Last month, code from one of Apple’s iOS 14.5 developer betas hinted that a new MagSafe battery pack could be in development, which presumably would magnetically attach to the back of an iPhone 12/12 Pro, and wirelessly charge the device on the go.
Now, Jon Prosser in an episode of the Genius Bar podcast on Monday has weighed in on the rumors, claiming that the upcoming accessory will feature “reverse charging,” which could allow users to charge their AirPods wireless charging case, for example, by simply placing the case on the back of the new MagSafe battery pack while it is attached to an iPhone.
Prosser claims that Apple is working on two MagSafe battery packs – one with reverse charging and another without. The leaker says his sources are not sure” if Apple will release both of these battery packs or if only one will launch, however, later this week, Prosser has said he will share exclusive renders of the battery pack, giving us our first glimpse at what we can expect from the new accessory.
Rumors have long suggested Apple may launch iPhone-to-iPhone power-sharing, with reports claiming iPhones already have the internal components that don’t require an accessory to achieve reverse charging, but the feature has been disabled by Apple and is being held back by iOS.
The Apple Post has previously shared concepts imagining how iPhone-to-iPhone bilateral power-sharing could look like, envisioning “PowerDrop,” a new feature that would allow users to wirelessly transfer power from one iPhone to another, simply by facing the backs of both devices against each other.