MagSafe was used as the base to build Qi2 charging

The first CES announcements are just a few hours old and the information continues to pour in. Now, regarding the most important consumer technology event in America, the ‘Wireless Power Consortium’ (WPC) has announced that it is already working on what will be Qi2 technology for wireless powering of devices and that it will do it directly from Apple.

Qi2 is the new standard that will follow Qi charging, which is an induction electricity standard and is present in chargers that use manufacturer brands for wireless charging of their smartphones. The new Qi2 essentially works like MagSafe, doing the same with electromagnetic induction for device charging but, in addition, using powerful magnets to create a more powerful link between the charging base and the device.

Charging with the help of magnets for everyone

The WPC ensures that the Qi2 standard will also enable more efficient and lossless power transfer. It will also open up a market for new accessories that clip directly to the device they charge, just as accessories that use MagSafe already do.

Of course, not all wireless chargers out there are WPC certified. The consortium ensures that stores have complained about the quality of wireless chargers that are not certified and for which, obviously, it cannot respond. “Our standard assures consumers that their devices are secure, efficient, and interoperable with other brands. Qi2 will be the global standard for wireless charging and will provide security for consumers and stores“, assured the consortium.

The new MagSafe protocol that Apple introduced for accessories that wirelessly charge its iPhones was introduced in 2020 for the iPhone 12 and the first battery to take advantage of it arrived in mid-2021. Since we are less than two years away from then, it is Apple’s surprising openness to work with WPC on a technology that it was wholly proprietary until now.

The first Qi2 certified smartphones and chargers are expected to be available by the end of 2023.