The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) has taken a significant step forward for wireless charging. During an off-cycle meeting held at Xiaomi headquarters in Beijing, the organization opened the door to charging speeds of up to 50 watts based on the Qi2 standard. This development could bring a major performance boost to future devices, including upcoming Google Pixel and iPhone models.
New Qi2 50W standard: what it means for wireless charging
Introduced in 2023, Qi2 brought magnetic alignment and 25W speeds starting in 2025, just ahead of the Google Pixel 10 launch. However, adoption of the true standard with magnets built into phones has been poor among Android brands. Despite this, the WPC has continued to build on the technology, working to double the power. The solution proposed by Xiaomi relies on a combination of small inductance, low voltage, and high power, an approach that has already proven effective in internal tests. While the update is not yet finalized, sources close to the consortium indicate the roadmap is nearly complete, with actual deployment possible by 2028.
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Xiaomi, Pixel, and iPhone lead the race for 50W fast charging
Xiaomi, as the driving force behind the push to 50W, will likely be the first to integrate the new specification. However, Google and Apple are the two brands most actively promoting Qi advancements in their recent devices. The Google Pixel 10 already introduced 25W charging with Qi2, and a future Pixel 11 or Pixel 12 could benefit from 50W. Similarly, Apple, which adopted MagSafe as the foundation for Qi2, may integrate these speeds into future iPhones. Other Android manufacturers have largely ignored the Qi2 wave, despite mass adoption by accessory makers. This means that wide-scale 50W wireless charging will likely rely on these industry giants.
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Wireless vs wired charging: efficiency and speed comparison
The jump to 50W wireless will significantly reduce charging times, making wireless charging more competitive with wired alternatives. Currently, 25W wireless charging takes about 30 minutes to reach 50% on a mid-capacity phone. With 50W, that time could be halved. However, energy efficiency is slightly lower than traditional chargers, with around 15-20% loss as heat. This is a consideration similar to other smart technologies, like smart bulbs that consume more standby power than standard LEDs but offer additional features that offset the cost. Similarly, the convenience of wireless charging may justify a small energy premium.
Impact on accessory market and future compatibility
The evolution of the Qi2 standard to 50W will push accessory makers to produce new chargers and magnetic stands capable of handling higher power. Most current Qi2 chargers support up to 25W, but the next generation will require more robust components to dissipate heat. The WPC is working on specifications to ensure backward compatibility with existing devices, albeit at lower power levels. This is important for consumers who already own Qi2 accessories: they can continue to use them, but to take advantage of 50W an upgrade will be necessary. Furthermore, adoption of this technology could influence purchasing decisions, pushing users toward devices that support the new standard.
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For insights on technology trade-offs, see the article on smart bulbs and energy consumption. More details on the Qi standard are available at Wikipedia's Qi page.
Source: https://9to5google.com/2026/06/29/qi2-50w-upgrade-meeting-report
