Everything you need to know about the new Qi2 wireless charging standard

Earlier this year, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) unveiled Qi2, the second major update to the wireless charging standard. It's been a decade since wireless charging first appeared on the smartphone market. With the new Qi2 standard, WPC wants to eliminate the two biggest drawbacks of wireless charging “€“ energy efficiency and comfort.

The new Qi2 wireless standard relied heavily on the help of the Qi2 standard during development. Apple, which contributed to the project with help when integrating the iPhone's MagSafe technology. The so-called Magnetic Power Profile opens wide the door to a whole new ecosystem of devices/accessories that can be attached to a charged device. But that's not all.

What is the Qi2 wireless standard?

The aforementioned magnets are the most noticeable upgrade compared to the existing Qi standard. Obroč magnets were not added just to make charging more convenient. Instead, it also ensures that your smartphone is properly aligned with the charger. To understand why this is so important, it might be worth considering how wireless charging actually works.

Very briefly and simplified, wireless charging is based on the law of electromagnetic induction. Inside each individual wireless charger you will find a coil of copper wire. When you plug in the charger, the electric current flowing through this coil creates a magnetic field. Phones that support wireless charging also include a coil under the rear plastic or glass case. And when you place your device on the charging pad, the charger's magnetic field induces an electric current in the phone's coil.

While the idea of wireless charging is simple at first glance, the efficiency of power transfer drops as soon as you increase the distance between the coils. You may have noticed that your phone stops charging quite quickly when, for example, you lift it away from the wireless charger. The same concept applies in the horizontal direction. If the coils are not aligned, the charging speed will drop.

The magnets of the Qi2 wireless standard solve this problem by almost perfectly aligning the transmitter and receiver coils. And since the energy lost during wireless charging is usually converted into heat, your device won't heat up as much either. As a result, Qi2 contributes significantly less to the natural degradation of your smartphone's battery health.

Magnetic ring will also take care of the development of new accessories that can be quickly attached to the back of the phone. Apple users are already familiar with this, as they can buy quite a few of this type that are not intended for charging, such as stands, wallets, fans and the like.

Qi and Qi2, what's the difference?

WPC says the better Qi2 connection will enable faster wireless charging. The standard will initially be introduced with the existing 15W limit, but higher power profiles will follow as the standard matures.

Paul Struhsaker, director of marketing at the WPC consortium, said in an interview with the Android Authority website that the updated version of Qi2.1 will bring fast wireless charging sometime in mid-2024. By then, the consortium also wants to add support for smartwatches and tablets. . Initially, Qi2 will only be used for phones and wireless headphones. You can read the full interview here.

Qi2 is also a much stricter standard. Manufacturers will have to go through a certification process and only verified products will carry the logo of the standard. This will ensure that fake or dangerous products do not end up on the windows of the largest stores, such as Amazon. In general, the WPC pledges to be strict in enforcing their standards, as they do not want to tarnish the Qi brand.

Finally, the Qi2 standard will require authentication, which is not the same as a certification process. Simply put, devices can refuse to draw power from inadequate chargers that do not follow Qi2 protocols. You'll still be able to find wireless chargers from well-known manufacturers like Belkin and Anker, but the no-name chargers you can find from Chinese sellers probably won't work.

When will it be available for use?

The WPC has not yet finalized the Qi2 standard. They hope to finalize the specifications in the coming months. It also expects Qi2 devices to hit the market in time for the 2023 holiday season.

The WPC has nearly 400 members, including most of the major smartphone manufacturers, so the new standard should become widely available in 2024. This means that virtually all smartphones in 2023 will be continue to use Qi wireless charging of the first generation.

At the electronic fair CES 2023, another charging technology was presented, which promises wireless charging from the other side of the room.

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