China-Specific iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 Wireless Fast Charging Downgraded: The 360kHz Frequency Mystery

China-Specific iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 Wireless Fast Charging Downgraded: The 360kHz Frequency MysteryApple unveiled the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series and Apple Watch Series 10 on September 10th. However, to the surprise of many, the mainland China versions of these devices featured a disappointing downgrade in wireless charging capabilities

China-Specific iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 Wireless Fast Charging Downgraded: The 360kHz Frequency Mystery

Apple unveiled the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series and Apple Watch Series 10 on September 10th. However, to the surprise of many, the mainland China versions of these devices featured a disappointing downgrade in wireless charging capabilities.

According to Apple's official specifications, the MagSafe wireless charging power of the iPhone 16 series in mainland China is limited to a maximum of 15W, while the Hong Kong version can reach 25W. This discrepancy also applies to the Apple Watch Series 10. At the event, Apple claimed the watch could charge to 80% in 30 minutes. However, the China-specific version lacks this fast charging feature and even falls short of the Series 9's 45-minute to 80% fast charging capability.

Furthermore, the included charging adapters are restricted to regional use. The China-specific Apple Watch S10 charger is incompatible with Apple Watches from other markets.

The root cause of this issue lies in a new regulation in China that allocates the 360kHz working frequency used by MagSafe and Qi2 for aviation radio navigation services. This regulation has forced Apple to disable wireless fast charging functionality on China-specific devices through software.

Notably, a draft of this regulation was released as early as 2018, and preparations for its implementation began last year. Apple should have had ample time to adjust the charging protocols, but the reasons for its decision not to remain unclear.

This incident has sparked widespread attention and discussion among users. Many question why Apple, despite having sufficient preparation time, failed to offer a consistent wireless fast charging experience for the China-specific versions. Moreover, the restriction on cross-regional use of chargers causes inconvenience for users.

Currently, Apple has not yet issued an official response to this matter. However, this incident undoubtedly reflects the growing global focus on wireless charging standards and technical regulations.

As wireless charging technology continues to advance, harmonizing wireless charging standards across different countries and regions will become a critical challenge for the future development of the wireless charging industry.