The Wireless Power Consortium has taken the covers off the new Qi2 wireless charging standard, which promises to bring in faster charging for devices, particularly smartphones.
The new Qi 2.0 standard ups wireless charging with compatible devices and chargers from 7.5 watts to 15 watts. Now that might not seem like a lot when the likes of OnePlus have 50W chargers, but those are based on proprietary tech that can't be used properly with other phones. In contrast, Qi2 is designed for all manner of device makers to adopt in order to have something akin to a standardized certification for wireless charging.
In short, a charger that is Qi2-certified will deliver 15W charging regardless of the manufacturer and the device it's being used with.
Standard-bearer
While wireless charging can be pretty varied given the use of different proprietary tech, this new Qi2 standard is promising for near-future tech.
Wireless charging pales in comparison to the speeds delivered by wired chargers. But a move to 15 watts paves the way for faster charging.
And the Wireless Power Consortium wants to see 15W charging standardized by mid-2024, so we should hopefully see faster wireless charging become commonplace in all manner of smartphones, not just flagship models.
But if you want a wireless charger right now, then check out our roundup of the best wireless chargers, and do also take a look at our refreshed page on the best power banks for all your portable charging needs.
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