We already have a new evolution of the Qi wireless charging standard, which has a lot of the MagSafe technology that Apple introduced a few years ago. Let’s see what the new Qi2 wireless charging is.
As we have told you in the preamble, this new Qi2 wireless charging standard owes a lot to Apple, since the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) worked very closely with those of Cupertino for the MagSafe technology that the iPhone incorporates since 2020.
Apple’s MagSafe system is a system called “magnetic power profiling” with which there are many possibilities to incorporate an entire ecosystem of accessories that connect to the phone.
The new Qi2 standard intends not only to take advantage of all this power that is already operational in Apple but also to go further.
We are going to review in this article everything this new Qi2 technology is and when we can enjoy it.
What is Qi2?
The Qi2 standard is a magnetic system that represents an update of the current Qi. The magnet rings are not only present to charge the smartphone, but they will also serve to position the phone in the most ideal way in the charger, which will provide a safer filling system.
Let’s see what the wireless charging system is like, which is explained quite simply, to better understand what this new evolution means.
In each wireless charger, there is a coil of copper wire. When turned on, the electric current passing through this coil generates a magnetic field. Phones that support wireless charging also include a coil under their plastic or glass back covers.
This means that when we place the device on a charging platform, the previous magnetic field induces an electric current in the coil of the phone.
The problem is that charging becomes less efficient the more distance there is between the coils, as well as being highly dependent on the horizontal situation of the charger and the phone, meaning that, if they are not aligned, charging speeds drop considerably.
This problem that may exist in current wireless chargers is solved with the magnets that Qi2 technology will incorporate since they cause everything to be aligned and in its perfect situation.
At present, it is not yet known exactly what the exact distribution of the Qi2 will be like, but it will surely be very similar to that of Apple’s MagSafe system, from which it inherits its essence.
Another plus point is that the power lost during wireless charging was usually converted to heat, which will happen much less, making the Qi2 system far less destructive to battery health in the long run.
In addition to all this, the expected avalanche of new accessories for the terminals that carry this standard will give users a choice, not only those that are dedicated to charging phones but others such as tripods, wallets, or similar things that will use magnets to be operative.
Differences between Qi and Qi2
Not only in what is the magnetic profile where the two wireless charging standards will differ, but Qi2 will mean a step forward in more areas.
According to WPC, the fact that the coupling is more perfect will allow a higher charging speed, although they will start with 15 W to go up in speed as the standard is placed on the market.
The addition of true fast wireless charging is expected to arrive by mid-2024, not only on smartphones but also on smartwatches and tablets.
In addition to all this, it is intended that the Qi2 be stricter with any manufacturer that wants to use it, so they will have to undergo a tougher certification process, and only verified products will carry the logo of the standard. This will favor not encountering so many counterfeit or unsafe products.
To provide even more security, the devices will incorporate a system by which they will refuse to draw power from chargers that do not meet the requirements and that do not follow the procedures of the Qi2 link protocol.
Compatible devices and chargers
The full development of the Qi2 standard has not yet been completed, but it is expected to be fully operational in 2023. They also intend to have compatible devices around Christmas 2023.
It will be backward compatible, meaning a Qi2 device will be able to charge on a Qi charger and vice versa, but you will need to place the device in the correct position and it may charge at a slower speed.
The vast majority of smartphone, watch, or tablet brands are members of the WPC, so by the time this standard is ready, its implementation will be fast, which means that we should already have if the dates are met, many devices and accessories by early 2024.
This means that this 2023, all those Android users will continue to have the first generation Qi, waiting for a tremendous flood of devices with the new standard to take place in 2024.
