Apple’s MagSafe-based Qi 2 wireless charging is ready for Android phones

Earlier this year, at CES 2023, the WPC (Wireless Power Consortium) announced that it had developed a more advanced wireless charging standard: Qi 2.0. It is based on Apple’s MagSafe technology and uses a magnetic system to hold the device and its accessories in place. It has now been announced that Qi 2.0-based accessories will be ready by the end of this year.

The first set of Qi 2.0 certified products and accessories will hit the market during the Christmas holiday period. The first accessories will be available for the iPhone 15 series. AirCharge, Anker, Belkin and Mophie will make wireless chargers for compatible smartphones. Many other Qi 2.0 accessories are currently under testing or in the certification phase.

Qi 2.0 brings magnetic attachment, faster charging, improved power efficiency and improved convenience compared to Qi 1.2. There are two profiles under the Qi 2.0 standard. The first is MPP (Magnetic Power Profile), based on Apple’s MagSafe technology and using the Qi 2 logo. The second is an improvement on the existing EPP (Extended Power Profile), which does not include magnets but Complies with the Qi 2.0 standard and supports charging up to 30W.

Android smartphone makers are expected to offer Qi 2.0 compliant phones so that they can have MagSafe-like accessories. Fady Mishriki, Chairman of the Board of Directors of WPC, said: “We’re excited to see our members quickly adopt Qi v2.0 and create accessory ecosystems for Qi2 devices. We expect Qi v2.0 to quickly become the de facto global standard for wireless charging.»

Author’s note: Although Qi 2.0 is now ready for prime time, most Chinese smartphone brands may not adopt it, as most of them use their proprietary fast wireless charging technologies . For example, OnePlus, OPPO, Vivo, and Xiaomi all have phones that support proprietary 50W fast wireless charging protocols and proprietary wireless fast chargers.

Samsung and Google, on the other hand, look like brands that could offer Qi 2.0 compatible smartphones and accessories. Samsung’s current generation smartphones support up to 15W fast wireless charging based on the Qi 1.2 standard, but it’s possible we’ll see faster wireless charging or magnetic attachment.