Apple iPhone 16 Raises the Bar with 25W MagSafe Wireless Charging

Third-party accessory makers recently introduced next-generation 15W Qi2 charging devices, yet Apple has once again raised the bar with the iPhone 16 models. With Apple’s updated MagSafe charger and a 30W power adapter, the iPhone 16 models can now charge at up to 25W wirelessly over MagSafe, surpassing the Qi2 standard by 10W.

MagSafe vs. Qi2: A New Benchmark

The open standard Qi2 does not require accessory makers to pay Apple for licensing, making it a popular choice. However, companies aiming for the fastest wireless charging speeds for the iPhone 16 models will need to adopt MagSafe technology. When MagSafe was first introduced with the iPhone 12, it allowed iPhones to charge at up to 15W, compared to the 7.5W limit of Qi charging.

Qi2 Charging: A Short-Lived Parity

With the advent of Qi2, charging speeds reached 15W, matching the capabilities of MagSafe for a brief period. Accessory makers could produce magnetic chargers offering 15W charging without paying Apple’s licensing fees. However, this parity is now over. Qi2 chargers will only charge iPhone 16 models at up to 15W, while 25W charging is exclusive to MagSafe. This significant difference means 25W fast charging can provide up to 50 percent power in just 30 minutes.

New MagSafe Charger for iPhone 16

Apple has released a new version of the MagSafe Charger alongside the iPhone 16 models. Existing MagSafe chargers will not support 25W charging, as the new speeds require a new MagSafe charger. Accessory makers and customers will need to adopt these new charging accessories to benefit from the updated MagSafe speeds. Notably, the new MagSafe charger still supports 15W charging for older iPhones.

While currently only the iPhone 16 models support 25W charging, this new standard is expected to be integrated into future iPhones, rendering 15W Qi2 charging obsolete.