News & Reviews:   Wireless Charging

Apple introduced MagSafe wireless charging with the release of the iPhone 12 series which utilises magnets to keep the charging puck in place. Now, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) is set to adopt the same functionality as it has announced that the next-generation Qi2 wireless charging standard will be built on MagSafe charging technology supplied by Apple.

Reliable Apple leaker Mark Gurman yesterday revealed that the next-generation iPad Pro might be unveiled as early as this September. According to his latest ‘Power On’ newsletter, the Bloomberg columnist said that the new iPad Pro will be powered by Apple’s upcoming ‘M2’ SoC.

Furthermore, Gurman also claimed that the new iPad Pro lineup will feature MagSafe charging; a first in any iPads. This new charging mechanism is similar to the MagSafe utilised in iPhones rather than the one reintroduced in the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.

Since Apple launched the MagSafe chargers, we're starting to see other companies move towards the use of magnetic wireless charging. OPPO is one of the first to reveal this type of tech for Android devices, but now Xiaomi is also part of the gang.

Have you ever thought that it would be so cool to charge your smartphone when you put it in your shirt pocket? Well, it could be a reality one day as a group of scientists from Fudan University, Shanghai in China just published a new study on a type of fibre that can be used as a charging technology. 

After announcing its MagSafe competitor, MagDart, along with the realme Flash as the first Android smartphone to support magnetic wireless charging, realme might be planning to do something even more exciting with the technology. According to a tweet posted by the CEO, the company might make its upcoming laptop compatible with MagDart.

About two weeks ago, the realme MagDart trademark was registered online. The trademark for the magnetic wireless charger was actually filed by OPPO, which suggested that at least OPPO will have something similar. In fact, that may have just been confirmed.

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, meaning brands copy each other out of admiration. Regardless of the motivation, similar products in technology aren't all that unusual. So it wasn't surprising to hear that realme wants to make a MagSafe copy.

Wireless charging is getting more relevant nowadays. It is said as some of them actually feature impressive fast-charge technologies now and making them so much better compared to what we had to deal with in the past. However, wireless charging can't stop evolving as they need to cater to the recent folding devices. Seeing the opportunity, Xiaomi has been spotted with a patent for a new fast wireless charging tech that is tailored for foldable smartphones.

Whether they're relevant or not, smartphone brands continually push for greater specs these days. For Xiaomi, fast-charging tech is one of them. The company's 200W fast-charging was recently showcased in May, and it could come sooner than we think.

Currently, the largest iPad model offered by Apple is the iPad Pro that comes in 11-inch and 12.9-inch display sizes. According to a renowned journalist Mark Gurman, the company is preparing to make even larger iPads in a few years.