Apple’s MagSafe iPhone battery pack could support reverse charging
Could you soon use your iPhone to charge your AirPods?
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Appleis said to be working on a MagSafe battery pack for theiPhone 12which supports reverse charging – meaning you might soon be juicing up your AirPods on the back of your smartphone.
In a recent episode of theGenius Barpodcast, serial Apple leaker Jon Prosser suggested the Cupertino company is developing two variants of theMagSafe battery pack, a clippable charging block integrated with Apple’s magnetic technology.
According to Prosser, one of the variants, a “premium” battery pack option, will integrate reverse wireless charging, giving an iPhone the ability to charge other gadgets as well as be charged wirelessly itself.
Shortly after the iPhone 12 family debuted last year, a Federal Communications Commission filing revealed Apple’s MagSafe tech supports bilateral charging. That’s the scientific term for reverse charging.
We’ve heardreportssince 2019 that suggested we may see reverse charging arrive on the then-unannouncediPhone 11models. But the feature is still a no-show onMagSafe accessoriesfor theiPhone 12family, so it’d be a big surprise if it does arrive before theiPhone 13comes later in 2021.
It’s worth noting that Prosser has something of a mixed track record when it comes to Apple leaks, and he provides no further details on the company’s plans for the reverse charging-enabled MagSafe battery pack other than it being in the development phase.
His suggestion hints at a technology we’ve heard rumors of Apple trying to crack in the past. So there’s hope, at least.
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iOS hints
Naturally, Apple itself has remained quiet on the speculation, with no official word on the company’s plans to introduce a reverse charging-enabled battery pack.
That said, code discovered in the latestiOS 14.5 betadoes make reference to a ‘battery pack’ of some sort, and while it’s likely a nod to an imminent MagSafe-compatible charging device rather than a reverse charging-enabled battery pack, it seems Apple may be pressing ahead with development on the technology.
Even so, the company has encountered roadblocks in the development stages of a regular wireless charger, let alone a fancier version, so we don’t expect a MagSafe battery pack with reverse charging functionality to arrive anytime soon (sorry, expectantiPhone 12users).
ViaAppleInsider
Axel is TechRadar’s UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site’s Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.
Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.
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