The Wireless Power Consortium recently held a technical conference at Xiaomi’s headquarters in Beijing to work on the upcoming 50W Qi wireless charging standard.
The Qi wireless charging standard is used by most smartphone makers, meaning this upgrade means wireless charging advancement for nearly all brands, iPhone and Android alike.
The conference took place from June 22 to June 25 and brought together engineers from the consumer electronics industry.
Representatives from Apple, Google, Huawei, Honor, Oppo, and Vivo attended the event.
New 50W Standard
The meeting focused on the technical specifications, prototype testing, and interoperability requirements for 50W wireless charging.
The Wireless Power Consortium manages the Qi standard and has gradually raised its supported charging limits in recent years.
The 15W magnetic Qi2 standard became an IEC international standard in late 2024, followed by the introduction of a 25W specification in 2025.
The consortium is now targeting a 50W standard, which is expected to arrive in 2028.
Xiaomi’s Proposed Design
Much of the conference focused on Xiaomi’s proposed hardware architecture for the 50W standard.
Xiaomi said the existing coil requirements for Qi2 are restrictive and create thermal management problems, particularly in foldable phones and automotive charging pads.
The company spent two years developing a low-inductance and low-voltage charging architecture to address these limitations.
The proposed design aims to reduce power loss in the coil, improve heat dissipation, and make wireless charging modules easier to install in modern devices.
Xiaomi submitted the architecture to the Wireless Power Consortium in late 2024. It then completed cross-vendor testing with 25W and 50W prototypes throughout 2025.
During the first quarter of 2026, the consortium formally added the architecture to the drafting process for the Qi 50W standard.
Compatibility Testing
More than 20 companies participated in a Plugfest during the four-day conference.
A Plugfest allows companies to test different charging chips, coils, and devices together to identify compatibility problems before a standard is completed.
Companies including Anker, NXP, and Southchip tested prototype hardware during the event.
The testing aimed to ensure that future 50W wireless chargers operate safely and reliably with devices from different manufacturers.
Global Compatibility
Integrating low-inductance charging technology into the global Qi standard is a practical requirement for Chinese hardware manufacturers.
Its inclusion would allow their domestic supply chains to remain compatible with products sold in international markets.
It would also help prevent wireless charging standards from becoming divided across different regions.
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