iPhone 17 Series May Support Faster 50W MagSafe Wireless Charging

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 series may stir mixed reactions among buyers, especially those eyeing the base model. From recent rumours, the cheaper iPhone 17 will feature the older A18 and be paired with 8GB, which may disappoint some customers. But on the flip side of the coin, Apple could counterbalance this move with a major wireless charging improvement for the entire range – if one new leak is to be believed.

iPhone 17 Series Could Bring 50W MagSafe Wireless Charging With New Qi 2.2 Standard, Leak Suggests

Two new MagSafe chargers have been discovered in Taiwan’s regulatory database, listed under model numbers A3503 and A3502. According to 91mobiles and MacRumors, these chargers are compatible with the newer Qi 2.2 standard, which is an update from the previous Qi 2.1. The new MagSafe chargers may look almost identical to earlier models, which could potentially lead to some confusion in stores, but the difference here is all about performance.

The updated chargers could enable wireless charging speeds of up to 50W for compatible devices. Currently, Qi 2.0 allows a maximum of just 15W, and the iPhone 16 series supports MagSafe wireless charging at speeds up to 30W.

The newer Qi 2.2 standard brings a major leap, not only in power delivery but also in magnetic alignment and charging efficiency. It remains backward-compatible with older Qi-supported devices, ensuring broad compatibility for users. The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) had introduced the Qi 2.1 standard, though no official Apple devices currently support it.

With Qi 2.2 now on the horizon, iPhone 17 models could become the first Apple devices to leverage this improved technology. However, it’s important to note that even though Qi 2.2 theoretically supports up to 50W charging, Apple may limit the actual charging speeds for safety, battery longevity, or product differentiation reasons. As expected, Apple has not officially announced these new MagSafe accessories yet, likely saving them for the iPhone 17 launch later this year. Still, this wireless charging upgrade could be one of the standout features of the new lineup.

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