apple’s MagSafe modules are priced at about $16 wholesale, while Qi2 modules, the cost is apparently less than one-third.
Qi2 technical principles
At the heart of Qi2 is a new magnetic profile provided by WPC member Apple based on its MagSafe technology. This magnetic attachment helps align charging coils to increase efficiency and reduce power loss, thereby achieve higher charging rates. We don’t yet know what Qi2’s top charging rate will be, or whether Apple will support current or future iPhones with charging speeds exceeding 15W.
Magnetic alignment has other benefits. As WPC puts it, “Since no plane-to-plane connection is required, magnetic locking ability is to support new product form factors, such as AR/VR headsets. It will also support magnetic attachment to the back of the phone new accessories, such as extra batteries. Apple has released a few accessories that take advantage of the technology, but most cases where MagSafe has not yet reached its full potential.
For iPhone users, this could mean we’ll see more use of MagSafe-compatible iPhones (iPhone 12 or later), a third-party charger capable of charging at 15W. Apple may also immediately make update to allow Qi2 supported on MagSafe-compatible phones, and Qi2 chargers will be able to exceed the 7.5W charging limit, while no permission from Apple is required. In other words, at the very least, we’ll get more variety, more affordable, compatible 15W Wireless charger from MagSafe.
How does wireless charging work?
Modern smartphones use electromagnetic induction to transfer power from the charger to the smartphone while charging wirelessly. Your needs a smartphone supporting wireless charging and a compatible wireless charger to use this technology. Both mobile phone and charger are required to have copper coil.
When you place a compatible smartphone on a wireless charger, the rapidly changing magnetic field interacts with the copper wires coil inside the smartphone. The magnetic field then produces electrical energy in a closed loop that interacts with the magnetic field using electromagnetic induction. The battery is charged by the current generated.
This form of wireless charging is called close-coupled electromagnetic induction charging. Two copper coils need to be placed close to each other for this technique comes into play and wireless charging only start to work when the two coils aligned correctly.
There are other forms of wireless charging electric technology aims to solve this proximity problem. Radio frequency (RF)-based charging can wirelessly charge devices within a few feet, while loosely coupled resonant charging can be provided within a few centimeters. In the near future, users may be able to charge their phones using radio frequency charging technology, no need to be near the charger.
What are the advantages of Qi2 over Qi ?
More efficient charging:
One of the most significant drawbacks of Qi wireless charging is the relative slower speed of charging compared to traditional wired chargers. However, Qi2, by introducing magnets, keeps your device perfectly aligned with the charger, which helps reduce charging costs energy loss during the charging process, thereby increasing charging speed and generating less heat.
Compatibility and interoperability:
Qi2 maintains backward compatibility with previous versions of the Qi standard. This means ready users of Qi-compatible wireless chargers can still charge their devices using Qi2. Additionally, Qi2 is designed to enhance interoperability. Interoperability ensures that devices from different manufacturers can be charged seamlessly using Qi2-enabled wireless chargers.
Tighter standards:
Wireless charging safety is paramount. For the Qi2 standard, WPC has developed a strict regulatory plan to unify the industry, this requires both chargers and devices to be certified bilaterally. This means that Qi2 certified devices can reject a charger that does not comply with the Qi2 standard for charging. Non-Qi2 certified devices cannot be charged with a Qi2 wireless charger, effectively reducing the potential risk of damage during charging.
Qi2 and MagSafe wireless charging
What does MagSafe do?
MagSafe is a charging technology and proprietary magnetic connector developed by Apple. It was first introduced in 2006 with for MacBook laptops, but was later discontinued in 2016. In 2020, Apple relaunches MagSafe as a feature on its iPhone 12 series. MagSafe uses magnets to securely attach accessories like wireless chargers or cases to the back of compatible devices.
Magnet helps accessories aligned into the correct position, ensuring efficient charging and a more convenient user experience. Compared with traditional Qi wireless charging, the newer MagSafe technology also supports faster wireless charging.
Is Qi2 the same as Apple MagSafe ?
As mentioned above, MagSafe is a magnetic charging technology developed exclusively by Apple. It uses magnets to secure the charger and device correct alignment between devices.
Qi2, on the other hand, is an upgraded version of the Qi wireless charging standard, developed by WPC. It is based on the original Qi standard, improved and integrated with Apple’s MagSafe technology to ensure precise alignment, faster charging and better compatibility with various devices, not only for iPhone, but also for Android.
In the bigger picture, they all work the same way – using magnets to create a plug-and-play experience.
Does iPhone 15 support Qi2 wireless charging?
In 2017, Apple released the iPhone 8 and X series, which have since supported the Qi wireless charging standard. However, wireless charging the speed is still only 7.5W, which is much slower than a wired charger. This problem was not solved until the iPhone 12 series was equipped with Magsafe.
It was solved with MagSafe technology, reaching extremely fast speeds of up to 15W, but only with Apple-certified MagSafe charger for maximum charging speed. Wireless charging from any uncertified third-party wireless chargers have speed capped at 7.5W.
The good news is that an upgraded version of the Qi2 standard is coming soon, based on MagSafe technology, which can help your iPhone communicate with the charging pad with perfect alignment. Rumor has that this latest iPhone will feature Qi2-certified wireless charging for faster speeds (maybe up to 15W).
If the iPhone 15 supports Qi2 wireless charging, third-party Qi2 wireless chargers can also charge at speeds up to 15W. There are cheaper alternatives to Apple’s MagSafe charger.
Additionally, you may be wondering if your iPhone, currently compatible with Qi-certified wireless chargers, will it stack up with Qi2-standard wireless charger ? The answer is Qi2 backward compatibility. This means that if you typically use Qi authentication charger to charge your iPhone, you can still use Qi2 for wireless charging.
In conclusion
Compared with the previous generation, the Qi2 wireless charging standard introduces magnetic features to more precisely align the device with the charging area. To optimize energy efficiency and enable faster wireless charging. Additionally, the Qi2 standard provides wider compatibility and interoperability. This new update will be a major revolution in the wireless charging industry. You’ll find how convenient it is to charge your iPhone at home, in the office, or even while traveling.
If you are interested in buying Qi2, the new standard Wireless Charger from China, TopWirelessCharger will be the right place for you to go. We are 8 years’ wireless charger manufacturer, closely follow up industry trend. Stay tuned, let’s embrace the new age of Wireless Charging. Contact us if you have project we can help with your wireless charger request.