Apple quietly introduced an upgrade to wireless charging capabilities for the iPhone 12 with the release of iOS 17.4 in early March. While the software update did not mention this enhancement, iPhone 12 users have reported faster charging speeds with compatible third-party wireless charging pads. Previously, only Apple-authorized devices were able to achieve these faster speeds.
The introduction of wireless charging by Apple in 2017 was further enhanced with the MagSafe system in 2020, offering faster charging speeds up to 15W with certified charging pads. Third-party pads without certification were limited to 7.5W charging speeds. Qi2, the next generation of wireless charging created by the Wireless Power Consortium with input from Apple, is based on the technology used in MagSafe. iPhone 15 series was launched with compatibility for Qi2 charging, enabling faster speeds with any compatible pad.
With the release of iOS 17.2 last December, Apple announced that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 also received Qi2 compatibility. Surprisingly, the iPhone 12 was not mentioned in any of these updates. However, recent tests conducted by Macworld confirm that the iPhone 12 is now charging at 15W speeds on Qi2 pads, despite not being officially announced by Apple. This means that third-party pads like the Anker MagGo Wireless Charger, which cost significantly less than Apple’s pads, can now charge the iPhone 12 at the same fast speeds.
Although Apple has not confirmed the faster charging capabilities for the iPhone 12 on Qi2 chargers, tests have shown that some third-party chargers can actually charge the device faster than Apple’s own charger. For instance, the Anker Qi2 MagGo Wireless Charger was able to charge an iPhone 12 Pro Max faster than Apple’s MagSafe Charger. This upgrade provides users with more options for affordable and efficient charging solutions for their devices.
Users of the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 13 mini may experience slightly slower charging speeds due to the smaller battery size, limiting their maximum charging capabilities to 12W on MagSafe chargers. With Qi2 chargers being more affordable and offering faster charging speeds for most iPhone 12 models, it is recommended that users opt for Qi2 over MagSafe chargers to save money while still achieving fast and efficient charging for their devices.
Overall, the introduction of Qi2 wireless charging technology for the iPhone 12 has provided users with more options for affordable and efficient charging solutions. Despite not being officially announced by Apple, third-party Qi2 chargers have been proven to charge the iPhone 12 at faster speeds compared to Apple’s MagSafe charger. This upgrade opens up new possibilities for users to experience fast and convenient charging for their devices without the need for expensive accessories.
