iOS 17.4 悄然提升三年前的 iPhone 12 的无线充电速度

近期有用户发现，苹果悄然提升了iPhone 12的无线充电速率，使得这款已上市三年的设备支持最新的Qi2标准。

iPhone 12理论上支持15W无线充电，但第三方无线充电配件通常只能提供7.5W的充电功率。随着Wireless Power Consortium基于MagSafe技术推出全新的Qi2标准，用户将能够以满额15W速度为设备无线充电。苹果在发布iPhone 12系列时引入了MagSafe技术，当时用户只需将手机放置在任何Qi认证的无线充电器上即可充电。

通过发布iOS 17.4，苹果悄然提升了iPhone 12通过Qi2认证无线充电器的无线充电速率，使其与当前的苹果旗舰机型保持同一水平。尽管此次升级并不让人意外，因为苹果在去年已对iPhone 13和iPhone 14系列的无线充电速度进行了升级，但较老的iPhone型号将无缘Qi2标准带来的高速度。

原因其实很简单：较老的iPhone型号（如iPhone 11及更早机型）缺乏MagSafe技术。这意味着不具备MagSafe的旧款iPhone即使具备无线充电功能，也无法利用Qi2标准的优势。

这也为Android手机厂商提供了启示，它们可以通过在未来的智能手机中引入类似MagSafe的设计来采用Qi2标准。据Macworld测试，在升级至iOS 17.4后，使用Qi2认证充电器为iPhone 12充电时，确实可以实现全速15W无线充电。

Apple released one of the biggest iOS updates for the iPhone earlier this month, which brought a handful of front-facing features for users in countries that fall under the EU. The new iOS 17.4 update allows users to sideload apps on the iPhone and install third-party app stores. Despite these changes for the App Store and developers, Apple still managed to squeeze in some features for users in the North American market, especially those with an iPhone 12. It was discovered earlier that Apple has silently upgraded the wireless charging speed of the iPhone 12, bringing Qi2 support to the three-year-old iPhone.
If you are unfamiliar with it, the iPhone 12 could be wirelessly charged at 15W speeds, but third-party accessories were restricted to 7.5W charging. With the arrival of the new Qi2 standard by the Wireless Power Consortium, which is based on MagSafe, users will be able to charge their devices at full 15W speeds. Apple introduced the new MagSafe technology with the launch of the iPhone 12 lineup, and at that time, users were charging their devices by simply placing them on any Qi-certified charger.
With the release of iOS 17.4, Apple has silently increased the wireless charging speed of the iPhone 12 through Qi2-certified wireless chargers, allowing users to be on par with the current flagships from Apple. The update does not come as a surprise, though, as the company updated the wireless charging speeds of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 lineup last year. However, the company will not bring Qi2 speeds to older iPhone models.
There is a simple reason why faster wireless charging will not be available on iPhone models older than the iPhone 12, and it has a lot to do with the company's MagSafe technology. Older iPhone models do not feature MagSafe, which are magnets arranged in a concentric circle behind the iPhone, allowing accessories and chargers to stick securely behind the device. This suggests that iPhone 11 and older models with wireless charging capabilities will not be able to utilize the Qi2 standard.
This also means that Android smartphone manufacturers can utilize the Qi2 standard by offering MagSafe-like technology in future smartphones. According to tests conducted by Macworld, the iPhone 12 can be charged at full 15W wireless charging speeds when using Qi2 chargers after the iOS 17.4 update. Apple did not mention the change in iOS 17.4 release notes, but we are glad the wireless charging speeds have been upgraded.