The Wireless Power Consortium says the first Qi v2.0 devices are set to arrive in time for the holidays and 100+ are in certification testing or waiting in line
Qi2 — the next version of the wireless charging standard, now with more magnets! — is more almost-here than ever.
Context & Ripple Effects
Qi2 follows the Wireless Power Consortium’s longer effort to consolidate wireless charging around Qi, accelerated by Apple’s entry into the Qi standards body. Earlier 2023 coverage framed the standard as a next-generation effort developed with Apple; this update supplies the first evidence of an active product-certification pipeline.
The significance is less the announcement of another charging specification than the move from a standards roadmap to devices preparing to ship. The reported queue gives accessory and device makers a clearer near-term target for Qi2 support.
First-order effects
- The first Qi2 products are slated for the holiday period, while more than 100 devices are in or awaiting certification through the Wireless Power Consortium.
- Manufacturers seeking the Qi2 designation now face a shared certification path rather than only the earlier plan for a MagSafe-based next-generation standard.
Second-order effects
- A larger certified-product queue gives charger and accessory makers an incentive to build for Qi2 compatibility, because support can address a broader set of forthcoming devices.
- The rollout raises the value of interoperable magnetic charging support relative to proprietary accessory alignment, though actual market impact depends on how many certified products reach retail.
Third-order effects
- If certification produces consistent cross-device behavior, wireless charging competition can shift from rival standards toward implementation quality, charging performance, and accessory ecosystems.
- The later focus on Qi2 interoperability at CES indicates that cross-ecosystem compatibility, rather than a single device launch, is the durable strategic test for the standard.
The trend: Qi2 is part of the broader shift from fragmented wireless-charging approaches toward certified, cross-ecosystem accessory compatibility.