Chargers aren’t exactly the most glamorous topic in tech: Nobody wants to sit around and watch as the battery indicator on their phone fills up. When there’s a change in the space, though, it matters. It usually means that charging, a necessary nuisance, is somehow going to take less time or become more convenient.

We’re starting to see one of those changes now. Last summer, the Wireless Power Consortium released a new and improved wireless charging standard, Qi2.2, which enables considerably faster wireless charging. Fast forward to 2026, and tech accessory brands have started releasing battery packs and charging pads that support it. Case in point, Senior Tech Editor Stefan Vazharov reviewed the Sharge Icemag 3 battery pack last month: It earned his recommendation for a few reasons, including a “stylish” design, but also because Qi2.2 “almost doubles the wireless charging speeds in new phones.”

So, while you won’t really ever see it, Qi2.2 should lead you to press reset on all your wireless charging tech, especially when and if you pick up a new phone. Here’s why:

Is Qi2.2 Wireless Charging Finally as Fast as a Wired Charger?

Broadly speaking? Not at all. Qi2.2 raises the maximum wireless charging rate to 25 watts (W). That’s considerably faster than Qi2, which tops out at 15W, but still lags far behind premium wired “fast-charging” devices. Many of them, including the newest portable battery packs, can put out well over 100W—the Anker Prime, for example, can hit up to 140W, which can charge a large laptop fairly quickly.

With smaller devices like phones, though? A 25W charging rate starts to come close. According to Apple, some Qi2.2 chargers can restore up to 50 percent of the iPhone 17 Pro’s battery life in just 30 minutes. With a wired 40W charger, you can get that same 50 percent charge in just 20 minutes. That’s definitely a big improvement, but it’s close enough that you can expect even a quick top-off to restore a substantial portion of your battery. More often than not, that’s all you’re looking for from a midday charge.

Do Qi2.2 Chargers Work With Older Devices?

Yes, Qi2.2 charging pads are all backward compatible and will charge any Qi-compatible device. With Qi2.2 compatibility, though, they will only be able to meet the standard of the device. The catch is that older devices will not be able to take advantage of Qi2.2’s faster charging speed. An older phone that only supports Qi2, like the iPhone 15, will only charge at up to 15W, not 25. So if most of your core devices are more than a couple of years old, you don’t need to run out and buy all-new chargers just yet. Even if you do, you won’t reap the benefits until you upgrade.

What Else Does Qi2.2 Do?

Obviously, charging faster is the flashiest, most important improvement in Qi2.2, but there are a few other optimizations being added with the update. In most cases, you can expect a higher standard for magnetic alignment when you use magnetic chargers—think Apple’s MagSafe—as well as improvements for both efficiency and safety. Depending on the device, you may notice it doesn’t get quite as warm while charging, but that varies from device to device.

Ultimately, faster charging is the big news here. And if you hate waiting for your phone to charge, that’s a pretty big deal.