The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) has officially unveiled the Qi2 25W wireless charging standard (Qi v2.2.1), bringing substantial improvements in speed and device compatibility to the global wireless charging ecosystem. This update raises the maximum wireless charging power from 15W to 25W, representing nearly a 70% increase in charging rate compared to the previous Qi2 standard.
Key Upgrades: Faster Charging and Expanded Support
- Enhanced Speed: Qi2 25W is capable of charging a smartphone battery from 0% to 50% in about 30 minutes, dramatically reducing wait times for users.
- Unified Compatibility: For the first time, major Android smartphones will join the Apple iPhone in supporting this industry-wide, high-speed wireless standard. This expansion is a major shift from previous iterations, where high-speed wireless charging was largely proprietary or limited to select brands.
- Magnetic Alignment: Like Apple’s MagSafe, Qi2 25W employs a magnetic attachment for precise alignment between the device and charger, maximizing efficiency and minimizing energy loss. Android phone compatibility may require magnetic cases for optimal performance—similar to current MagSafe solutions.
Certification and Industry Adoption
- Certification Milestone: Fourteen devices (including transmitters, receivers, and power banks) have already passed Qi2 25W certification during the pilot phase. Well-known accessory manufacturers such as Belkin, Anker, and Ugreen are among the early adopters, and hundreds more products are currently being certified.
- Market Reach: Since its introduction, Qi2 has already been adopted by over 1.5 billion devices worldwide.
Open, High-Speed Wireless Charging
The Qi2 25W standard is the first open, cross-platform solution for high-speed wireless charging. Previous fast wireless options were often limited to proprietary implementations, resulting in interoperability issues and fragmented accessory support. Qi2 25W eliminates these barriers, uniting a broad swath of iOS and Android devices—and future-proofing wireless charging for wider device categories.
Looking Forward
- iPhone support: The upcoming iPhone 17 series is expected to fully support Qi2 25W, while the iPhone 16 series may receive updates for compatibility. Apple’s MagSafe ecosystem will now work seamlessly with more open Qi2 25W-certified accessories, not just proprietary Apple chargers.
- Android support: Major Android brands are rolling out support in their new flagship models, although some may require additional magnetic cases to enable full Qi2 25W charging.
- Consumer Benefits: With strict certification for safety and interoperability, users can expect a more reliable, efficient, and universally compatible wireless charging experience across leading devices.
The arrival of Qi2 25W marks a new era for wireless charging—faster, interoperable, and truly universal for users across major smartphone ecosystems.