Older iPhones like the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 series only got Qi wireless charging support, but that would soon change when iOS 17.2 drops for these devices, as Qi2 charging support is now made available. This charging standard arrived earlier this year, with smartphones coming later and already seeing support for Qi2 alongside new accessories from renowned manufacturers.
For now, only the MagSafe chargers can give the older iPhones as much as 15W of power for faster charging speeds, but with the new OS update, its options will expand.
Apple's iOS 17.2 Brings Qi2 Support for iPhone 14, 13
The latest iOS 17.2 RC release notes detailed many new features for future updates, but one of the most notable information here is the arrival of the Qi2 Wireless Charging standard support for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 lineup. One of the caveats of owning an iPhone is needing to get dedicated accessories like the MagSafe to get its full potential, especially with its 15W charging.
However, that will no longer be the case in the future, and this will line up the same experiences as the latest iPhone 15 lineup, which already supports the Qi2 standard.
For those under the beta program, this feature is already present.
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What Does This Mean for iPhone Wireless Charging?
The arrival of Qi2 for the soon-releasing iOS 17.2 will allow iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 owners to use third-party wireless chargers and need not worry about slower charging times compared to the MagSafe. Once this takes effect, the previous 7.5W of wireless charging will get to higher power outputs via Qi2-supported chargers, but The Verge said that the exact speeds remain unknown.
The iPhone Lineup, MagSafe, Wireless Charging
The iPhone lineup was long paired with Apple's renowned MagSafe wireless charging, and as the name suggests, it uses magnets to transfer power through electromagnetic induction to replenish its batteries. However, it was previously revealed that the MagSafe only tops up to 15W of power for the smartphone, 5W less than the 20W USB-C to Lightning wired charging.
However, this changed when the company released the iPhone 15, as it supports Qi2 wireless charging, and this means that while it has a cap of 15W, it is no longer limited to the MagSafe. This means that as long as the wireless charger supports Qi2, it will deliver 15W of power for faster charging, improving from before, when it capped it at 7.5W for third-party accessories.
Apple's latest integration of Qi2 Wireless Charging, standard support for older iPhones, will help expand more options for users who did not upgrade to the newest smartphone series. However, users would have to wait before iOS 17.2 arrives, as the company's recent release notes detail that it is only a release candidate, with the operating system still preparing to move out of beta.
Related Article: Qi2 Wireless Charging Upgrade: Inspired from Apple's MagSafe Connections for Android Devices
