China to ban wireless chargers over 50W. In fast charging, Chinese brands have the last word, whether wired or wireless. Xiaomi recently announced 200W wired and 120W wireless charging, so it seems the sky was the limit. Or not. China may limit the maximum power of wireless charging to 50W.
MyDrivers picks up the news that China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology proposed a draft on the use of wireless charging technology that would limit wireless chargers to a maximum of 50W starting in 2022. In China, but its repercussions could be felt globally.
Wireless chargers at 50W maximum
The latest USB standards raise the theoretical limit for fast charging – with dual batteries in between – to 480W, but we may not see its implementation, at least in wireless charging. The Chinese government appears to be preparing a cap for wireless charging, 50 watts.
The reason is a document from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which stipulates that it is necessary to regulate the use of the radio spectrum for wireless charging equipment. The idea is to avoid harmful interference with other services such as aviation, navigation, or astronomical observation.
Among the recommendations, the document requires that as of January 1, 2022, all wireless mobile and portable chargers produced and imported for sale and use in China should not exceed this 50-watt charging capacity. The document is still a draft, so there could be changes before the end of the year.
While this ban affects only China, it is precisely the country’s manufacturers who are exceeding this charging capacity: Xiaomi announced and already put on sale its 80W wireless charger, which was followed by the 120W version. None of them should be available next year, and this could affect the resources that Chinese companies put into this technology, which in turn could mean the stagnation of global wireless charging technology around these 50 watts.
