Apple is preparing to introduce a charging upgrade for iPhone 16 users with the upcoming iOS 26 update. It will unlock support for Qi2 wireless charging at 25W, giving the latest lineup faster and more efficient charging capabilities without the need for new hardware.
Qi2 is the latest open standard from the Wireless Power Consortium, built on the same magnetic alignment system as Apple’s MagSafe. With iOS 26, the entire iPhone 16 lineup – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – will support up to 25W wireless charging speeds when paired with Qi2-certified chargers. This marks the first time Apple has raised wireless charging performance above the long-standing 15W cap that MagSafe has maintained since its debut in 2020.
MagSafe arrived with the iPhone 12 as a way to make wireless charging more reliable, using magnets to ensure precise alignment on charging pads. While the system improved convenience, its 15W ceiling remained unchanged through multiple generations, leaving it behind some Android rivals that adopted faster wireless charging standards. By moving to 25W through Qi2, Apple has broken that ceiling and, at the same time, opened support to a broader and more affordable range of chargers.
When iOS 26 is released to the general public in September, iPhone 16 users will benefit from faster wireless charging without being limited to Apple-certified MagSafe accessories. The upgrade will be exclusive to the iPhone 16 series, which includes new charging hardware capable of handling higher power levels. Older iPhones will stay limited to 15W even after updating to iOS 26, reflecting Apple’s pattern of reserving new hardware-driven features for its latest devices.
For everyday use, the increase from 15W to 25W translates into shorter charging sessions and quicker top-ups, especially useful during the day. Combined with Apple’s existing battery management optimizations, the update could make wireless charging a more practical alternative to wired connections. It also positions the iPhone 16 lineup more competitively against rival flagships that already support higher-speed wireless charging.
(via MacRumors)
