According to a report by Chargerlab, which is usually considered a reliable source when it comes to charger-related information, upcoming iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models will support both Qi2 and MagSafe wireless charging protocols to offer 15W wireless charging speed to users. Currently, Apple offers two wireless charging speeds for its iPhones – 7.5W and 15W. Latter is only supported by those chargers that integrate the proprietary MagSafe charging protocol. The 7.5W charging speed is available for other third-party wireless chargers. However, ChargerLab’s report says that Apple will finally support two charging protocols, namely MagSafe and Qi2. The Qi2 charging protocol offers 15W fast charging speed and is based on the company’s own MagSafe protocol. It means Qi2-supported chargers will be able to offer up to 15W charging speeds, which is new for a non-MagSafe charger. As per ChargerLab which sourced its information from the supply chain, the MagSafe charging module costs around $16 and it is a major reason why MagSafe-supported chargers are expensive as compared to third-party wireless chargers. As compared to MagSafe, the new Qi2 module costs about one-third the price of MagSafe and does not require to be certified by Apple’s Made for iPhone (MFI) program. While Apple is yet to officially reveal the charging speeds for the Qi2 protocol but ChargerLabs believes that the charging speed will gradually increase in the future. Moreover, the new protocol can also be used by Android smartphones for high-speed fast charging. In another related finding by ChargerLab, Apple has now joined the list of board of directors of the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), which remains a strong supporter of the Qi2 wireless charging protocol. Overall, Qi2 wireless charging protocol will open new avenues for Apple and other smartphones alike. If the Qi2 charging protocol is introduced with iPhone 15 series, it would also indicate that Apple is open to making its accessory ecosystem less exclusive. Also, the wireless charging industry will benefit hugely from the new protocol as the demand for charging coils, magnets, MOSFETs, master control chips, and laboratories will increase.
