Your older iPhone has just gotten a nice charging speed boost, thanks to iOS 17.2. While the latest iPhone 15 models already had these capabilities, Apple has also made wireless charging faster for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 after that December 2023 iOS update.
Even though the iPhone has never been the fastest-charging smartphone on the market, this new update has allowed older iPhones to unlock a new, faster way to charge wirelessly.
This is thanks to Qi2, a new wireless charging standard that you’ll now be able to make the most of as long you meet all the requirements. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Qi2?
Qi2 is a new open standard for wireless charging that’s based on Apple’s MagSafe charging.
Like MagSafe, the new Qi2 standard provides a more solid and secure wireless connection with the help of magnets — and it also offers the same 15W charging speeds. That might not seem like much when compared to wired charging, but it’s a big improvement compared to the previous Qi standard, which capped out at 7.5 watts for iPhone users.
Even though Qi2 is based on Apple’s MagSafe technology, and the company worked with the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) to develop this new charging standard, it’s actually an open standard that anybody can implement. This means it’s also available for Android devices; there aren’t any actually using it yet, although it could come later this year to Google’s Pixel 9 lineup.
While some Android devices can do 15W charging using the Qi Extended Power Profile (EPP), Apple has never opted to draw that much power due to potential problems with overheating and inefficiency. It’s bad for the environment and it’s bad for your iPhone if the coils aren’t perfectly aligned. MagSafe solved that with magnets, as does the Qi2 standard’s Magnetic Power Profile (MPP), unlocking 15W charging speeds for the iPhone.
What You Need to Use Qi2 On Your iPhone 13 or iPhone 14
Right from its launch, the iPhone 15 lineup already supported Qi2, but older iPhone models weren’t initially capable of handling this new charging standard.
However, it was seemingly just a software problem, as the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 gained the ability to use Qi2 when iOS 17.2 launched in December 2023.
So, in order for your iPhone 13 or 14 to support faster wireless charging, all you need to do is make sure you update your iPhone to at least iOS 17.2 or a later software update. You can do this by going to Settings > General > Software Update to see if an update is available and tapping on Install Now if one appears.
Keep in mind that, as we mentioned, this will only work on the newer iPhones. Unfortunately, the iPhone 12 still doesn’t support Qi2, even though it can do 15W charging with MagSafe. Apple reportedly made some changes to the wireless charging hardware in the iPhone 13, which may account for the difference. The iPhone SE, iPhone 11, and prior models also don’t support Qi2 as they lack the necessary magnetic attachment entirely.
Besides the right iPhone, you also need the right charger. Unfortunately, Qi2 is a relatively new standard, and older chargers can’t be updated to support it. So, you’ll need to make sure the charger you’re planning to buy is supported.
At the time of writing, the most notable companies that support Qi2 charging are Anker and Belkin, with a variety of different charging docks and power banks.
Once you meet all these requirements, you should be able to just charge your iPhone and notice faster charging times. While it might not seem like much for most of us, it is still faster than charging your iPhone with a regular Qi charger. Plus, since the new Qi2 chargers don’t have to follow Apple’s rules or pay licensing fees, they’re less expensive than MagSafe chargers and offer unique features like stands with adjustable charging pads that you can tilt up or down — something that we have to assume Apple didn’t allow in official MagSafe stands.
Charge Your iPhone Faster Than Before
If you have an iPhone 13, iPhone 14, or iPhone 15, and you want to get a new charger for yourself, then there’s no better time than now.
You can make the most out of Qi2 and get faster charging speeds right from the start. Enjoy it, and get ready for the future of wireless charging.