Now that Apple has released a preview of the next iOS update, Anker says its upcoming Qi2-compatible wireless chargers will provide faster 15W charging for iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15 devices.
Apple has not responded to a request for comment, but presumably, this support will extend to all Qi2 chargers. The only problem left is that there are no certified products available for purchase yet, despite companies like Anker, Belkin, and Mophie announcing Qi2-compatible hardware a few months ago.
However, even if the products aren’t named yet, Paul Golden of the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC, which manages the Qi2 spec) tells The Verge that six brands of transmitters have already been certified, from Belkin, Anker, BH-EVS, Shenzhen Chipvision Microelectronics, NuVolta, and Dongguan Aohai Technology. Some of those names are more recognizable than others, but we’d expect to see that hardware in charging devices soon.
Third-party chargers that work with iPhones at the same rate as MagSafe-branded tech is the way we had hoped things would work, considering the updated Qi2 spec’s Magnetic Power Profile brings in magnets and authentication contributed by Apple. That will enable fast wireless chargers you can use with both iPhones and, eventually, compatible Android devices. However, we’ve been asking about this for months, and other than a statement from Belkin about the iPhone 15, we couldn’t get definitive word about iPhone support for the maximum charging rate.
Anker spokesperson Mary Woodbury confirmed in an email to The Verge that, unlike older Qi products that were limited to half-speed 7.5W charging with iPhones, the new MagGo products can support 15W charging, the same maximum rate you get with Apple’s MagSafe-branded gear. There’s also no word about support for the iPhone 12 series (or the iPhone 13 Mini, which maxes out at 12W even when paired with MagSafe chargers), which should have compatible hardware but may require their own software updates.
Apple shipped the release candidate version of iOS 17.2 on Tuesday afternoon with a note saying it added Qi2 compatibility for the iPhone 13 and 14 (the iPhone 15 listed support for Qi2 at launch) without going into detail about how fast the charging could work with non-MagSafe hardware.
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When the new MagGo products were announced at the end of August, Anker didn’t list model numbers, pricing, or release dates but said we could expect a new kickstand-equipped portable power bank, new wireless charging station designs to charge your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch all at once, a simple 15W-capable pad charger, and a 67W spherical magnetic charging station for your desktop with 8-in-1 output.
We’ll be waiting for more details to find out if any of them make their predicted launch window of late 2023 and keeping an eye on the WPC’s Qi product database for any certifications.
Update December 6th, 1:36PM ET: Added certification info from the Wireless Power Consortium.
