The apple brand will participate in the design of this new standard which should offer faster and more efficient charging.
In 2020, with the launch of the iPhone 12, Apple took the name “MagSafe” out of its boxes to offer a new wireless charging system exclusive to its devices.
A new standard very inspired by MagSafe, with the help of Apple
The principle is simple: magnets placed in the phone and compatible chargers make it possible to perfectly align the two elements and improve charging. An iPhone charged via MagSafe can increase to a power of 15 W, against 7.5 for a traditional wireless charger, while avoiding energy loss as much as possible.
Apple obliges, the brand has locked its ecosystem of accessories thanks to a licensing system and the adoption of a proprietary chip. While many accessories are compatible, only a few rare models, such as those from Belkin, offer 15 W charging.
Things could change quickly, however, and mainly for Android smartphone users who should benefit from an equivalent to MagSafe on their next devices within a few months…
More efficient charging, but still not guaranteed compatibility between Android and iPhone smartphones
The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), which manages wireless charging standards, has just announced Qi2, a new standard that adds the presence of magnets for the alignment of the charger and the smartphone. Apple is one of the major members of the consortium and participates in the development of this new standard.
Devices that use the ” magnetic power profile will be able to benefit from better charging efficiency. However, the press release does not indicate whether the charging speed will be able to reach 15 W, like MagSafe. The WPC teams also indicate that they want to go further once the Qi2 specifications are set in stone to increase charging power.
In addition, Qi2 chargers could work with MagSafe iPhones, and vice versa, but the WPC does not officially confirm this. The magnet model will not be the same as that developed by Apple, which could cause compatibility issues.
Last element that raises a question: Qi2 should adopt the same authentication system as MagSafe, with a chip responsible for authorizing or not charging. We can imagine in the worst case scenario that each manufacturer promotes its own ecosystem by refusing charging via uncertified third-party accessories.
The first Qi2 models should arrive on the shelves at the end of 2023, and we will see at that time if the manufacturers adopt an open approach or if they stick to Apple’s practices.
Source : The Verge
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