Since Apple showed off iOS 26 back in June, the update has been going through several rounds of beta testing. With the full release just around the corner next month, we’ve learned it’s bringing a nice little bonus for iPhone 16 owners: faster wireless charging.
iOS 26 Brings 25W Wireless Charging to iPhone 16
According to MacRumors, iOS 26 will finally unlock the full power of the Qi2 wireless charging standard on the iPhone 16. That means you’ll be able to charge at speeds of up to 25W using third-party Qi chargers. Up until now, the limit has been 15W.
Getting those faster speeds depends on three things working together: your phone hardware, the charging tech itself, and the software that supports it. The iPhone 16 lineup shipped with Qi2 support when it launched last September, and Apple quietly updated it in July to handle 25W charging.
But so far, that faster charging has only been available when using Apple’s own MagSafe chargers. With iOS 26, third-party chargers get in on the action too.
Faster Top-Ups for Everyone
The upgrade means you’ll be able to juice up an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro from 0% to 50% in as little as 30 minutes. That’s based on Apple’s own numbers for its MagSafe products, so you can expect a noticeable boost when using compatible chargers.
Accessory makers are already moving quickly. Belkin, for example, is rolling out three new chargers designed to take advantage of the iOS 26 update. Apple itself hasn’t officially talked about the change yet, though we may hear more once the beta wraps up.
A Hint at What’s Next
This also pretty much confirms what many expected: the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup will support the newer Qi2.2 standard, keeping those 25W wireless charging speeds. There’s also chatter that MagSafe might get an even bigger bump, possibly going all the way up to 50W, at least according to one leak.
Apple is almost certain to reveal the iPhone 17 series in September, with signs pointing to something happening around September 9. As always, we’ll be keeping an eye out and bringing you the latest news as soon as it drops.
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