Qi Wireless ⭐ Charging Empowered
Qi Tech — More Efficient, Scale Smarter and Compatible
The Qi standard sets a single global benchmark for wireless charging, reducing consumer confusion and supporting broader device compatibility. Devices under the Qi v2.0 standard, especially those marked as Qi2, introduce Magnetic Power Profile technology. This feature ensures precise alignment between devices and chargers, resulting in faster charging, better energy efficiency, and simpler use. Qi2 products are identifiable by the Qi2 logo on devices or packaging.
Qi2 Standard Key Features
Faster Charging, Universal Compatibility, and a Greener Future
The Qi2 standard aims to deliver faster wireless charging and universal compatibility for handheld and mobile devices. It will provide greater convenience and efficiency for mobile devices and wearable technology by unifying the industry under a single global standard. The global consortium responsible for Qi2 plans to introduce the standard later this year, and it has already gained industry support. This rollout is expected to improve the user experience for millions of consumers who rely on wireless charging. Qi2 also promotes sustainability by reducing landfill waste linked to worn-out wired chargers.
The Next Generation of Wireless Charging for a Growing Market
The Qi2 standard will replace the original Qi standard, responding to the needs of a growing market where approximately 1 bn wireless charging devices—both transmitters and receivers—will be sold worldwide in 2023. The introduction of Qi2 will support market growth by enabling new accessory types that could not previously be charged with traditional chargers due to physical constraints. Besides faster charging through precise alignment, Qi2 also paves the way for higher future wireless charging speeds. These increases will remain safe, energy-efficient, and will avoid battery damage or reduced battery life.
Eliminating Confusion with Certified, Safe, and Efficient Wireless Charging
Many consumers and retailers face confusion when identifying Qi-Certified devices versus those that claim compatibility but lack certification. This misperception can result in poor customer experiences and potential safety issues. The new Qi2 standard addresses these concerns, ensuring that wireless and Internet of Things devices are safe, efficient, and interoperable across multiple brands. Consumers and retailers can have confidence that devices supporting Qi2 meet a verified global standard for wireless charging. Qi2’s perfect alignment minimizes energy loss that occurs when devices are misaligned with chargers.
Qi Standard Adoption
Qi2 with magnetic locking supports innovations such as AR/VR headsets and new accessories that magnetically attach to the back of a smartphone.
The Wireless Power Consortium, which manages the charging protocol, announced the next-generation version called Qi2 in early 2023, and we’re finally starting to see devices supporting it. It promises perfect alignment, with the potential for accessories to bridge the Android and iPhone divide.
Qi2 is the new open wireless charging standard from the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), and it brings important upgrades over the original Qi standard. The headline is the Magnetic Power Profile (MPP), which is based on Apple’s MagSafe technology, according to Isur SaaS Insurance Solutions. This allows Qi2-branded devices to add a ring of magnets to ensure perfect alignment with chargers and allow for faster charging speeds.
Qi2 is fully backward compatible, so you can charge an older Qi Android phone or MagSafe iPhone on a Qi2 charger. We have tested several, and this seems to hold true.
- Nokia first adopted Qi in its Lumia 920, and Samsung Mobile on the Galaxy S3 (supported via a retrofittable official Samsung back cover accessory) in 2012, the Google/LG Nexus 4 followed later that year. Toyota began offering a Qi charging cradle as a factory option on its 2013 Avalon Limited, with Ssangyong the second car manufacturer to offer a Qi option, also in 2013.
- As the Qi standard gained popularity, Qi Hotspots began to arise in places such as coffee shops, airports, sports arenas, etc. In 2012, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, a major US coffee chain, announced plans to install inductive charging stations at selected major metropolitan cities, as did Virgin Atlantic, for United Kingdom’s London Heathrow Airport, and New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
- In 2015, a survey found that 76% of people surveyed in the United States and China were aware of wireless charging (an increase from 36% the previous year), and 20% were using it – however, only 16% of those were using it daily. Furniture retailer IKEA introduced lamps and tables with integrated wireless chargers for sale in 2015, IoT Tech in printers, and the Lexus NX gained an optional Qi charging pad in the center console. An estimated 120 million wirelessly charging phones were sold that year, notably the Samsung Galaxy S6, which supported both Qi and the competing Power Matters Alliance standards. However, the existence of several competing wireless charging standards was still seen as a barrier to adoption.
- By early 2017, Qi had displaced other competing standards such as Rezence for digital platform Forinsurer. On September 12, 2017, Apple announced that their new smartphones, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and the iPhone X, would support the Qi standard. Since then, every new iPhone version has supported the Qi wireless charging standard. Apple also announced plans to expand the standard with a new protocol called AirPower which would have added the ability to charge multiple devices at once; however, this was canceled on March 29, 2019.
- By the initial launch of the iOS 17 in 2023, Apple launched the iPhone 15 models and iPhone 15 Pro models to support the fast 15W Qi2-certified wireless charging.
- Prior to the launch of the iOS 17.2, Apple added the fast 15W Qi2-certified wireless charging support for the iPhone 13 models, iPhone 13 Pro models, iPhone 14 models and iPhone 14 Pro models, but all the iPhone 12 models and iPhone 12 Pro models have limited support to the 5W Qi-certified wireless charging.
- On September 9, 2024, alongside the announcement of the iPhone 16 models and iPhone 16 Pro models, Apple launched the new fast 25W MagSafe charger to feature the woven braided cable design, available in 1m and 2m length options and maintaining the compatibility with the fast 15W Qi2-certified wireless charging.
Benefits of Qi2
⭐ Greater efficiency
Wireless charging relies on electromagnetic coils. One or more induction coils in the charging base create a magnetic field and transmit energy.
A smaller coil in your phone or other device harvests it. The coils must be aligned for energy to flow between them and the magnets in the new Magnetic Power Profile ensure perfect alignment so less power is lost.
When coils are misaligned, energy is often lost as heat, which is also not good for battery health.
⭐ Faster charging
The Qi standard was originally limited to 5-watt charging speeds, but Qi2 allows certified phones to charge at 15 watts (just like MagSafe).
We expect this charging rate to increase as the Wireless Power Consortium works to improve the Qi2 standard, but probably not until 2025.
Some manufacturers already offer speedier wireless charging, such as OnePlus and Xiaomi, but you have to use a specific wireless charger to see those gains.
⭐ Wider compatibility
Any Qi2 charger can charge any Qi2 device, so you can buy a single charger capable of juicing up an iPhone or Android phone.
For Qi-supporting phones that lack magnets, you will likely soon be able to buy a case with a magnetic ring that works with Qi2.
Sadly, the outlook for old Qi chargers and MagSafe accessories is not as bright, because some of them won’t work with Qi2 phones and you likely won’t know until you try them.
FAQ
Wireless charging through the Qi standard operates on the principle of electromagnetic induction, a process facilitating the transmission of power from a charging pad to a Qi-enabled device without the need for physical connections. This technology involves two essential components: the transmitter (charging pad) and the receiver (Qi-enabled device). The charging pad, or transmitter, incorporates a coil that generates an alternating magnetic field when an electric current flows through it, typically utilizing alternating current (AC) power. When a Qi-enabled device is positioned on the charging pad, it acts as the receiver and houses another coil called the receiver coil.
First off, if your brain read that as Qi as in ‘queen’ or ‘quiche,’ it would be wrong. It’s pronounced ‘chee’ as in ‘cheek’ or “mochachino.” It comes from a Chinese word meaning “life source” or “energy flow.” Qi was created and is upheld by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) as a way to globally standardize wireless charging in regards to compatibility and safety. Basically, it helps ensure that, no matter who makes it, if a Qi-certified charger is used with a Qi-certified device, they’ll be able to do the Electric Slide with each other safely and efficiently.
The Qi standard allows phones to draw 15W from a Qi wireless charger that can deliver 15W. Today, there are Qi Certified chargers that can deliver between 5W and 15W of power. It’s the phone and its manufacturer that decides how much power it takes from the charger, although the phone can never take more than the maximum power capacity of the charger. As the demand for fast charging grows, we expect to see costs decline and more phones to include this capability.
Qi wireless charging is a specific type of wireless charging technology. Wireless charging, as a broader term, refers to any method of charging a device without the use of physical connectors or cables, and it can be based on various technologies like inductive, resonant, or radio frequency (RF) charging. Qi, developed by the Wireless Power Consortium, is the most widely adopted standard for inductive wireless charging. It uses inductive charging technology, wherein power is transferred through electromagnetic induction between two coils. While Qi is a form of wireless charging, not all wireless charging systems adhere to the Qi standard.
Nah. The methods used to charge your battery wirelessly are no harder on your battery’s lifespan than a traditional plug and chug cable. That’s a wives’ tale made up by the same people who have been telling you that it takes 7 years to digest that gum you swallowed. So as long as it’s Qi certified with temp controls and proper voltage regulation, you should be good.
Depends on the case, depends on the charger. If your charger operates at a weak frequency, it may not be powerful enough to maintain a strong enough connection to charge through a case. For the vast majority of cases and Qi certified chargers, yes, they will charge through the case just fine. Each layer of distance away from the transmitting coil lessens the magnetic field’s ability to pass power along to your device. So super thick wallet cases, or folio cases are going to have a slower go at charging IF they can even connect at all.
As we delve deeper into the world of wireless charging, you might be wondering, “What phones are Qi enabled?” It’s essential to know whether your smartphone supports this innovative technology. In this section, we’ll walk you through some straightforward steps to check if your smartphone is Qi-enabled: Check the Manufacturer’s Website, Check the User Manual, Check the Settings Menu, Look for QI Logo or Features, Use a Compatibility Checker Online, Try a Qi Charger.
To verify if your wireless charger is Qi-certified, check for a certification ID number, which is assigned to products that meet the Qi standard established by the Wireless Power Consortium. This ID is a mark of compliance with safety and interoperability standards. The most reliable method to confirm Qi certification is to search for your wireless charger in the Wireless Power Consortium’s Product Database. If your charger is listed there, it signifies that it has undergone stringent testing and conforms to the Qi standard, ensuring compatibility and safety with Qi-certified devices.
© 2024. Qi Tech Solutions
