Next-Generation Qi2 Wireless Charging Standard Embraces Apple's MagSafe for Universal Compatibility

[Arsenikdote]

Until the efficiency and speed of wireless charging is comparable with wired charging it is a no go for me.

Are you not able to charge your phone at predictable times? I can understand the need for emergency fast charging for times where you need to hurry up and charge your device. But between sleep, commute, and work I don't really find myself needing to emergency charge. Sure the wired charger charges faster but since I am not putting myself in a position for that amount of time to matter, it is not really relevant. I mean when I am heavily using my phone it might take an hour to charge up on the wireless charger, but I sleep a lot longer than that. My commute is not that long, but adds 20min to my charge, and I am at my desk where it can easily charge for more than long enough. I am not assuming my situation is everyone's, so it is a true question. You can't find a consistent time to allow your device to charge up?

The wireless chargers are not a replacement for wired, you always have that option. What wireless offers more than anything is a possible lifestyle improvement. You can put the MagSafe Duo Charger beside your bed or on your work desk and it just looks better and is very natural to use. Again, you always have the cable for those time's you're in a jam.

I wouldn't be too sure that people will "always have that option" as there is strong reason to believe that Apple will remove the port on the iPhone before being forced into the European standards. But I guess time will tell? Also, I am the same way. I have a nice bedside stand and office stand for my phone. It shows me my phone at a glance and I charge while using it. I let the iPhone learn my behavior and it doesn't charge to 100 percent often but I consistently maintain a charge between 60-90% even while using it all day long. If the physical port was removed I wouldn't even notice it except for maybe 3-4 times a year.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

I don't understand this sentence. What does this mean?

My best guess is that they're referring to the added usability/convenience of the "slap-on" "interface" of Apple's MagSafe magnetic puck, that you now, with Qi2, could add wireless charging to products that, because of their dimensions or designs, can't feasibly be placed on Qi charging mats.

An example could be a big, waterproof portable speaker with a rechargeable battery inside: You could add regular Qi to the bottom or the side of it. But you'd have to place the Qi mat on the floor when Qi charging, or the speaker on a Qi mat sitting on a table (or built into the table). But the speaker would fall over, or it would be very awkward to have sitting on your (Qi) table.

With Qi2, you can build in the coils/magnets on any surface of the product and the user will just slap/snap on the MagSafe-style charging puck when charging wirelessly, and it aligns automatically and stays on for more efficient charging.

 

[TeamMojo]

It is difficult to get excited about magnetic charging when it so rarely works well with protective cases. For me, that is the fatal flaw. I'm not going to keep my $1200 USD iPhone 13 Pro Max in a flimsy case, much less in no case at all! So anything related to magnets in a no go for me...

I've been using MagSage compatible cases since the iPhone 12. MagSafe works great and holds my phone securely enough in my car that it never comes off even when going over bumps, etc. It also charges quickly as advertised.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Does anyone still believe in a USB-C iPhone?

I'm 50/50 on it.

Apple only ever said they'd "comply" with EU legislation, nothing more than that. And since devices that are portless are exempt from getting USB-C, this means that Apple could go fully portless whenever the mandate kicks in.

The options are USB-C port(likely), portless with MagSafe(most likely), portless with something other than MagSafe(the least likely).

MagSafe is more likely than USB-C as it retains the MFi royalties revenue that Apple, effectively, looses as Lightning iPhones are phased out over the years, as consumers ditch old Lightning devices for new MagSafe or USB-C ones.

*It's worth noting that the mandate kicks in no sooner than December 28 (2024), and that only devices entering the market post 12/28-2024 are required to adhere to the new law. This means that Apple could keep the current Lightning port for iPhones 15 and 16 without facing repercussions or having products taken off shelves.

 

[Anony-mouse]

Yet another technology Apple didn’t invent but refined and made it a new standard.
Apples legacy in a nutshell.

That's not how innovation works. Truely innovative things like the invention of the wheel occurs rarely. However, making the existing invention work better and more effectively is the basis for civilization and much of our 'quality of life' improvements. There is much value in the refinement of a concept or idea to become something that we take for granted.

At least MagSafe is now a standard, so prices of wireless chargers should drop.

 

[ericwn]

Iphone 15 will be portless!
MAGSAFE ONLY with QI2!

TO THE DEATH WITH USBC
MUAHAHAHA

Thanks for the chuckle.

 

[ericwn]

This might have been why Apple scrapped the AirPad.

That never existed. Are you referring to AirPower?

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Nice! Now just get the EU to un-ban the Lightning connector.

 

[Tagbert]

Does Apple hold any patents on this tech? and if so, are they waving licensing fees?

From other reporting, Apple are signing on as a partner and contributing IP to the standard. That requires transferring owner ship of patents to the standards body. It is likely similar to Apple’s involvement in USB-C where Apple provided some of the core designs and Matter where much of the architecture was modeled on HomeKit.

 

[scottylans]

That's... interesting.

So apparently future Qi2 phones from other manufacturers could use Apple's MagSafe puck.

But I hope this doesn't signal the end of the USB-C port. I really want a USB-C port on my next iPhone.

🤔

Agreed! Def want USB-C

I wonder if Qi2 has the ability to transfer data?

 

[TracesOfArsenic]

That's a very clever way for Apple to keep making money off third parties when the lightning port is no longer an option. If there's a dollar to be made, Tim will find a way!

 

[TimHalfCooked]

Convince everyone else to use your standard then charge them for the pleasure. The Apple way.

 

[Tagbert]

Convince everyone else to use your standard then charge them for the pleasure. The Apple way.

This is an open standard to which Apple contributed some parts of the design. They will not get licensing fees for that.

 

[TimHalfCooked]

This is an open standard to which Apple contributed some parts of the design. They will not get licensing fees for that.

Of course, my bad. Apple are famous for giving things away for free.

 

[amartinez1660]

Unless, of course, EU bureaucrats ban it.

Exactly my first thoughts here. Something will eventually look fishy in that world… either “monopoly something, you shall be fined” and if not, the other: “you are not providing a single thing for all customers as in other devices, you shall be fined”.

 

[Neodym]

*cough*

Apple was Granted Two Major Patents Today that came to Life with the iPhone 12: MagSafe Charging and Ceramic Shield

Wow! What are the chances of writing two granted patent reports in the early morning and have them come to market later that same morning. How about a billion to one. Today Apple introduced a MagSafe wireless charging puck and iPhone accessories. Apple also introduced...

www.patentlyapple.com

Apple has been granted 7 Design Patents for the MagSafe Duo Charger in Hong Kong and the U.S. Trademark 'Ceramic Shield'

Earlier this month the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published Apple's trademark application for Ceramic Shield. In addition, the Hong Kong IP Office granted Apple a series of design patents covering the MagSafe Duo Charger.

www.patentlyapple.com

Original idea is pretty old already, patent application filed in 2003 and granted 2006: https://patents.google.com/patent/US7026789

 

[amartinez1660]

Of course, my bad. Apple are famous for giving things away for free.

For the sake of some devil’s advocacy here:

They do give things away, they just don’t market it as such (or at all). Many contributions to open source or open sourcing what wasn’t open: swift, OpenGL/CL contributions, image libraries, consortiums for all sorts of hardware advancements (including USB ones), many macOS related libraries can be found (someone a long time ago posts a link actually to that), to name a few from the top of my head.

But granted, not that many, and definitely not widely known.

 

[gaximus]

Probably a move by Apple to satisfy regulators but it’s still nice to see them opening something like MagSafe up to being an industry standard. They should have done the same with Lightning back in 2012.

This is so that Apple can skip the USB-C port on their next phone and go portless. Apple made a ton of money off of lightning MFi program, now that they won’t be able to make money off of it they will open it up.

 

[urmaster]

Exactly my first thoughts here. Something will eventually look fishy in that world… either “monopoly something, you shall be fined” and if not, the other: “you are not providing a single thing for all customers as in other devices, you shall be fined”.

The EU is targeting wireless chargers next so this move by the consortium is getting ahead of the problem. Now there will be 1 standard practically speaking before they have to revise the law.

 

[svish]

Want to see faster wireless charging speed.

 

[Jeven Stobs]

That's not how innovation works. Truely innovative things like the invention of the wheel occurs rarely. However, making the existing invention work better and more effectively is the basis for civilization and much of our 'quality of life' improvements. There is much value in the refinement of a concept or idea to become something that we take for granted.

At least MagSafe is now a standard, so prices of wireless chargers should drop.

What issue to you take with my comment?
I didn’t mention innovation at all, unlike you, because I didn’t talk about it. I talked about refinement and didn’t (intend) to critique Apple for their course.
Anyone can smash a rock onto something. It takes brains to make a hammer.

 

[mrochester]

Is Apple donating this technology or licensing it under FRAND?

 

[randfee2]

Wireless charging should be banned for increased need of resources.
A waste of rare earth materials (magnets), plastic and electrical energy. It can never beat a wire.
Also carrying around sich a humongous magnetic plug instead of being able to use any standard as USB cable nullifies the idea of consolidating ports.

I don’t understand why it’s such an increase in wastefulness would be allowed in 2023.

Therefore I’m strongly opposed to more wireless charging.

 

[ksnell]

Maybe we can get a 2m cable version now?

 

[macwhiztech]

I don't understand this sentence. What does this mean?

Imagine a device that's a perfect sphere. You couldn't recharge it on a Qi charger, because it'd be impossible to keep the charging coil properly aligned. It'd roll off the charging pad.

Because Qi2 will use positioning magnets like Apple's MagSafe charger, a Qi2 charging puck can be magnetically snapped onto the spherical device, properly aligning the charging coils. Not every Qi2 charger is likely to be physically compatible, but those that are will work.

Now imagine devices that aren't perfect spheres, but have unusual shapes that work well for the device's intended use, but don't lend themselves to being dropped onto a phone-sized Qi charging pad just so...