New, faster Qi wireless charging spec could get an iPhone from 0 to 60% in 30 minutes

One of many third-party Qi adapters designed for the iPhone

The Wireless Power Consortium has updated its popular Qi wireless power specification to include a new 15-watt fast charging mode, meaning that if Apple eventually does choose to expand the availability of wireless charging across its product range, it could do so with no detriment to charging times.

The new standard is designed to bring Qi — Â which is offered in numerous flagship Android and Windows Phone handsets, as well as other personal electronics — Â closer to the capabilities of modern wired power delivery systems. Recent developments have allowed some manufacturers to include wired quick-charge modes that can fill as much as 30 percent of a mobile phone's battery in as little as 15 minutes.

Qi's low power mode — the variant used to charge mobile devices — was previously limited to 5 watts, making it noticeably slower than simply plugging a device into the wall.

"This release marks an important milestone for Qi, introducing the first higher power class and paving the way for our members to address more demanding applications with products that work seamlessly with the installed base of Qi-compatible products," WPC chairman Menno Treffers said in a release.

After years of publicly panning the technology, Apple released its first wireless charging-enabled product earlier this year with the Apple Watch. The new wearable was found to be Qi compatible, but it is not certified and Apple is not a member of the Wireless Power Consortium, making Apple's plans in this area unclear.

The Qi standard is open, so Apple may have simply used the specification as a foundation for its own efforts. The company is known to have investigated wireless charging in many variations over the years, leading to a number of rumors that it may finally adopt the technology in future iPhones and iPads.

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41 Comments

jbdragon

said about 8 years ago

Can we stop with this wireless garbage!!!! If your device has to sit on a mat that's plugged into something, it's NOT wireless charging!!! In fact it's pretty lame. I'd rather plug into a cable because at least I can then move the phone about, use it and look at it and still have it charging which is pretty hard to do laying flat and not being able to pick it up. Until I can walk around a room holding and using my phone and it's charging, that's wireless charging. This other thing is slightly easier yet much more expensive wired charging. No thanks!!!! It's a Gimmick!!!

pmz

said about 8 years ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBDragon

Can we stop with this wireless garbage!!!! If your device has to sit on a mat that's plugged into something, it's NOT wireless charging!!! In fact it's pretty lame. I'd rather plug into a cable because at least I can then move the phone about, use it and look at it and still have it charging which is pretty hard to do laying flat and not being able to pick it up.

Until I can walk around a room holding and using my phone and it's charging, that's wireless charging. This other thing is slightly easier yet much more expensive wired charging. No thanks!!!! It's a Gimmick!!!

Thank you. Round of applause please. When people talk about wireless charging I feel like I'm surrounded by crazies.

Thankfully, Apple still gets it.

suddenly newton

said about 8 years ago

[quote name="JBDragon" url="/t/186924/new-faster-qi-wireless-charging-spec-could-get-an-iphone-from-0-to-60-in-30-minutes#post_2739969"]Can we stop with this wireless garbage!!!! If your device has to sit on a mat that's plugged into something, it's NOT wireless charging!!! In fact it's pretty lame. I'd rather plug into a cable because at least I can then move the phone about, use it and look at it and still have it charging which is pretty hard to do laying flat and not being able to pick it up. Until I can walk around a room holding and using my phone and it's charging, that's wireless charging. This other thing is slightly easier yet much more expensive wired charging. No thanks!!!! It's a Gimmick!!![/quote] Yeah, this tech should be called slow, contactless charging that costs extra. But you know marketing. They didn't like that idea. ;)

willouyang

said about 8 years ago

even though I understand why the iphone changed connectors, and the existence of docking ports and devices. The ease of laying the phone down on a pad on the nightstand at the end of the night in the dark seems much easier than fishing for a cable to plug the phone in. But I do get the problem with not being able to charge wirelessly and use it when I'm in my 10 year old car. I guess I'll just have to mess around with the tangle of cables between the drivers side and passenger side. And these wireless chargers aren't great solutions either for charging in the car.

mike1

said about 8 years ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBDragon

Can we stop with this wireless garbage!!!! If your device has to sit on a mat that's plugged into something, it's NOT wireless charging!!! In fact it's pretty lame. I'd rather plug into a cable because at least I can then move the phone about, use it and look at it and still have it charging which is pretty hard to do laying flat and not being able to pick it up.

Until I can walk around a room holding and using my phone and it's charging, that's wireless charging. This other thing is slightly easier yet much more expensive wired charging. No thanks!!!! It's a Gimmick!!!

Agreed! The only real practical application for this might be in a car where I can use most functions through the car's steering wheel controls or voice control. Even then, most people don't realize that short bursts of charging kills the battery over the long term. For best life expectancy, you really should drain the phone to between 15-20% and then charge to full. charging for 10 minutes here and 15 minutes there is the worst thing you can do.