Qi2 wireless charging standard announced, based on Apple's MagSafe

The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), the consortium of several major technology companies, has unveiled the new Qi2 wireless charging standard that aims to unite all related standards under the same umbrella. According to the consortium, Qi2 will be finalized later in 2023, with Qi2 chargers and the devices that will support them expected at the end of the year.

As Paul Struhsaker, executive director of the WPC, reports,

Consumers and resellers often tell us that there is confusion about which devices are Qi-certified and we burn those that claim to support it, but have not been certified. This confusion can lead to a poor user experience and even security issues. The new standard assures the consumer that their device is safe, efficient and interoperable with other brands. Qi2 will be the global standard for wireless charging and provide consumers and retailers with this assurance.

The new Qi2 standard is based on the MagSafe wireless charging solution developed by Apple, which uses magnets to keep the charging coils always in the correct arrangement. In this way, the device remains fixed in the correct position and thus the charging process is not interrupted, nor is energy lost. While charging times have not been released, WPC promises improved performance for some devices.