What is Qi2 wireless charging? And why you’ll want it.

In Chinese, Qi, pronounced CHEE, means energy. And Qi is the newest way to wirelessly transfer energy to your devices.

Qi2, AKA Qi v2.0, is a cutting-edge wireless charging standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) that improves charging efficiency through magnetic alignment.

The WPC unveiled Qi2 during CES 2023 as “The latest advancement in charging technology.” Qi2 is the use of magnetic alignment and a different frequency to achieve 15W fast charging for compatible phones. The magnets allow proper alignment for devices, improving efficiency and reducing charge times. This is a game changer for wirelessly charging smartphones, mobile devices, and even wearables.

At the heart of Qi2 is the Magnetic Power Profile (MPP), developed by the WPC based on Apple’s MagSafe technology. This fundamental feature of Qi2 is a huge reason Qi2 will rapidly become the industry standard.

Like MagSafe, the Qi2 Magnetic Power Profile aims to optimize energy usage, minimize charge times, and safeguard the device's battery life and integrity.

The benefits of Qi2 wireless charging

Speed: The biggest benefit, by far, is how much faster Qi2 charges than its predecessor, Qi. Qi2 charges up to 15 watts, while Qi charges anywhere from 5 watts to 15 watts. More wattage means faster charging. But speed is just the beginning. Thanks to its ingenious use of magnets, it’s far more efficient and creates far less heat because the charging coils are always aligned properly.

Safety: Qi2 aims to optimize energy usage, minimize charge times, and safeguard the device's battery life and integrity. The standard includes enhanced foreign object detection, ensuring that only compatible devices are charged, and minimizing the risk of accidents or damage. Only certified Qi2 devices will work. If it isn't certified, performance may vary.

Compatibility: Qi2 will initially be compatible with select iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone 13 and other MagSafe compatible devices and is available to Android manufacturers to integrate into their future devices.

Forward thinking: Qi2 will enable new product innovation in other ways, too. The magnetic locking feature will support new product form factors, like an AR/VR headset. It will also support new types of accessories that magnetically attach to the back of the phone, like an extra battery.

Sustainability: Charging cables tend to wear out due to the mechanical stress of daily plugging and unplugging, ending up as waste in landfills. Wireless chargers eliminate that mechanical stress and do not wear out, reducing needless waste.

What’s the difference between MagSafe and Qi2?

Both MagSafe and Qi2 use magnets to provide a secure, power-efficient way to wirelessly attach chargers to smartphones, and both deliver faster charging speeds than standard Qi. Initially, Qi2 will offer 15W fast charging capabilities like MagSafe. However, the WPC has plans to support even faster charging speeds and higher wattage in the future.

The most obvious difference between MagSafe and Qi2 is that Qi2 is open to all device manufacturers as an industry standard whereas MagSafe is for Apple devices. Qi2 will be more widely accessible across different smartphone brands and operating systems.