Apple enhances the Qi2 wireless charging capability of the iPhone 12

With the iOS 17.4 update, Apple subtly added Qi2 wireless charging support to the iPhone 12 series. Users of the iPhone 12 can now take advantage of the newest Qi2-certified chargers, which include a magnetic connection and 15W charging speeds similar to Apple's MagSafe technology. This improvement was not reported in the official change-log.

The iPhone 12 has supported 15W wireless charging since its launch in 2020 but only with Apple's MagSafe chargers. Now, with the update, it can charge at the same speed using third-party Qi2 chargers. The iPhone 13 and 14 received Qi2 support as part of iOS 17.2, while the iPhone 15 came with it pre-installed.

Qi2, also known as Qi v2.0 MPP (Magnetic Power Profile), is a novel magnetic wireless charging standard. It can juice up compatible devices at a rate of up to 15W. It uses rings of magnets in both the device and charger to align the charging coils correctly. This new standard is an extension of the widely-used Qi wireless charging standard, with Apple contributing the magnetic power profile technology.

Qi2 is not exclusive to Apple and is managed by the Wireless Power Consortium. Devices must be Qi2-certified but do not require specific Apple hardware or 'Made For iPhone' certification, making them more affordable to manufacture.