Robert Triggs/Android Authority
long story short
- In iOS 17.4, the iPhone 12 appears to be able to charge at the full speed of 15W using non-MagSafe Qi2 chargers.
- Previously, non-MagSafe chargers were limited to charging speeds of 7.5W.
- iPhone 13 and later models have gained support for Qi2 charging through the iOS 17.2 update.
While Apple has yet to officially confirm this, the recent iOS 17.4 update appears to have quietly brought a feature from the latest iPhones to the iPhone 12.
A new report by Mike world It shows that the iPhone 12 can now achieve 15W wireless charging speeds when used with a non-MagSafe Qi2 magnetic charger – a feature that was previously thought to be reserved for newer iPhone models.
Apple has launched MagSafe wireless charging technology in the iPhone 12 series. While MagSafe iPhone supports wireless charging speeds of up to 15W, previous use of non-MagSafe certified wireless chargers limited charging speeds to a much slower 7.5W.
However, Mike world Testing shows that when magnetically connected to a non-MagSafe Qi2 charger, iPhone 12 series phones running iOS 17.4 match the speed of Apple-certified MagSafe chargers and even display the signature 15W charging animation.
The iPhone 15 series was the first to officially support Qi2, and Apple later extended this support to the iPhone 13 and 14 series through the iOS 17.2 update. It’s worth noting that the added 15-watt wireless charging speed only applies to standard iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro models. The wireless charging power limit of iPhone 12 Mini (and iPhone 13 Mini) is 12W.
As the successor to the widely used Qi standard, Qi2 offers higher efficiency and features magnetic alignment inspired by MagSafe technology. Apple played a crucial role in its development, sharing its MagSafe specification with the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). As of now, even the latest Android flagship phones, like the Galaxy S24 Ultra or the OnePlus 12, don’t support Qi2 charging.
There are still some ambiguities
Interestingly, Apple did not include this change in iPhone 12 compatibility with Qi2 chargers in the iOS 17.4 release notes. The situation becomes even more confusing when you consider the conflicting information provided by accessory manufacturers.
Trusted Apple partner Belkin is adamant that iPhone 12 is Qi2 compatible. However, Anker is sending mixed signals, including including the iPhone 12 as a supported device for some of its Qi2 products while omitting it from others. Hopefully Apple will soon provide more clarity on the iPhone 12’s compatibility with Qi2 chargers.