When Apple released iOS 17.4 in the first week of March, it made no mention of an upgrade to wireless charging capabilities in the iPhone 12. According to Macworld, it seems that since the software was launched, iPhone 12 users have been able to charge their handsets much faster even with suitable third-party wireless charging pads, something previously restricted to Apple-authorized devices.
March 30 update below. This post was first published on March 28, 2024.
Apple introduced wireless charging back in 2017 with the iPhone X and iPhone 8 series. Then, with the release of the iPhone 12 in 2020 came MagSafe, that superbly convenient system which offers a ring of magnets in both the iPhone and the charging pad to ensure the two items make the correct connection.
There was, however, a problem. Though you could charge the iPhone 12 at a fast speed, up to 15W, if you were using a charging pad with MagSafe certification, such as ones made by Apple, pads from other companies which lacked this authorization would only reach a maximum charging capability of half this, 7.5W.
Then came Qi2, the next generation of wireless charging, created by the Wireless Power Consortium, of which Apple is a member, and based around MagSafe. As Macworld comments, “Apple gave the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) its own MagSafe specifications to use as the basis for Qi2’s Magnetic Power Profile that defines how the new-generation Qi works. Apple is a WPC “steering member” and chair of the WPC board of directors.”
The iPhone 15 series came with Qi2 compatibility from day one, meaning that Qi2 pads from any manufacturer could achieve fast 15W charging.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro now has Qi2 compatibility.
David Phelan
Then, with iOS 17.2 released last December, Apple announced that it had achieved the same step forward for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 with that software update. But of the only other iPhone with MagSafe, the iPhone 12, there was no mention.
Macworld says that its tests with a Qi2 charger and iPhone 12, show that the phone is charging at 15W and “even shows up the 15W-only charging animation.”
This is a surprise, as Apple didn’t mention it in the release notes for iOS 17.4. It means that the sleek and attractive new Anker MagGo Wireless Charger pad will charge the iPhone 12 as fast as or faster than Apple’s own pad, but for not much more than half the cost: the Anker pad costs $21.99 while Apple’s costs $39.
While it’s not a shock that Apple has been able to upgrade the iPhone 12 to this, it’s puzzling that it hasn’t announced this cool extra.
March 30 update. Macworld has also been checking out which chargers work with the iPhone 12 at the latest speeds—I rounded up some of the latest ones from Anker here. Some of the wording from Anker is confusing, with one Qi2 charging station from the brand only confirming compatibility with iPhone 15, iPhone 14 and iPhone 13. This may be updated now iOS 17.4 is out, but we’ll see.
And it’s not for every iPhone 12. Macworld says, “Note that the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini charge up to only 12W, but with standard Qi. However, Anker points out that, as Qi2 is fully backward compatible, you can charge an older Qi-compatible or MagSafe iPhone on a Qi2 charger, but at a maximum of 7.5 watts rather than 15W.”
Notebookcheck.net points out, “Just like MagSafe, Qi2 can hold smartphones magnetically and charge them with up to 15 watts. For users of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, support for Qi2 has two main advantages. Firstly, Qi2 chargers are generally cheaper than MagSafe chargers, as there is no need for certification by Apple. Secondly, the same Qi2 charger can now be used to charge both an iPhone and third-party devices at 15 watts instead of having to use two different chargers as before.”
I’d agree with that. And if the device is great-looking and works well, like the Anker pad mentioned above, and is also much cheaper than the Apple version, choosing it could be a no-brainer.
Follow me on Twitter.