Apple's MagSafe is foundation for new Qi2 wireless charging standard

Apple has provided MagSafe as the basis for the upcoming wireless charging standard Qi2, making it universal across platforms.

The Wireless Power Consortium has announced that Qi2, pronounced "chee two," will replace the existing wireless charging standard in 2023. Apple has provided MagSafe as the basis for Qi2, which should lead to more universal interoperability of accessories and chargers.

"Energy efficiency and sustainability are on everyone's minds these days," says Paul Struhsaker, executive director of the Wireless Power Consortium. "Qi2's perfect alignment improves energy efficiency by reducing the energy loss that can happen when the phone or the charger is not aligned."

"Just as important, Qi2 will greatly reduce the landfill waste associated with wired charger replacement due to plugs breaking and the stress placed on cords from daily connecting and disconnecting," he added.

MagSafe for iPhone was introduced as a new accessory and charging system for iPhone 12 and newer. The magnetic charging puck offers 15W wireless charging to the iPhone via a high-efficiency magnetic connection.

Once Qi2 launches, compatible smartphones will be able to take advantage of Apple's MagSafe charging. The universal standard goes both ways as well, enabling accessory makers to make more products that fit both iPhone and Android products.

The Magnetic Power Profile ensures products are perfectly aligned with charging pads. That translates to improved energy efficiency and faster charging.

The new Qi2 standard will launch in 2023, with new products expected by the holiday season. Apple's iPhone 15 is a likely candidate for the new standard, though it may not be distinguishable from the existing MagSafe system.

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9 Comments

lkrupp 10521 comments · 19 Years

About 1 year ago

Unless, of course, EU bureaucrats decide to mandate something else. I would imagine using an Apple specification as a standard would burn their asses to no end.

retrogusto 1140 comments · 16 Years

If "Energy efficiency and sustainability are on everyone's minds these days," why didn’t they make the laptop MagSafe the standard? It uses fewer materials (which probably includes smaller rare-earth magnets), takes up less space during shipping and ever after, and transfers 100% of the power to the device being charged. It’s just way better, apart from possibly seeming less futuristic to the simple-minded. I know the subject here is a “wireless” consortium, which technically answers my question, but it’s like a coal consortium claiming to be focused on carbon footprints.

headfull0wine 124 comments · 10 Years

I could see a world where MagSafe could theoretically replace lightning ‘if’ the receiving hardware could fit in a super thin iPhone. But the EU standard of USB-C has now killed that.

Qi2 is, as you said, wireless. MagSafe won’t let me drop my phone on a pad in my car and have it charge without having to fuss with wires and replace them periodically because the connection wears out or the wire gets frayed.

longpath 401 comments · 20 Years

retrogusto said:

If "Energy efficiency and sustainability are on everyone's minds these days," why didn’t they make the laptop MagSafe the standard? It uses fewer materials (which probably includes smaller rare-earth magnets), takes up less space during shipping and ever after, and transfers 100% of the power to the device being charged. It’s just way better, apart from possibly seeming less futuristic to the simple-minded. I know the subject here is a “wireless” consortium, which technically answers my question, but it’s like a coal consortium claiming to be focused on carbon footprints.

I believe the point you are overlooking is that the contacts are exposed with such a system as is used on the laptops, which runs contrary to the objective of sealing the portable device as much as possible to protect it from common operational hazards that are commonplace for a mobile device. If you've never had water infiltrate the charging port on a portable device and been unable to charge it despite it being on the brink of flatlining, you might not understand the advantage of inductive charging for a portable device; but having experienced that exact issue as well as having dealt with degradation of contacts on a device exposed to high humidity as part of its normal operating conditions, a Polar V800 sports watch, I can assure you that there is more to be considered under the rubric of efficiency than the factors you listed.