Qi2 Wireless Charging Alliance learned that on April 19, with the “Qi v.2.0 interface specification” approved by the WPC Wireless Charging Alliance Council, the Qi2 standard has been officially released.
The WPC Wireless Charging Consortium says that the Qi2 (“Qi” pronounced “gas”) standard will replace its predecessor, Qi and that the necessary work for quality assurance, certification testing and product registration is being completed, with Qi2 products expected to hit the market by the end of 2023. The Qi2 product is expected to hit the market in time for the holiday season in late 2023.
Consumers everywhere are looking for more energy-efficient, sustainable products,” said Paul Struhsaker, executive director of the WPC Wireless Charging Consortium. “The perfect alignment achieved by Qi2 improves energy efficiency by reducing the amount of energy lost when the phone is not aligned with the charger. In addition, while wired chargers need to be replaced from time to time due to the vulnerability of plugs to breakage and the stresses placed on charging cables during daily use, Qi2 reduces the amount of landfill waste generated by replacing wired chargers.”
Compared to the current Qi standard, Qi2 uses magnetic power mapping technology that is claimed to improve energy efficiency by ensuring a perfect match between the device and the charger. qi2 will support the industry in developing faster wireless charging technology while ensuring that the charging process is always safe and does not shorten battery life or damage the receiver.
In addition, instead of requiring a flat-to-flat connection, Qi2 will be able to support new product form factors such as AR / VR headsets with a magnetic locking feature. It will also support new types of the phone back cover magnetic accessories such as external batteries, which means future wireless charging panels from manufacturers like Samsung and OPPO could use technology similar to Apple’s MagSafe.
