Wireless Power Consortium Announces Qi2 25W, Offering a Big Boost to Wireless Charging Speeds
Technically known as Qi 2.2.1, the new standard transmits nearly 70 percent more power — and has major Android vendors signed up.
The Wireless Power Consortium has announced an update to its Qi2 standard, boosting the power by almost 70 percent to deliver 25W to compatible devices — which will now include "major Android smartphone" vendors.
"The momentum building behind the next stage in the evolution of the Qi standard is incredible," claims Wireless Power Consortium chair Fady Mishriki. "Consumers will be delighted when they experience Qi2 25W as it delivers nearly 70 percent more power than the original Qi2. The number of devices in the Qi2 25W certification queue for launch is unprecedented, as is the quality and breadth of our members product designs."
Qi2, launched in 2023, built on a standard that was first released in 2010 and limited to just 5W of maximum power. Incorporating Apple's MagSafe standard to align the transmitter and receiver coils, Qi2 — technically known as Qi 2.0.0 — boosted the maximum throughput to 15W, which Qi 2.2.1, to be referred to in product literature and marketing as "Qi2 25W," increases further to 25W. This, the WPC says, can charge "a fully depleted smartphone" to 50 percent in around half an hour.
"When we launched Qi2," adds WPC executive director Paul Struhsaker, "besides the immediate improvement in charging speed and energy efficiency, we promised that one of the benefits of Qi2's magnetic power protocol was that it would serve as a stepping stone for even faster and more efficient wireless charging in the future. Qi2 25W's remarkably fast and efficient wireless charging will encourage increased penetration of wireless charging usage and accelerate the adoption of the new standard."
Given Qi2's use of Apple's MagSafe standard, there's no surprise to see that it was first taken up in Apple's iPhone range — but the WPC claims that the new revision will be more broadly supported, with unnamed "major Android smartphones [to] join the Qi2 ecosystem for the first time with this launch." In total, fourteen devices — which covers both receivers and transmitters — have already completed testing for certification under the new standard as part of a limited launch, with "several hundred devices" in the queue now full-scale testing has opened.
More information is available on the Qi website.