The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) will introduce Qi2, a global wireless charging standard, later this year. Qi2 certified mobile phones and chargers are expected to be available for the 2023 holiday season, according to the consortium.

Qi2 Standard

Qi2 will replace Qi, the current standard, in a huge and growing market. The WPC expects about 1 billion transmitters and receivers to be sold this year.  The new standard will enable this number to expand even further because the technology will be capable of accommodating new accessories that couldn’t be charged using current flat surface-to-flat surface devices.

The goal is to unify the industry internationally under a single standard for mobile and wearable charging. The core of the nascent standard is the Magnetic Power Profile, which was adopted by Apple and other WPC members from Apple’s MagSafe technology.

Qi2 will ensure that phones and other battery powered products are perfectly aligned with charging devices, according to the WPC. This improves energy efficiency, enables faster charging and positions the industry for more gains in the future.

“Energy efficiency and sustainability are on everyone’s minds these days,” Paul Struhsaker, the executive director of the Wireless Power Consortium, said in a press release. “Qi2’s perfect alignment improves energy efficiency by reducing the energy loss that can happen when the phone or the charger is not aligned. Just as important, Qi2 will greatly reduce the landfill waste associated with wired charger replacement due to plugs breaking and the stress placed on cords from daily connecting and disconnecting.”

The WPC creates interoperable standards and certifications for wireless devices. It has almost 400 member organizations.