TechPhonesiPhonesEvery iPhone 15 includes a big wireless power upgradeWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechPhonesiPhonesEvery iPhone 15 includes a big wireless power upgradeWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: MacRumors)
(Image credit: MacRumors)
One of the new features of theiPhone 15has slipped under the radar, and it’s actually a really big deal: whileAppleoften lags behindAndroidwhen it comes to wireless charging technology, this time it’s at the head of the pack. And that means everyiPhone15 has a big wireless upgrade inside. You just can’t take advantage of it yet.
The upgrade is Qi2 (“chee two”), which is the second generation of the Qi wireless charging standard. It was announced earlier this year as the replacement for the 13-year-old Qi standard, and it’s based on the sameMagSafetech that Apple introduced in theiPhone 12.But unlike MagSafe this is an industry-wide standard designed for every kind of phone, not just Apple ones.
What’s so great about Qi2 charging?
The promise here is interoperability. Instead of having one kind of wireless charger for Apple devices – while iPhones do work with non-Apple wireless chargers, Apple doesn’t let those pads run at their full power – and another for Androids, we should see Qi2 chargers that work happily with either. That should bring costs down for Apple users in particular. And because Qi2 can also work with unusually shaped devices, it may be useful for charging thebest wireless earbudsin the future too.
Another big benefit of Qi2 is that it delivers much faster and more efficient charging. It delivers up to 15W of wireless power, can detect foreign objects that you don’t want between your phone and your charging pad, and it’s designed to help prevent damage to your device or your battery.
When can you get Qi2 charging for your iPhone?
Although Apple was the first firm to ship Qi2-compatible phones, it won’t be the last:Google’s next Pixel is expected to support it, andSamsung’s on board too. It’ll take a while for Qi2 to supplant Qi completely, but that’s where the whole smartphone world is heading.
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